Description

Food Fair Stores Inc. Stock Certificate, 1961

An original 1961 Food Fair Stores, Inc. common stock certificate, issued for one hundred shares and beautifully engraved in rich green with a classical allegorical vignette of abundance and industry. A striking piece of mid-century American retail history from one of the country’s most recognisable supermarket chains.

Measurements: approx. 12 x 8 inches
Date: April 11, 1961
Condition: In decent vintage condition; minor age toning and archival wear visible. Please inspect images carefully for full details.
Internal notes: QC passed

We warmly invite your offers:
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FOR COLLECTIBLE PURPOSES ONLY. This is a vintage, cancelled share certificate and holds no financial value. A fantastic piece of scripophily / industrial history.

Issued on April 11, 1961, this certificate reflects the confident modernism of early 1960s America — an age of consumer growth and design refinement. The engraving features a classical female figure seated beside a cornucopia, symbolising abundance, agriculture, and the prosperity of modern commerce. The bold green guilloche border and detailed central vignette exemplify the elegant craftsmanship of the American Bank Note Company, one of the leading financial printers of the era.

Food Fair Stores, Inc., based in Philadelphia, was a pioneer of the modern supermarket format. The company grew rapidly in the mid-20th century, operating hundreds of stores across the eastern United States and becoming a familiar name to generations of American shoppers. This certificate, issued in the name of investment firm Laird, Bissell & Meeds, represents a tangible link to the corporate and consumer transformations that shaped postwar retail America.

For collectors of financial ephemera and retail history, this piece captures the optimism and artistry of its age — a beautifully preserved document that unites commerce, design, and history in a single image. The light age toning and archival handling marks only enhance its sense of authenticity, making it a desirable example of classic American scripophily.

This item is also available to purchase directly via our Vinted shop.
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Categories:
certificates, ephemera, finance, retail, vintage

Tags:
food fair, retail, 1960s, america, stock, supermarket, scripophily, vintage

Focus Keyword:
food fair stores stock certificate

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Food Fair Stores, American retail history, supermarket ephemera, scripophily, 1960s stock certificate, American Bank Note Company