CNA Financial Corporation Preferred Share Certificate, 1973

Description

CNA Financial Corporation Preferred Share Certificate, 1973

Original 1973 CNA Financial Corporation $1.10 cumulative convertible preferred share certificate printed with brown ornamental borders and a central allegorical vignette characteristic of late twentieth-century American securities engraving.

Measurements: approx. 12 x 8 inches
Date: July 31, 1973
Condition: In decent vintage condition; minor age toning and archival wear visible. Please inspect images carefully for full details.
Internal notes: QC passed

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

This certificate presents a refined composition dominated by a classical allegorical tableau, pairing a robed female figure with globe and scroll and a semi-draped male figure with caduceus and tools of industry. The restrained brown palette and crisp intaglio-style detailing echo the enduring visual language developed by American Bank Note Company, whose work shaped the identity of corporate securities throughout the mid-century period. The printed denomination of sixty shares appears prominently at the centre, reinforcing its functional and archival authority.

Produced for CNA Financial Corporation, incorporated in Delaware, the certificate reflects the financial documentation standards of the early 1970s, blending decorative engraving with legal formalism. Its typographic hierarchy, embossed seal, and perforated transfer sections align with the transitional aesthetic as corporations shifted from ornate nineteenth-century traditions to cleaner modern formats. The reverence for precision and order in its layout continues the lineage of American securities printing, where symbolism and administrative purpose intersect.

The piece survives in sound vintage condition, with minor toning and light archival wear consistent with careful storage over the past five decades. Measuring approximately 12 × 8 inches, it retains strong print integrity and clear signatures, making it suitable for both framed display and specialist collections. Its physical presence conveys the material heritage of corporate finance before the advent of digital record-keeping, preserving a tactile record of ownership and governance.

This item is also available to purchase directly via our Vinted shop.
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Tags:
cna financial, american bank note company, share certificate, preferred stock, 1970s, corporate finance, delaware, vintage securities, engraved paper, collectible ephemera

Categories:
ephemera, finance, printing

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CNA Financial Corporation share certificate 1973

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american bank note company, vintage share certificates, corporate ephemera, 1970s securities