European & American Steam Shipping Company 1857

Beautifully engraved certificate from the European & American Steam Shipping Company issued in 1857. This historic document has an ornate border around it. This item is hand signed by the Company’s Directors and General Superintendent and is over 146 years old.

The company was incorporated in 1857. The certificate was issued to William McKewan and John W. Burmester for the amount of nine pounds in 1857. Handsigned by directors and general superintendent. Black print on white paper with company watermark. Printer – Batho & Co., Sherborbe Lane, London. Uncancelled, 8 ˝ x 9 ˝.

This company was a steamship company to take people to the California Gold Rush area. In 1850, 93 ships left Britain and ten ships left France. Adolph Sutro would have taken a ship like this from Prussia to Britain to New York, where they would connect with an American ship to Panama. There was also a European and American agency in London that was set up to work mines in America, and this may have been a related company. (J. Delgado, To California by Sea, 1990; C, Spence, British Investments & the American Mining Frontier, 1995- Holabird) EF+.