Beautifully engraved Certificate from the famous owner of the Titanic International Mercantile Marine Company issued in the 1931. This historic Stock Certificate was printed by the American Banknote Company and has an ornate border around it with a vignette is of a ship similar to the Titanic. This item has the printed signatures of the company's officers and is over 94 years old. The certificate was issued to William Vincent Astor, son of John Jacob Astor, who died on the Titanic. 
The International Mercantile Marine shipping trust was formed in 1902 by J.P. Morgan. This company controlled the White Star Line which constructed three sister ships the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic which are depicted in the unique, nautical vignette. Each of these ships was identical in size being 882 1/2 feet long and 92 1/2 feet wide. The Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg at 11 20 p.m. on April 14,1912. The small cancellation holes on this preferred stock have the initials of JPM & Co which stands for the J.P Morgan Company.
The richest man in America, Mr. John Jacob Astor and his significantly younger and pregnant second wife of seven months, Madeleine.
William Vincent Astor (November 15, 1891 – February 3, 1959) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and member of the prominent Astor family.Called Vincent, he was born in New York City on November 15, 1891. Astor was the elder child of John Jacob Astor IV, a wealthy businessman and inventor, and his first wife, Ava Lowle Willing, an heiress from Philadelphia.
He graduated in 1910 from St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island, and attended Harvard College from 1911 to 1912, leaving school without graduating.In 1912, Vincent Astor's father, John Jacob Astor IV died on the Titanic and left him the biggest fortune at that time and made Vincent Astor one of the richest people in the world.
