Paris-France Société Anonyme - Certificate designed by Alfons Mucha , Art Nouveau artist- 1920 - RARE
Formed in Paris in 1898 to open a shop or department store selling clothing and other high quality goods.
Capital 130,000,000 francs. One share of 500 francs.
The company was a large department store society in Paris. In 1897, at the heyday of his time in Paris so-to-speak, Alfons Mucha was given the order to supply a model for the planned paper print. This particular model was used then not only for the shares but for the bonds of the society as well. Alfons Mucha is seen by many as the most important Art Nouveau-artist.
Although not one of the more famous French institutions, nor one that survived through the end of the 20th century, the Paris-France Company was certainly a prominent financial institution in its time. Even though Mucha was under contract with Champenois, he was allowed to take on other commercial commissions, provided they did not directly interfere with Champenois' business. This image, reproduced by a photomechanical process, depicting an intricate allegory of trade and industry, was used, and reused by the bank over the years, appearing in different colors. It was definitely commissioned from the artist before he left for the United States in 1901. A glorious, and beautiful look at old-fashioned finance, in which coupons from bonds were redeemable every number of months.
History from Wikipedia.
