Beautifully engraved SPECIMEN PROOF certificate from the Sonesta International Hotels Corporation. This historic document was printed by the Security-Colombian Banknote Company and has a block border with a vignette of an allegorical woman holding a globe. There is a stamp on the certificate that says "No objection to workmanship. New York Stock Exchange" and is signed. 
Certificate Vignette Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is a collection of upscale hotels which cater to discerning leisure and business travelers. The corporation is distinguished by its unique properties located in a variety of exciting destinations. Every Sonesta delivers uncompromising personal service and is designed to reflect the style, culture and history of its location. Each Sonesta property is situated to offer the best of what its destination has to offer, from tropical beaches, folkloric traditions, and native food, to state-of-the-art equipment and conveniences beyond those expected. For 50 years, Sonesta has owned, managed, designed, built and marketed hotels throughout the world. Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is an outgrowth of Sonnabend Operated Hotels, founded in the 1940's, and Child Restaurant Company, founded in the 1930's. In 1956, they merged to become Hotel Corporation of America, one of the first major hotel companies. Sonesta operates under the leadership of Roger P. Sonnabend, chairman of the Board of Directors and chief executive officer; Paul Sonnabend, chief financial officer and chairman of the Executive Committee, and Stephanie Sonnabend, president. Roger and Paul began their careers with Sonnabend Operated Hotels, in 1946 and 1950, respectively. Stephanie is the granddaughter of Sonesta founder A.M. Sonnabend and began her career in the family business in 1979. A public company, Sonesta's stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol SNSTA. There are presently 22 Sonesta hotels and resorts, including 2 Nile cruise ships. The properties are located in the U.S., Bermuda, the Caribbean, Peru, Italy, and Egypt. By consolidating assets and positioning the company for opportunities to expand with more hotels and resorts, Sonesta has emerged as a stronger company over the past five years. While growth will be continuous, it will be at a pace that will preserve the character that distinguishes each Sonesta property.
About Specimens Specimen Certificates are actual certificates that have never been issued. They were usually kept by the printers in their permanent archives as their only example of a particular certificate. Sometimes you will see a hand stamp on the certificate that says "Do not remove from file". Specimens were also used to show prospective clients different types of certificate designs that were available. Specimen certificates are usually much scarcer than issued certificates. In fact, many times they are the only way to get a certificate for a particular company because the issued certificates were redeemed and destroyed. In a few instances, Specimen certificates were made for a company but were never used because a different design was chosen by the company. These certificates are normally stamped "Specimen" or they have small holes spelling the word specimen. Most of the time they don't have a serial number, or they have a serial number of 00000. This is an exciting sector of the hobby that has grown in popularity over the past several years.
Certificate Vignette
About Specimens Specimen Certificates are actual certificates that have never been issued. They were usually kept by the printers in their permanent archives as their only example of a particular certificate. Sometimes you will see a hand stamp on the certificate that says "Do not remove from file". Specimens were also used to show prospective clients different types of certificate designs that were available. Specimen certificates are usually much scarcer than issued certificates. In fact, many times they are the only way to get a certificate for a particular company because the issued certificates were redeemed and destroyed. In a few instances, Specimen certificates were made for a company but were never used because a different design was chosen by the company. These certificates are normally stamped "Specimen" or they have small holes spelling the word specimen. Most of the time they don't have a serial number, or they have a serial number of 00000. This is an exciting sector of the hobby that has grown in popularity over the past several years.
