1899 Stock Certificate - American Carbide Lamp Company in Chicago, Illinois For Sale

Authentic red serial-numbered xxxx preferred stock certificate issued by the American Carbide Lamp Company of West Virginia. Document has a dollar-bill green border with superb classic font at top-center displaying the company name against a smoky gray background. Green tint underprint near middle of document states "preferred", and full left side contains a large stock registrar's signature block. Both the company secretary and its president hand-sign the bottom of this document, which the Security Bank Note Co. (Philadelphia) produced.
After California Gold Rush of xxxx, and the relative easy pickin's of gold dried up in streams and riverbeds, prospectors went after precious minerals found in veins running deep underground. Hard rock mining, requiring engineers and big money, soon followed and much entrepreneurial capital was set upon the task of reaching the mineral wealth post haste! The need to shed light on the darkness created an industry, and left a legacy.
In the beginning miners had only candles and oil wick lamps to light their way, but after the accidental discovery of carbide in the xxxx's and subsequent use in lamps for bicycles, the first carbide lamp for miners was patented in the late xxxx's using the new technology. Over the ensuing two decades, a thriving industry of over 90 manufacturers sprang up in the wake of this new technology. Although the electric lamp would replace carbide lamps by xxxx, the 25 year period of carbide lighting for miners produced a vast array of lamp designs and manufacturers which became a part of America's history and a visible legacy to the early days of mining.
Carbides still produced today on a limited basis come in hand held, cap and hat mounted, as well as larger units for motorcycles, bicycles, military vehicles, and other assorted vehicles. Popular uses are for mining, cave exploration, camping and exploring, farming, and hunting.
Document is in Excellent condition and measures 7 15/16 X 11 13/16 inches. If you prefer, I have similar certificate with brown border and light brown underprint stating"common" for common stock.