A Stock Certificate For An Early Pennsylvania Winery

(WINERY). DS. 2pgs. May 23, 1811. Philadelphia. A partially-printed stock certificate for the Company for promoting the Cultivation of Vines in Pennsylvania signed Hugh Ferguson as company President and James Farnum as Treasurer. The certificate entitled Joseph Warner to one share in the company, which he purchased for $20. Writing on the verso, dated 1812 and 1813, records three later transfers of the stock to new owners, each signed James Farnum as witness. This Pennsylvania wine-making company, also known as the Pennsylvania Vine Company (or Vine Company of Pennsylvania), was founded by Peter Lagaux in 1786. Lagauxs enterprise was one of the new nations first commercially-successful wineries, but there has been wine production in Pennsylvania since William Penn himself planted the colonys first grape vines. The certificate is in very good condition, with a large but light water stain on the bottom third.