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Article: Dutch East India Company Fate Foreshadows Today's Market.
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
- Article date:
- September 26, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Evening Standard, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Sep. 26--Almost 400 years ago to the day, a Dutch burgher by the name of Dirck Pietsersz Straetmaker made history when he received the first-ever printed share certificate. It confirmed he was the proud owner of 60 guilders (UKpound 500 in today's money) of shares in Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), better known in the English-speaking world as the Dutch East India Company.
Straetmaker probably did not know it, but he was participating in the world's first initial public offering and was a part owner of the first permanent company to issue shares to the public and have them ...