A lovely engraved debenture certificate from 1899 issued for 20 pounds sterling by the Fayoum Egyptian railway. This was the era of unbridled railway construction worldwide, and most raised public money to finance their construction. The Fayoum Light Railway was a 97 mile branch line constructed to serve an irrigation district south of Cairo.
This stock certificate has it all; it's very large, engraved from top to bottom, and contains images of both a railway and many ancient Egyptian gods and symbols. Unfolded it measures 18 by 17 inches. The portion I had framed on my office wall for decades measured 14 by 11 inches. I kept it because it is quite beautiful, and because it reminded me of the faddish nature of investing. There is only one crease in the certificate, where I folded under the cupons.