1766, Spain. One share. Engraved vignette of the royal arms of Guipuzcoa with an extremely ornate border design depicting an indian, female figure, fruits, weapons and plants as well as a number of boxes of the company's freight. Printed on vellum. Attached embossed white seal which also depicts the Guipuzcoa royal arms.
The Caracas company was formed by a group of merchants in the Guipuzcoa province near San Sebastian, in the Basque region of Spain. Its primary purpose was trading with the Caracas province of Venezuela as well as the development of agriculture and the oversight of Orinoco river to the Hacha river in order to prevent illegal trading by the Dutch from Curacao. This company was the first of the great spanish overseas trading companies and the first Spanish trading company known to have issued public stock.
At 21 Elizabeth Farnese (1692-1766), the Queen consort of Spain, was married to Philip V of Spain. Exerting great influence of the weak Philip, she strongly supported the policy of Alberoni, one aim of which was to recover the ancient Italian possessions of Spain (eventually both Sardinia and Sicily were seized by the Spanish). Elizabeth was such a staunch supporter of this policy that she even placed herself at the head of one division of the Spanish army as French forces advanced to the Pyrenees! Ultimately, Elizabeth's ambition was grievously disappointed. The Triple Alliance thwarted her plans, and in 1720 the allies made the banishment of Alberoni a condition of peace, and the Spanish were forced to abandon Sicily. In the end, all Elizabeth's entreaties failed to prevent the abdication of Philip, who gave up the throne to his heir in 1724, and retired to the palace of La Granja. Seven months later, the death of the young king recalled Philip to the throne. During his declining years, Elizabeth directed the whole policy of Spain toward securing thrones in Italy for her sons. In 1736 she had the satisfaction of seeing her dreams realized with the accession of her son Don Carlos, later Charles II of Spain, to the throne of the Two Sicilies and his recognition by the powers in the treaty of Vienna.
An important, early Spanish trading company stock and historically signicant issued to the most powerful woman in Spain at the time. Uncancelled and Extremely Fine.
