THE CIVIL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY of NSW LIMITED

THE CIVIL SERVICE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY of NSW LIMITED
 
SECURITY TYPE: Shares
YEAR: 1903
INITIAL PRICE: 
NUMBER OF SHARES: 1
COLOUR: Gray
AGE: 123
SIGNATURE: 
CERTIFICATE OWNER: David Reid
PRINTER: New South Wales
CONDITION: Very Fine
 
HISTORY
This is not an ordinary company share certificate in the usual sense, but a certificate from The Civil Service Co-operative Society of New South Wales, Limited, one of Sydney’s early retail co-operatives. It was established in 1871 by public servants and quickly grew into a substantial consumer co-operative, operating stores in Sydney and later becoming well known as the Civil Service Store. Sources from the period show it was founded in April 1871, held shareholder meetings almost immediately afterward, and remained active for decades as a retail and co-operative institution serving members and their families. This 1903 certificate fits that mature phase of its history, when it was issuing small paid-up shares to members rather than acting like a conventional industrial or mining company.