The term scripophilia is the result of a competition among readers banned by the newspaper “The Times” in 1977 in order to give a name to a new genre of collecting: “scrip” is the Anglo-Saxon economic term for “provisional certificate of titles”, while “philos” is the Greek suffix meaning “to love”.

“A historical title is a title out of course and devoid of stock market value, which represents a living and authentic
testimony of the past. The valori d’epoca cards have a particularly important value for economic history and the history of taste, precious and fascinating fragments indispensable to reconstruct the complex mosaic of the human path.

The advent of data processors and the gradual affirmation of the telematic Stock Exchange have caused a consequent decrease in the physical circulation of securities: which contributes enormously to increase the historical interest, the charm, the value.

Historical titles offer a concentration of data in which the organization of the graphic space, the signatures of famous people, the symbology and the figurations adopted speak more than a contemporary photograph.”declares Alex Witula-historical portfolio.

Abroad, especially in the USA, Britain, France and Germany, this type of collecting has taken root for some decades now … the most valuable specimens touch prices around 50 million lire.

In the last five years, even in Italy, the buying opportunities for these stocks, bonds, insurance policies and financial documents have multiplied and often still remain at prices well below the international averages.

The golden rules to follow in purchases are as follows :
1. The artistic value
2. Year of issue
3. Rarity
4. The state of conservation
5. The signatures of famous people