This stock reads,’The National Company, Incorporated as the Excelsior Enterprise Company. Excelsior was incorporated in 1871, changed its name to National in 1873, and finally changed it’s name to Reading Company (the Railroad) on December 7th, 1896. This certificate was issued on December 23, 1896, so the company was already’Reading’ but using old certificates. Shown is an excerpt from an 1897 issue of’The Railway News’ discussing this (not included). It is certificate number 13 and is issued to John Lowber Welsh, the Philadelphia financier, promoter and railroad organizer. It is signed by Welsh on the reverse. Clean condition, stub attached at left. See my OTHER STOCKS AND BONDS! GUARANTEED ORIGINAL – NO REPRODUCTIONS! The free listing tool. This item is in the category “Coins & Paper Money\Stocks & Bonds, Scripophily\Transportation\Railroads”. The seller is “gold-coast” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.