Goes. Selling Helps. Lithographed, Certificate Borders, Stock Certificates, Bond Bodies. [Chicago specimen book for Goes Lithographing Company]

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A scarce Atomic Age printing specimen book from Chicago’s Goes Lithographing Company.

In 1871, Indiana-native Charles B. Goes (1855–1910) removed to Chicago and started work as a typographer with the Chicago Herald. By 1881, Goes was established as a lithographer to the trade and his firm began producing their signature stock certificate blanks in 1884.

Circa 1906, the Goes firm teamed up with the Harris Press Company on Cleveland and developed, according to company history, the first successful powered rotary offset press, ushering in the “offset” revolution in lithographic printing. The Goes firm kept their press on-site. Its sister press, kept by the Harris Press Company, was exhibited in 1966 by the Smithsonian Institution, commemorating the technological achievement of the two companies.

Within the book are over 120 specimens of stock certificates, coupon sheets, check forms, contracts, scrip and other security papers, insurance policy blanks, certificate of award blanks, and other blanks.

Finely-detailed vignettes depict patriotic eagle vignettes or themed-illustrations for industries involved in agriculture, oil drilling, and mining ventures. One image suggests the an Atomic Age theme: Planet Earth is shown with the atomic nuclear symbol. In the background is a modern cityscape with a jet flying through the skies. Another image shows a winged angel above two men pulling and pushing a large gear into motion.

Security features consist of watermarks and borders reproducing machine engraving. Certificates seen in multiples show color options, and all sheets are imprinted with a Goes inventory number.

A useful and visual representation of the technical excellency and output capabilities of an important midwestern lithography firm; one that successfully innovated and pioneered industry technology. Goes Lithographing Company remained operational in Chicago until 2010 and they are now based in Wisconsin.

Price: $350.00