Confederate Blockade Runner Certificate. Charleston, South Carolina. Atlantic Steam Packet Company of the Confederate States. March 12, 1863. (5) $1000 Shares. Very Fine.；We are pleased to offer a small but important collection of Confederate Blockade Runner Certificates this evening. During the American Civil War the Union Army employed a strategy of blockading Confederate ports in order prevent the flow of goods and correspondence in and out of the Confederacy. The fledgling Confederate states were in desperate need of imported arms and other goods to support their war effort while they relied on the export of goods such as cotton to Europe to pay for the war supplies. In order to ensure the flow of supplies in and out of the Southern states the Confederacy relied on a network of blockade runner ships, mostly privately owned, that could sneak through or out run the Union ships that maintained the blockade. These ships were built for speed and maneuverability and an estimated 2,500 to 2,800 attempts to run Union blockades were made with about an 80% success rate realized. The share certificates offered here were issued in order to raise funds for the production of the blockade runner ships. These certificates are fascinating relics of an important aspect of the Confederate war and economic effort.<p>The Atlantic Steam Packet Company of the Confederate States ran cotton to the Bahamas and returned with goods imported from Europe. This bond for five $1000 shares comes printed on blue paper. A steamship is seen at top center. This bond was issued to George W. Williams & Co. A company seal is embossed into the bond at lower right. The company owned the steamer Kate Gregg which made four successful runs in late 1864 and early 1865 and survived the war. Likely an R-7 with perhaps five or so known. A couple of folds and minor foxing are seen.
