Confederate Blockade Runner Certificate. Charleston, South Carolina. Importing and Exporting Company of South Carolina. March 3, 1863. (2) $1000 Shares. Very Fine.；Printed in black on white paper by Evans & Cogswell. Plain format with company named curved at top. "POWER TO TRANSFER" tab below the bottom frame of the certificate. The Importing and Exporting Company of South Carolina was one of the earliest blockade runner companies. They operated 10 ships. Charleston shipping and commission merchants, W. C. Bee and C. T. Mitchel, ran the company. They initially purchased 2 ¼ shares each in the first offering of 100 shares. The company became known as the "Bee Company" and its sale of imported goods were known as "Bee Sales". This was because of Bees strong association with the company. The largest shareholder was rival John Fraser and Co. which held 9 ½ shares of the initial 100. In April 1862 the company undertook its first of many ventures. It was the largest and most successful of all the blockade runner companies and it more than paid back investors for their investment. Total dividends paid during the war totaled $9,000 and 120 English pounds per share. The company concluded operations on January 20, 1865. After the war, company assets were sold in Europe and an additional dividend of 70 English pounds was paid to close the books. R-5 with about a dozen examples known. The paper is lightly toned.
