STOCK EXCHANGE RECEIPT -1946 Calcutta Stock Exchange Broker’s Contract

This document is a formal Contract Note dated May 1, 1946, issued by the brokerage firm Radhakishen Sonthalia in Calcutta. It records a significant financial transaction where the broker purchased 500 shares from a client, Mrs. J. Sen. The firm operated out of 7, Lyons Range, which remains the historic hub of the Calcutta Stock Exchange to this day.

The shares traded belonged to The British India Corp. Ltd., a major colonial-era industrial conglomerate. While the shares had a face value of Re. 1, they were sold at a premium price of Rs. 12 and 11 Annas per share. This indicates the company’s strong market standing during the industrial period immediately preceding India’s independence.

The document features a four-anna Government of India revenue stamp, overprinted with "Broker's Note," validating its legality. It also specifies that the trade included all "dividends, privileges, and bonuses," adhering to the strict regulations of the Calcutta Stock Exchange Association. The perforated bottom section served as a confirmation receipt for the client to sign and return.

STOCK EXCHANGE RECEIPT -1946 Calcutta Stock Exchange Broker’s Contract

This document is a formal dividend payment receipt issued by the Official Assignee’s Office in Calcutta on February 17, 1888. It records a transaction regarding the insolvent estate of Lyall Matheson & Co., a prominent merchant house of that era. The receipt tracks a payout to the Delhi Bank (later the Delhi & London Bank Ltd.), illustrating the legal process of debt recovery in colonial India.

The financial breakdown provides a stark look at the reality of 19th-century business failures. The Delhi Bank held a massive claim of 44,942 Rupees, yet this "6th Dividend" payout was calculated at a rate of only 3 Annas and 6 Pies per 100 Rupees. After the Official Assignee deducted a small commission, the bank received a net sum of just 97 Rupees, 5 Annas, and 3 Pies.

Visually, the document is a rich piece of "fiscal ephemera." It features a pink One Anna Queen Victoria revenue stamp, essential for legalizing financial transactions. The bold red ink crossing the center, dated February 22, 1888, serves as a processing mark, while the various handwritten signatures and bank stamps confirm the multi-layered bureaucracy of the High Court of Calcutta.