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.
