How do you find value of a stock certificate from 1906?

[DebJ]

My sister and brother in law just inherited some family items. Among them were three stocks:
Valdez Yukon Railroad Company, 1906
Copper River Mining Company 1904
Alaska Consolidated Copper from 1906

Anyone know how to determine the value of these items?
Thanks.

[pinniped]

1. Here's one place that might know.

http://glabarre.com/

I went to a Las Vegas coin/gun show and the program contained an old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad stock certificate. These things are pretty cool.

[Hotler]

2. What ever you do don't throw them away.

Start calling the Alaska historical (railroad/mining) clubs/societies and try and find out what happened to the companies. Check with the states treasure where the people lived to see if there are any unclaimed funds held until kin/aires can be found, all states have this. The stocks might not be Worth anything as far as shares of a company go. There are people that collect old stocks because some have cool art and printing on them especially if there are trains (railroad memorabilia collectors) and such on them. I'd keep them as art, mate and frame them, put them in a photo album as a reminder of history in an historic area. They are not printing that kind of stuff anymore. If you sell them or give them up, do your homework and research well before you let go of them. If someone offers you $15.00 a piece my thought is they will turn around and sell them for $50.00 each. I'd have fun doing the research then just keep them. Have fun let us know how it goes and what you find out.

[Magrittes Pipe]

3. Is it just the certificate?

Or is it possible that your sis & bro-in-law have inherited stock?

[mzteris]

4. there are companies

that research old stock certificates - I don't know how reliable they are, but some look cheap enough to give 'em a try.

edit to add link to article about old stocks:

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/investing/20011030a.asp

[SoCalDem]

5. Here's a start..

http://www.explorenorth.com/library/yafeatures/bl-rails.htm