Product Details

Nicely engraved antique stock certificate from Bishop Industries, Inc. dating back to the 1970's. This document, which carries the printed signatures of the company President and Secretary, was a printed by the Security-Columbian Bank Note Company, and measures approximately 12" (w) by 8" (h).

This certificate's vignette features a female figure leaning on the company's logo.

Images

You will receive the exact certificate pictured.

Historical Context

Hazel Bishop Inc. was the brainchild of Hazel Bishop - who cooked up the first kissproof lipstick (which was marketed under the tag line "stays on you... not on him") in a kitchen fitted out as a laboratory.

Bishop exploited the skills of a research chemist, a merchant and a teacher to achieve eminence in three careers over the course of 50 years.

It was soon after World War II that Bishop, a trained chemist who had worked in a dermatologist's laboratory, developed a nondrying, nonirritating, long-wearing lipstick. (Long-lasting types contain high amounts of colorants called bromo acids that have staining qualities.)

In 1950, she formed Hazel Bishop Inc. to manufacture and market her discovery. "Never again need you be embarrassed by smearing friends, children, relatives, husband, sweetheart," the early advertising said, pointing out that older formulations tended to leave greasy marks on glasses, cigarettes and teeth. And the new brand did not have to be applied several times a day.

The brand found instant acceptance. When it was introduced that summer at $1 a tube, Lord & Taylor sold out its stock on the first day. The brand soon captured 25 percent of the fast-growing lipstick market and locked horns with Charles Revson of Revlon in "the lipstick war."

But Miss Bishop was engaged in a war of her own with her majority stockholder over financial issues. In settling her lawsuit, she left the company in 1954, when its sales exceeded $10 million a year. She set up Hazel Bishop Laboratories to develop household and personal care products, but ran into legal problems with her former partner, losing the right to sell products under her own name or to use it in personal appearances.

In 1962, she became a stockbroker for Bache & Company and later a financial analyst for Evans & Company. With the burgeoning of the fragrance business in the 1960's and 70's, cosmetics companies became hot stocks and her advice was ardently sought. She was quoted in newspaper financial pages and lectured throughout the United States.

The company later became Bishop Industries Inc.