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Auction: SW1014 - Bonds & Share Certificates of the World
Lot: 129

La Navegación Submarina. Accion, $25, Serie A, Barcelona, 1 Julio 1862. #3724. One of the most important items in submarine history. The Navegacion Submarina was founded in Barcelona by Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol (1819-1885). Monturiol built the first air independent and combustion engine driven submarine. The first dive of his submarine, Ictineo I, took place in 1859 in the harbour of Barcelona. During the summer of 1859 Monturiol performed more than 20 dives in the Ictineo, with his business partner and shipbuilder as crew. Ictineo I was eventually destroyed by accident in January 1862, after completing some fifty dives, when a cargo vessel ran into it while it was berthed. Because Monturiol got no support from the Spanish government, he wrote a "letter to the nation", asking people to support his project. The fund raising was a great success, bringing in Pts 300,000. With these funds, the company, La Navegación Submarina, was formed with the objective of developing the Ictineo II. On 22 October 1867, Ictineo II made its first surface journey using steam-power, averaging 3.5 knots with a top speed of 4.5 knots. Two months later, Monturiol submerged the vessel and successfully tested his anaerobic engine. However, only nine days later the company ran out of cash and went bankrupt. The submarine was sold for scraps. Replicas of the two submarines can be seen in the Barcelona Marine Museum and the harbour of Barcelona. Original signature of Monturiol. In the underprint image of Ictineo II and symbolized corrals. Small repairs. EF.

Sold for
SFr700