A common stock certificate for 40 shares of International Mercantile Marine Company from 1915. This company, controlled by John Pierpoint Morgan, was the parent of the White Star Line, which owned the TITANIC and its sister ships among others. This stock certificate was signed by Philip Albright Small Franklin, Vice President of the company as of 1915. At the time of the TITANIC's sinking in 1912, Franklin was the Vice President for White Star Line and, after hearing about the accident, issued a premature statement that "There is no danger that TITANIC will sink. The boat is unsinkable, and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers." However, he is also credited for his competent handling of the public relations disaster that followed and for saving the International Mercantile Marine Company from disaster.