Any public warehouseman operating a warehouse in this state may make a valid sale or pledge of any warehouse receipts issued for grain of which the warehouseman is the owner, either solely or jointly or in common with others, and the recital of such ownership in the receipts shall constitute notice to all the world of the right to sell or pledge the same and of the title or specific lien of the transferee or pledgee upon the warehouseman’s grain represented by such receipts.