These are cool little things, if you've never heard of them. I can't recall seeing a thread about them on these boards before. Do any of you collect them. The reason I ask is because I recently read an article about the Q. David Bowers collection coming up for auction. He literally wrote the book about them. See more here: https://coinweek.com/auctions-news/...ference-collection-of-encased-postage-stamps/ If you have any, post them!
The Franklin 'Coin and Chronicles' commemorative set includes a few encase stamps from the past. I'm currently out of town so I'm borrowing some crappy photogs from 'Mint products.com) https://www.mintproducts.com/2006-benjamin-franklin-coin-chronicles-set.html
That set includes stamps, but those are not "encased stamps." Encased stamps are unique to the Civil War era, and were a replacement for coins (which, as "real money" were hoarded).
I only have one, as part of a small collection of federal currency alternatives when exhibiting Civil War Tokens.
I've always found them interesting and have a couple books on the subject, but I've never owned any. At least not US ones. There are some examples of encased postage in other countries and I have a couple of those, a piece or two that were issued as german notgeld, and a couple of spanish civil war issues.
World's largest collection of https://timbresmonnaies.wordpress.com/m-collection/spain-portugal-italy-western- sahara/ Search Google Images for "encased postage stamps"
I have two pieces, which are part of my alternatives to money used during the Civil War collection. When I can get on my desktop computer, I will post them.
Here are the two pieces I have. The Ayer's medicine company issued more encased postage pieces than any other merchant. If you collect these pieces it seems like they issued more of them than all of the others combined. That is proably an overstatement, but it seems like that. This one is quite nice because a lot of the silver wash is still on it. Here is encased postage inventer, John Gault's piece. It is interesting that he made his ad so modest. If you do decide to get involved with these pieces, here are some tips. The clear mica front piece is very important with respect to the value of the piece. If it is broken or cloudy, that lowers the value a lot. I have seen pieces that had it replaced with some sort of clear plastic. If you know what the real thing looks like, you will spot those right away. Also beware of pieces that have been opened. Sometimes you see these pieces with the brass obviously ripped or tampered with. Pieces with those problems are worth a lot less money. I have heard that WAY BACK in the day some were opened to get the stamp out if it was a rare high denomination. The stamp is folded inside of these pieces over a piece of cardboard from what I've heard. I have never gotten into one and never been around someone who did. There are also issues with high value stamps (higher than 10 cents). All of those pieces are rare, and there is possibility to someone was sharp enough to switch the stamp. For example the value of stamp can go up to 90 cents. The last I knew none of the 90 cent pieces that are known have a "clear bill of health," but I would leave the final word on that to the experts.
