Has anyone collected these 1800's stamps encased on store cards ( usually brass) . I don't have an example . If you have one, post one . Like to see them.
Yeah, they are pricey, especially if the mica is in good shape. Lots of different collecting fields intersect on these; stamp collectors like seeing how their stamps were money, coin collectors for unusual coins, Civil War collectors, etc. Demand from many fields and low population usually leads to pricey objects.
Here are two examples. This one was issued by Aye's Pills, which is by far the most common merchant. This one still has some of the silvering left on it. This one was issued by John Gault who invented encased postage. This is scarcer, but not rare. If you ever decide to shop one of these pieces, watch out for poor or replaced windows. The real thing was clear mica over the stamp. I have seen pieces with a replacement window made of plastic. Also check to see if the case has been messed with. This is a big concern if a high value stamp (more than 10 cents) in inside. Most of these pieces had 1, 3 and 10 cent stamps in them.
I too am not in to stamps but my wife is and we often clash on where to put our items. She wants to place her stamps with my coins of the same year, no, not interested! The war rages on...
I think their historical an neat as ... . I would like if they were attached to a coin somehow but I like the way they are also . If I was richer .. lol... I would buy 2 !
I'd like to get at least one just for the history, but they are too expensive for me to collect as a series or even types.
