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 Replies: 20 / Views: 7,899 |
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Valued Member
United States
442 Posts |
I recently acquired an interesting piece of history at work. A 3 Cent encased postage stamp. Not something you see often. Actually my boss has been in business 45 years now and has owned 1 or 2. Imagine his surprise when we bought an estate stamp collection and there were FIVE pieces in the lot. I HAD to have one. To me it crosses paper money, stamps and exonumia. Paper money because it was the precursor of fractionals, stamps because it involves a stamp and exonumia due to the the store card aspect. As I mentioned these are seldom seen. It was certainly not in my budget but I had to act fast. Hopefully the first and last time I drop a few hundred bucks on a stamp as I am not a stamp collecor. Here's the item in question.   Here's more information on ecased stamps. http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1...&tid=2036357If anyone else has one or more I'd love to see them. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5829 Posts |
That is so cool. I used to be a philatelist at one time, but couldn't deal picking up stamps with tong, wife thought I was using her tweezers.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9864 Posts |
 Thanks for sharing |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
These are fun items to own, being one of the more unusual forms of emergency money during the more economically shaky years of the Civil War. The mica looks intact and undamaged on this one ... nice example! Original, silver-washed ones bring a premium, too.
Ayers issued many varieties of these, and they're the single-most collectible merchant in the series. As an adjunct, go-alongs for display or exhibit, clembo, you might look for some Ayers advertising and bottles. Ayers issued many colorful trade cards.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3177 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
The medium and the stamp are alike, but the one that Tunnioc points out was issued by a much less common merchant, being White the Hatter.
The asking price on this one seems high to this oldtimer, and any potential buyer would be wise to check out a variety of auction archives before committing to buy at that price. That said, price is of no consequence for some folks. Also, provenance will make a difference, as this item was the subject of a TV show. Folks do tend to pay more for a story and "bragging rights" so to speak. Then too, some guy paid $16,000 for a Texas snowball a few years ago, and that purchase puts the price of this historic item in the bargan basement!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3177 Posts |
I thought that was a really high price. The people over in the stamp forum would love to see this also.
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Valued Member
 United States
442 Posts |
As encased postage goes mine is "common". Common being a relative term for something many people will never see.
I just wanted an example and chose the cheapest ome.
I consider it a bargain at $200.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
899 Posts |
I consider that a steal clembo....Nice buy..  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Yes, $200 was a bargain price for such a nice example! Earlier this year, a buddy of mine bought a comparable Ayers specimen as a go-along for his U.S. type set. He paid $325 at a coin show. I'd sooner buy one of these "common" encased postage items than a comparably priced VG-Fine, "rare" 1914-D Lincoln Cent any day. The "rare" 1914-D's probably outnumber the the "common" Ayers postage currency by a ratio of 500/1 or more! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1143 Posts |
I consider that price very much a bargin considering its condition. Good looking piece you have.
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New Member
United States
4 Posts |
Hi I have one of these stamp/coin and would like to know it's value.
Thank you, Mike
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
Welcome aboard, Mike. Post a pic of yours. There are many varieties of encased postage; especially so, for the relatively "common" Ayers ones. Also, there are many condition factors, too: wear in general; whether the mica is clear, intact; brightness of the stamp's color; the stamp's denomination; the degree of silvering, if any, on the case. Problem-free, lightly circulated examples of the Ayers type can usually be found at larger coin shows, selling in the $300 range. Presently, I see one of the more common varieties, having a Three Cent stamp and damaged mica, with a BIN of $499. I personally doubt it will fetch over $300 in that condition. IMHO. $200 or so is more in step on this one. Yet, these items are popular ... Two interested bidders can easily drive prices upwards. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1143 Posts |
Condition varies widely on these as do values. A picture will go a long way in narrowing the range.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
731 Posts |
ebay pricing for encased postage is in most cases, way out there in la-la land.
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Valued Member
United States
331 Posts |
I'm impressed! I've been vaguely looking for one to go with my fractional collection but the prices are a little too steep. $200 for one in that condition is great.
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Replies: 20 / Views: 7,899 |
Posted 08/08/2011 10:39 am
