Description
This is a ENCASED POSTAGE, 1c BLUE, NORTH AMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, HB-188, EP-24-VF. EX-HERITAGE, LOT #81029, AUCTION #142236 FROM 9/6/22 WHERE IT REALIZED $324, THIS WAS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: “THIS PIECE MAY HAVE BEEN PRIED OPEN AT ONE TIME. THE MICA EXHIBITS CRAZING, CLOUDINESS, AND SCRATCHES. THE ENCASEMENT HAS TONED NICELY. FRED REED’S RARITY RATING IN CIVIL WAR ENCASED STAMPS THE ISSUERS AND THEIR TIMES IS A R-4, INDICATING 31-40 KNOWN.” IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT WE BUY A COLLECTION OF ENCASED POSTAGE. THIS IS ONE OF THE QUANDARY AREAS OF NUMISMATICS. AND WITH CROSSOVER TO BOTH PHILATELY AND EXONUMIA, ENCASED POSTAGE APPEALS TO A MYRIAD OF COLLECTORS. THESE HYBRIDS HAD THEIR BEGINNINGS UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PRODUCED FRACTIONAL CURRENCY-NAMELY, THE ABSENCE OF CIRCULATING COIN DURING THE YEARS OF THE CIVIL WAR. SINCE POSTAGE STAMPS WERE BEING USED IN PLACE OF COINS WHICH WERE IN SEVERE SHORTAGE, THE CHALLENGE BECAME PRESERVING THEIR LONGEVITY. J GAULT CAME UP WITH A DESIGN WHICH CALLED FOR A BRASS FRAME TO ENCASE THE STAMP HENCE EXTENDING ITS LIFE. THE CONCEPT CAUGHT ON, AND MERCHANTS BEGAN TO USE THE BACKSIDE OF THE ENCASEMENT TO ADVERTISE THEIR PRODUCTS. MOST ENCASED POSTAGE HAD VERY SMALL ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS, ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO THEIR COIN COUNTERPARTS. CONSEQUENTLY, THERE ARE MANY RARE AND VALUABLE VARIETIES IN EXISTANCE. MANY OF THE ENCASED POSTAGE STAMPS IN THIS COLLECTION WERE SOURCED THROUGH HERIATGE AUCTIONS, AND THE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE ACTUAL SALE, LOT NUMBER AND PRICE REALIZED IS PROVIDED ABOVE. THIS IS COUNTERINTUITIVE TO OUR NORMAL POLICY OF STEERING CLEAR OF ITEMS WITH A KNOWN AUCTION HISTORY, BUT THE RARITY OF MANY OF THESE ISSUES PRECLUDES SOURCING THEM ELSEWHERE. SINCE THIS IS AN AREA THAT HAS GOTTEN IMMENSELY MORE POPULAR WITH TIME, WE FEEL THIS COLLECTION PROVIDES AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE LOOKING TO ENTER THIS FACSINATING ARENA! Our commitment is to provide you with quality coins and collectibles at the best possible prices. This piece is no exception. Please note, the coin and collectibles markets do fluctuate, and prices occasionally will change. In this rare circumstance, we will contact you first to verify your order.
