US Encased Postage

Does anyone here collect or own any Encased Poatage stamps ? Post a scan I'd love to see them.

Stallzer,
Very nice example.

Wow! Nice!

First time viewed, very unusual.
Thanks for posting.

For more than a century, collectors have pondered the simple metal and mineral stamp cases bearing his testament: "PAT AUG 12, 1862. /#8203;/#8203; J. GAULT." and speculated in true cocktail party repartee, offering clever words instead of insight. John Gault, the man, languished as a blank page . . . an uninvited guest at a party thrown in his honor. His ingenious invention, his encased stamps, demanded that John Gault emerge from obscurity, a well-rounded figure. What needed to be done was to put a face to the character of a man capable of such notable, if minor, achievement.

What we discover emerges as a well-rounded flesh and blood man of his times. Gault was a man of good character, sympathetic and family-oriented. He was intelligent. Opportunistic. He lived a life caught up in the great currents of his times, the 19th century. Gault was a minor swimmer in the great currents of his age. He didn't create the tides. He was forced to swim in their wakes. A youthful visionary, he joined a Massachusetts mining company and set off for California. He returned a realist to face the unraveling of the Union. A tinkerer with mechanical ability, he invented a series of ingenious devices: principally a sewing machine to knit its parts together, his encased postage stamp device to remedy its financial problems, and a series of exploding artillery shells to quell its rebellion. In true objectivist fashion, however, his own station was his primary interest. And so, his interests meeting no great success, he ultimately turned to selling his generation whiskey and commiserating with others similarly passed by in the Great Stream of Life. . . .

http://www.fredwritesright.com/_i_c...__100543.htm

I saw this item on the Pawn Stars television show. As I recall it fetched a pretty sum.

Yes, some of these beauties fetch a very handsome price, I've seen some go at auction houses for over $7,000.00. These are one of the most fascinating pieces of US postal history since they were created to replace coins during the metal shortage during the Civil War. Unfortunately mine is not one of the $5,000.00 varieties, but none the less it is still a beautiful piece in my mind and would probably fetch a minimum of full catalog value as many of these pull in 1.5 times the catalog value. Finding these with the Mica intact and in good condition is a trick in it's own, even mine has a very small scratch in the Mica towards the bottom at around 5 O'clock. Since they were only produced for 2 years (1862 & 1863) makes it that much more collectible and many of these were gobbled up by coin collectors and are very sought after in the numismatic community. Here is another good read on these.

http://choyt48.home.comcast.net/~ch...tage_run.htm

Is it hinged?

If you want a real challange. Try to find ANY of these with their Original Silver Plated finish!

That's a first for me. I've never seen anything like that. Who collects more of these? The coin collector or the stamp collector?

Donna

Scouter, I saw that episode as well. However they bought it at a far greater price then catalog value. the historian who authenticated it, doesn't know crap about stamps.
they never inspected the inside, which is critical in valuation. whether the stamp is wrinkled or cut, etc..
The one the guy brought in is the last one listed (pictured) in scotts specialized.

btw. I would love to own one of these.

For anyone that is interested. Robert A. Siegel Auctioned a Massive collection of these in 2008, "The Summit Collection of Encased Postage", Sale #955. Over 100 Lot's were auctioned. I bid on a few and was outbid. Follow the link below.

http://stampauctionnetwork.com/Y/Y955.cfm

Really nice item stallzer,it's in great condition.
The one on the Pawn Stars TV show wasn't nearly as good shape as yours.
This not just philatelic but there is so much history involved here.

Beautiful, would love to own one of these.

Thanks, yes I got lucky on this one as it was part of the collection I inherited and this one in particular has a nice deep color and is exceptionally centered for these types. The metal itself is in excellent condition for the year also and these are one of the few items that regularly fetch above and beyond catalog value, although I'll never find out as I won't part with it :)