Internal Revenue Tax Stamp, Retail Liquor Dealer, 1884

I see these listed from time-to-time and they interest me greatly. Are they "worth" the price or a better question would be what is a fair catalog value of such an item assuming it is in Fine/VF condition? Just a note here: I really don't collect for value's sake however I do like my items to retain their "intrinsic" or philatelic, as it were- value, in other words, I love/need to preserve the condition of said stamp and certainly don't mind paying well over catalog value for something I like, need or just plain want. I'm asking if they have a known "place" amongst the revenue community, what exactly they are and other examples and varieties?

I seen this one listed at around $18.00. Fair asking price?

Yes, going rate for a STSRLD Sterling remainder is around $10-$25.




Yes they do. I'm on my way out the door at the moment. I can fill you in the story behind these when I return later.

In 1868 the government began issuing "stamps" to document payment of taxes on tobacco and alcohol. These included cigars, snuff, beer, and distilled spirits. Later occupational tax licenses were added on brewers, exporters, warehousers, manufacturers and retailers. These stamps are known as taxpaids, Special Tax Stamps or STS and Occupational Licenses. In 1890, Hiram Sterling and Edmund Deats, purchased seven boxcars full of surplus paper from the U.S. Treasury. The Box cars contained over 200 Tons of Various Special Tax and Revenue stamps. Eventually the Treasury Dept. found the error and demanded the material be returned. A large number of these tax stamps were held back, most were punch cancelled. These are considered "remainders". In some cases remainders are the only examples of these stamps. Deats and Sterling printed advertisements on the backs of an estimated 50,000 of these Remainders.
A fairly complete list of these Special Tax Stamps(STS) and Occupational Licenses can be found in Civil War Era Occupational Licenses, 1863-1873, A History and Catalog by John Alan Hicks

The STS that you have is known as an "RLD" short for "Retail Liquor Dealer" Most of these are classified with a short letter code based on the type of license. Some of the other types are: One Worm (this is the copper coil for distilling), Wholesale Liquor Dealer(WLD), Retail Dealer In Fermented Malt Liquor, Rectifier Of 500 Barrels Or More, Retail Dealer In Liquors (At Large), just to name a few.

I can post some examples of the different types later this week if you want.

I would definitely like that! Thank you for the valuable and extremely fascinating information!

here's another I might take a stab at!

1st STS 1884 Retail Liquor Dealer(RLD), Qty. of Deats and Sterling Remainders 60,282
The 2nd STS 1880 Rectifier of Distilled Spirits(RDS), Qty. of D & S Remainders 888

look at this handsome private die! It said it's a #RS306d 1 1/4c Dr. Williams Medicine.

I just seen a set of "rocket stamps" up for sale on ebay if anyone is interested? They say Greenwood Lake, NY and I guess they was the first rocket stamps? Their also looks to be a newspaper clipping with them too. I don't know much about these except for the experimentation of rockets delivering the mail. They are not perforated and could be proofs? Not sure.
Item number:380359542357