Dwight D Eisenhower Post Office Label?

What is this and is it rare? I was told it is unused and he has another on cover. He wants to trade for $150 worth of stamps.

Ex-Presidents have normally been given the franking privilege when they leave office. Here is a similar one from LBJ on a portion of a package wrapper dated 1969. The use of the meter tape supplies the facsimile signature (as does the mailing label in this case). As for value? Fairly modest as the considerable supply of these would have a good survival rate, even on cover, although finding a copy may be a challenge. I would decline the trade offer.

Thanks John. I wasn't too impressed with the item. Different, but not my collecting interest. You educated me!

Here is a 1948 metered envelope from Eisenhower, showing his 5 star rank in the space often filled with a slogan, and the "DDE" as part of the return address on the back flap.

Nice covers, John.

If it's any guide, I have an Eisenhower free frank meter (not on tape, direct on envelope) that has not sold on ebay at $20. I do think these sorts of things have some popularity, though (I've sold a lot of other 20th century ex-president and first lady franks in the last 6 months). John's Lyndon Johnson is a neat use.

The American Stampless Cover Catalog lists presidential (and first lady) franks,including the meter stamps. The 1987 edition (Volume II) valued Eisenhower at $75 but that's definitely too high.

The covers I really like; the meter tape not very much at all, particularly after seeing you get corner cards or mailing labels with the covers.

If the autograph market has become anything like stamps has become (I'd guess so), I see holographic signatures (actually handwritten) to be the supposed main goal for collecting, with everybody getting snooty about collecting same but not bothering to learn a thing to identify real from fake. These covers have a place in a real collector's collection.

The first label in this post is interesting in that Ike retired to a farm in Gettysburg, I believe near the battlefield. It was not far from his ancestral home (Pennsylvania Dutch, you know.)

The first Ike label is very subtle with the four stars; the fancier LBJ one sure fits him.

the guy who is selling the Eisenhower label said that the staff at the Eisenhower Museum told him that the franked meter label, carrying the Gettysburg address, and bearing the Presidential stars on the right side...is rare and quite valuable..... Eisenhower was friends of his family and sent it to them.

Well, not to muddy the waters, and I must say I don't know a lot about metered labels, "billsbargainstamps" has this listed on ebay for $499:

Full listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/PROOF-OF-PR...170901292439

He calls it a "proof." Do such things exist for metered labels? Could that be why the Eisenhower Museum said it was "rare and quite valuable?" Langs claims that only 10 exist. Longtime SCF members are naturally dubious of Langs' listings and especially the prices that Langs asks for his listings. Assuming (and we know what that means) (1) that such a thing as what Langs claims ("proofs") exist and that 10 is "rare" (b) and that the label shown in the OP is indeed one of the 10, then $150 in stamps might be a fair exchange for something Langs' would want $500 for. But again, what is a "proof" in this context, and how would one verify that this is a "proof." I'd at least want an explanation for the different dates in the "CDS."

Basil

Meter machines of this era typically can print either directly onto the envelope or onto a gummed paper tape for affixing onto non-machinable sized items. I suspect this $499 tape is an unaffixed full-gummed impression made on the first day of the machine's use - or a test impression made before it was shipped by Pitney Bowes to Gettysburg - if it is special at all. I agree, the ebay description is lacking in specific detail. There may indeed be only 10 of the September 27, 1961 date made, but there would be thousands made with later dates.

That ebay offering is an excellent example to pick! The seller has a bad reputation for trying to sell overpriced items including little-known things like this and lots of obvious forgeries, in spite of what his sales record looks like.

The date can always be changed to about anything you like on meter machines. The date usually had to be changed manually every day in any case, since metered mail must have the correct date when mailed. Places where I worked had the machines; you'd just push the wheel the individual number or month was on with a pencil. If you see letters with a second meter mark or label with zero money and a newer date, that's an accepted correction

So, how can it be proven to be a trial or proof? Billy Langs Foundation certificate?