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Reed-IH10ES Experimental 10¢ 1861 Envelope Stamp Irving House, Hunt & Nash Very Fine.. ...
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$10,200.00
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Description
1 of 2 Known Irving House, Hunt & Nash 10¢ Experimental
Reed-IH10ES Experimental 10¢ 1861 Envelope Stamp Irving House,
Hunt & Nash Very Fine.Both sides of this enigmatic and likely experimental/pattern/trial piece are illustrated on page 85 of Fred Reed's essential reference, Civil War Encased Stamps The Issuers and Their Times. In that reference, it is stated as being "?-Unique." Irving House was John Gault's earliest customer and it is likely that this piece was prepared by Scovill Manufacturing Co. as a sample for Gault to show hotelier Hunt & Nash. The piece has clearly circulated, in spite of the fact that the 1861 10¢ envelope stamp (Scott U41) was demonetized at the start of the Civil War. Even were it not demonetized, it still would have been rendered valueless, as envelope stamps were neither redeemable nor valid for postage once cut from the envelope on which they were printed. It is very unlikely that any member of the public would have had the savvy to reject this piece as having a non-valid stamp. After its use in securing a contract for Gault, it was more than likely spent. The piece is clearly genuine and untampered with. Another strong possibility is that this was a patent model that was submitted by Gault to the patent office and subsequently sold off. Items in the patent office were tagged by tying with a ribbon. A small item, such as this, would have been both holed and tied. Adding to its enigmatic status is the fact that it has been holed and has a ribbon knotted through the hole. No one knows the precise origin, date of production or purpose of production for the handful of Encased Postage pieces that fall into the "trial," "experimental," or "pattern" category. Pieces such as this, with a clearly genuine advertising side that was part of Gault's production, are particularly interesting to collectors. A partial provenance for this unusual piece includes Arnold Perl, Dr. Robert Gardner, and Frederick Mayer. Our current consignor added this piece to his collection at our January 2009 FUN Auction. The Standard Catalogue of Encased Postage Stamps by Michael J. Hodder and Q. David Bowers mentions on page 124 that 13 "patterns" were given to the Mattatuck Historical Society by Scovill Manufacturing Co. in 1924. A reading of the source article, "Encased Postage Stamps A Necessity Money of the U.S." by John F. Jones in the August 1939 issue of The Numismatist, pages 627-35, reveals that this baker's dozen and other material were purchased by Scovill from one of its oldest employees in 1884. The author Jones was charter member number 9 of the ANA and was an occasional contributor to The Numismatist. The Mattatuck Historical Society had sold the Encased Postage pieces by the time Mr. Jones contacted them. These 13 Experimentals consisted of nine with Irving House, Hunt & Nash advertising sides and four with Gault advertising sides. The Mattatuck Historical Society did supply photographs of the 13 to Mr. Jones and they are pictured within the article. However, on page 630, only one side of the pieces are plated. There is an 1861 10¢ envelope stamp piece and more than likely it is a Reed-IH10ES, but it is not the Encased Postage example in this lot. That is because the plated example on page 630 lacks a hole and ribbon. Now, we know why Reed listed it as, "?-Unique." Nonetheless, whether 1 or 2 known, with one example being off the market for a century and possibly lost, many more collectors will certainly want an example of this rare Experimental.
Auction Info
2024 May 7 - 10 CSNS US Currency Signature® Auction #3595 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2024
7th-10th
Tuesday-Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 7
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 168
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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