The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 5, February 4, 2007, Article 19

ON SUBSTITUTING STAMPS IN ENCASED POSTAGE

Katie Jaeger writes: "I'd like to sample expert opinion on a statement
of John J. Ford's about Civil War encased postage.  In his inimitable
style in an August 1991 ANA presentation entitled "Frontiers in
Numismatics" Ford stated:

"People tamper with values in this philatelic/numismatic series by
substituting higher-denomination stamps for 1-cent and 2-cent
denominations.  Go ahead and buy these 'rarities' for an arm and a
leg if you want a complete denomination set, but don't delude yourself;
all the higher denominations are concoctions."

"Your own 1994 COAC presentation on the subject ("J.C Ayer and John
Gault") stated, "Eight denominations of stamps were used in Gault's
encasements: 1 cent, 3 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 12 cents, 24 cents,
30 cents, and 90 cents. The four smallest denominations corresponded
to circulating coins and are the most common.

"The larger odd-value denominations were used only for postage and
would have been more difficult to use in circulation.  The 24-cent,
30-cent, and 90-cent encasements are very rare."

"You published a photograph of a ten-cent stamp in an encasement
taken directly from Gault's patent model, so that belies Ford's
opinion that only 1- and 2-cent varieties circulated.  I'd be interested
to hear viewpoints on Ford's statement about the highest three
denominations, especially if they can furnish primary source proof
of their circulation."

[1991 was the Chicago ANA Centennial convention.  I was there and
probably attended Ford's talk, but don't recall him saying or implying
that only the 1- and 2-cent varieties circulated.  By "higher
denominations" I believe Ford meant anything above 10 cents.  The 12,
24, 30, and 90 cent denominations are scarce to rare and have always
been worth more in the numismatic market than the 10 cents and lower
denominations.

"Scoundrels could buy a legitimate encased postage stamp of the lower
denomination and substitute a genuine stamp of a higher denomination
and create an instant rarity worth much more than the sum of the parts.
I've never bought a denomination higher than 10 cents, unless you
include the one and only 12-cent piece I bought then fought to return
to the dealer after further inspection and consultation revealed that
it could have been tampered with.  -Editor]

Katie adds: "I transcribed Ford's ANA presentation myself, having
borrowed the video from the ANA Library.  He also said, "People who
catalog these things will tell you, "There are no fake encased postage'.
Lemme tell you, there are fake everything!"

"I did write down "one and two-cent" so I guess that could be a mis-
transcription...maybe Ford said "one and three-cent."  According to
the Friedbergs, who list these things in A Guide Book of U.S. Paper
Money, there is only one two-cent specimen known - maybe it's a
fabrication too!"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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