Encased Postage. Take Ayer's Pills One Cent. EP-3, HB-17. The mica is completely intact with just typical scratches and the left flap has a slight bend, but otherwise Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $200 - UP
At the beginning of the Civil War, coin change literally dried up and people resorted to using postage stamps for change and trade. Due to their small size these small squares of paper didn't hold up well in circulation, until someone by the name of John Gault devised and patented a metal casing to house the stamps, usually the 1861 issue in denominations of One, Three, Five, Ten, Twelve, 24, 30, and 90 Cents. As Gault's original design has a blank bank, some merchants began advertising through this medium by having their names embossed on them. Collections such as this are the rare opportunity to acquire these bits of history.