 Experimental Essay for 'Postage Stamp Currency'. 25 Cents. A uniface strip, undated with no location or imprint. Printed in bronze/gold surcharge type ink (like the Second Issue surcharges) on a moderately thick bond paper with a rippling texture. 129mm by 51mm. Across the center are five spaces framed with a single line around the perimeter and with double between where the 5¢ stamps would be placed. Across the top, 'United States 25 Cents legal Tender'' and at the bottom 'POSTAGE STAMP CURRENCY'. Engraved perpendicularly at the left end is '25 Cents.' and at the right 'Patent applied for.' Unlisted in Milton and Unpublished to our Knowledge.
An amazing essay of uncertain origin, but possibly from the National Bank Note Co. or a private presentation. It is based on the Spinner conceived principle of having the actual gummed stamps affixed to a carrier for circulation. This type of vehicle was used on the two rare issuers of private scrip notes we catalogued for the Ford Part X Sale (lots 4244-4248). This Experimental Essay might very well be from the National Bank Note Company for their proposal to create the first Postage Currency notes. We come to that hypothesis due to the ''Patent.'' statement, which might be a Cyrus Durand moniker even if he had not applied for one (like his Caveat... engraved texts on his various Danforth, Bald & Co. proof notes in the 1854-57 period). The NBN would have seen Spinner's letterhead with the stamps and perhaps this is the first Experimental Piece in the genesis of the Postage and Fractional Currency. The significance of this rather simple piece of typeset paper cannot be over-stressed to the historian of Civil War era currency and, of course, the Fractional Currency series.
There have been no such items in the great collections of the modern era and this is the first we have seen. This is truly one of the treasures of the Ford-Boyd Experimental and Proof series and might eventually be considered the ''King'' of Fractional Currency Experimental Notes. Choice About Uncirculated. A light fold. The grade is meaningless when there is not a supermarket filled with enough to go around. Only one astute and caring Fractional Currency specialist will be the next caretaker of this lovely Experimental after its long tenure in the most historically significant Collection of Fractional Currency ever formed.
Ex F.C.C. Boyd Estate.
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