Extremely Rare
1870
$75.00
Provenance: This item was painstakingly removed from a page of a Victorian scrapbook assembled by members of the William A. Keegan family, three of whom worked for American Bank Note Company starting in the 1860s.
Description: In 1870, Internal Revenue Commissioner Delano endorsed the use of a mechanical cancelation device for revenue stamps: Thomson’s National Stamp Canceller. To demonstrate its effectiveness, George Nesbitt (of envelope fame) produced a double-sided, two color sample check incorporating a faux adhesive revenue stamp in its design. The orange revenue “essay” and decorative violet border to its left was cut from one of these sample checks after it was processed by the canceler, thus retaining its value as a philatelic artifact. Although this item is only a fragment, it is likely to be one of the few surviving examples.
The canceling device was designed to punch the stamp with the date (here, Nov. 2, 1870) and also to emboss the surrounding area. The embossing — an oval border enclosing the words INTERNAL REVENUE — can be clearly seen in the false color images.
Measures about 2.75″ high. Thanks to Eric Jackson for supplying background information on this item.