15854

First Day of Issue Set. Tom O'Mara acquired this

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 11,250.00 USD
First Day of Issue Set. Tom O'Mara acquired this
<B>First Day of Issue Set.</B></I> Tom O'Mara acquired this irreplaceable set as lot 183 of our January 1994 sale of the Wayne Liechty Collection, where it was described, "The eight pieces in this lot represent to us what collecting is all about. This is the ultimate interest item to a Fractional Currency Collector. First, clipped from a N.Y. newspaper (most likely <I>The Times</B></I>) is Assistant Treasurer John J. Cisco's September 8, 1862 announcement that Postage Currency will be distributed at his office beginning that day. There are two other clippings, one from the <I>Journal of Commerce</B></I> and one from the <I>New York Times,</B></I> both dated September 10, 1862. Both are reports on the chaos and humor of a small-change-hungry city, desperate for the new currency. The crowning item is a handwritten envelope containing a 'full sett (sic) of Postage Currency,' and inscribed, 'These specimens received from the assistant treasurer's office, (Wall Street, New York) on the first day of Public Issue, Monday September 8th 1862 obtained by -- Theodore W. Van Norden.' In the envelope are four fully perforated examples of Postage Currency; Fr. 1228 Superb Gem New, Fr. 1242 10¢ Superb Gem New, Fr. 1279 25¢ Gem New, a bit tight at the bottom and Fr. 1310 50¢ Gem New, a bit close at the top and left. All four have deep, even perforations and perfect original color." To this cataloger, this set is one of the most evocative Fractional items and would be a major highlight in any collection it entered.