Highest Face Value Stamp of the 19th Century
2020-05-04 Mon
Prices and the value of money are difficult to evaluate over time. Readers of Victorian novels know that in the late nineteenth century an income of about 150 Pounds a year was the minimum needed to live as a gentleman (Trollope says tartly "an embarrassed gentleman, yes, but a gentleman"). That was three pounds a week and for that, a person could rent an apartment, eat and have a part-time servant.Before 1900, prices for food and clothing were proportionately much more expensive and labor was proportionately far cheaper. Sir Walter Scott writes that in his time one could engage a servant for little more than food clothing and shelter. Still, if a middle-class person could live a decent life at three pounds a week in Victorian England and the Post Office issued a stamp for five pounds it would be the equivalent in spending power to a $1000 stamp today.
This raises the question of what could such stamps possibly be used for. Mainly they were used by banks that sent quantities of cash and gold to one another and as such the high weight and insurance would necessitate high postage. But more importantly, such high-value stamps give collectors today a very good idea of why these stamps are so scarce.
First, who could possibly have afforded five pounds to put away a mint stamp? And second how much bullion could possibly have been mailed? But it also helps us understand why we still see the stamps today. After all, the bold design and vivid color, in addition to the huge face value, would make a collector out of anyone who came in contact with one and had an opportunity to save it.
Image Courtesy: stampauctionnetwork.com
Latest News
-
Janma Kalnayak of Bhagwan Mahavir
2024-04-24 WedOn 21st April 2024 which was the 2550th Janma Kalnyanak of Bhagwan Mahavir Swami, PM Modi unveile...
-
Gold Pagoda of Vijaynagar Empire King Deva Raya I
2024-04-10 WedKing Deva Raya I of the Vijayanagara Empire was a patron of Kannada literature and architecture. He ...
-
Silver Denarius of Septimus Severus
2024-04-05 FriLucius Septimius Severus served as the Roman emperor from 193 to 211 AD. Severus sat on the throne o...
-
Extremely rare 'Malaharamari' type Gold Gadyana of King Guhalladeva-III Sold for INR 611000
2024-04-03 WedTribhuvanamalla, also known as Guhalladeva III, was the ruler of the Kadamba dynasty. His reign coin...
-
90 Years of RBI
2024-04-02 TueOn 1st April, PM #Modi unveiled a special commemorative coin marking 90 Years since the foundation o...