United States (1862) 5 cents EP-69
This specimen was lot 1288 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $720. The catalog description[1] noted, "UNITED STATES: encased postage 5 cents, ND, Burnett's Cocoaine Kalliston encased postage stamp, John Gault manufactured case; Patent Aug 12, 1862; US five cent stamp, Washington // BURNETT'S COCOAINE KALLISTON TOILET SETS & C & C, some original silvering remains, XF-AU, ex Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld Collection, ex Coin Galleries Auction, November 10, 1993, Lot 3264. This was an advertisement for the products of Joseph Burnett, who studied medicine and styled himself a "doctor" although he never practiced. Joseph Burnett & Co. marketed perfumes, extracts, and other goods of the sort. Its encasements advertised three products: Cocoaine (a coconut oil-based hair tonic that had nothing to do with cocaine), Kalliston (a diluted skin cream), and toilet sets."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: brass case, mica front, paper stamp.
Catalog reference: HB-73, EP-9, S-44.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
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