1861 5c The Corporation of Winchester (Upham CTFT.) note from Winchester, VA.
This note printed by Samuel Upham features a Vignette of farm equipment at the center. In the left panel, Cupid stands in the clouds above a "5" counter.
Upham owned a store in Philadelphia where he sold cosmetics, drugs, stationery, and newspapers. When the Civil War hit, he came up with a new business idea. Many customers in the Union states were curious about Confederate money and Southern banks so he began to print notes such as this one to sell, showing people what Southern currency was like. Many of these notes found their way South and passed as genuine, further destabilizing the Confederate's financial system. What began as a souvenir for the North was quickly becoming a problem for the South. Confederate President Jefferson Davis even put a bounty on Samuel Upham's head for $10,000. By mid 1863, Confederate finances were in such a mess that even genuine notes began to lose all value. After the war, Upham was quite proud of the contribution he made to the Union victory. Shortly after, he resumed selling stationery and newspapers. Today, Upham's souvenir printings are prized collectibles! Upham passed away on June 29, 1885 at the age of 56.
This Civil War era item grades a nice Very Fine on cheap brown paper.
It measures ~ 6.5" x 3".
1861 5c The Corporation of Winchester (Upham CTFT.) note from Winchester, VA.
This note printed by Samuel Upham features a Vignette of farm equipment at the center. In the left panel, Cupid stands in the clouds above a "5" counter.
Upham owned a store in Philadelphia where he sold cosmetics, drugs, stationery, and newspapers. When the Civil War hit, he came up with a new business idea. Many customers in the Union states were curious about Confederate money and Southern banks so he began to print notes such as this one to sell, showing people what Southern currency was like. Many of these notes found their way South and passed as genuine, further destabilizing the Confederate's financial system. What began as a souvenir for the North was quickly becoming a problem for the South. Confederate President Jefferson Davis even put a bounty on Samuel Upham's head for $10,000. By mid 1863, Confederate finances were in such a mess that even genuine notes began to lose all value. After the war, Upham was quite proud of the contribution he made to the Union victory. Shortly after, he resumed selling stationery and newspapers. Today, Upham's souvenir printings are prized collectibles! Upham passed away on June 29, 1885 at the age of 56.
This Civil War era item grades a nice Very Fine on cheap brown paper.
It measures ~ 6.5" x 3".
