Civil War Store Cards

Enigmatic Pennypacker & Sibley Token

Pennsylvania--Philadelphia. Undated (1861-1865) Pennypacker & Sibley. Fuld-750Oa-1b. Brass. Plain Edge. MS-62 (PCGS).

22.5 mm. Unlisted in either the second or third editions of the Fuld reference on Civil War store cards, similar tokens from this issuer are attributed to Philadelphia by Rulau, who questions his placement of these pieces in the 1845 to 1860 time period due to a lack of directory listings through 1860. Our consignor observes: "Perhaps the true answer is it is not Philadelphia at all. While Wm. G. Pennypacker did have earlier connections and business dealings in Philadelphia, he along with D. H. Pennypacker, Josiah Sibley and others formed and operated Pennypacker & Sibley a Stave Mill in Van Wert Ohio around 1863. "In about 1863, the first stave mill was opened in Van Wert by Pennypacker & Sibley. A stave, to remind us in the modern era, is a thin slat of wood that was held together with a hoop to form a barrel. There were many mills in this area, each taking advantage of the forests. George H. Marsh, of Van Wert, was another developer of stave mills. Marsh -- whose estate was the basis of the Marsh Foundation, which continues today -- originated the theme of eagles and called the business Eagle Stave Co. This company eventually became a leading brand and was in Lima by 1901."

From the Tampa Bay Collection. Ex George Fuld; Q. David Bowers Reference Collection.

Estimate: $ 200