|
Post by George on May 7, 2005 5:47:41 GMT -5
It seems we may have a new 19th century rarity to be on the lookout for.
I recently acquired a copy of Phantom Philately, a classic publication dealing with stamps from fantasy and unrecognised countries dating to the 1920s or 30s.
In the section on the Empire of the Sahara, there is a frustratingly brief reference to both stamps and coins being issued by Emperor Jacques I.
The Empire of the Sahara was founded by an eccentric French sugar millionaire named Jacques Lebaudy, who claimed part of west Africa in the 1880s.
Lebaudy eventually lost his fortune and died in 1919 - shot by his wife as he was attempting to strangle her.
|
|
|
Post by evm111 on May 10, 2005 9:51:33 GMT -5
Thanks for passing this info along to us! Is the book in English, or is it a translation? I'll start the detective work right away, and keep you abreast of any new info. Thanks again!
|
|
|
Post by George on May 10, 2005 17:29:58 GMT -5
Phantom Philately is a classic philatelic reference work written (in English) by Frederick John Melville.
He wrote it so that young stamp collectors knew which stamps to avoid collecting - and instead unwittingly spurred interest in "cinderellas".
It's a fascinating read.
|
|
|
Post by evm111 on May 10, 2005 19:21:51 GMT -5
Thanks George- it does sound exactly like the kind of book I'd like to see. Does it show an illustration (a drawing as opposed to photo, of course) of the coin? I'm wondering if Jaques I INTENDED to mint coins/banknotes, but never did...I am asking some of the folks at CGB (in France) if they've ever heard of the coin. CGB is a pretty big coin place (I've only bought one mining token from them in the past, but they publish gorgeous catalogs for their sales), so hopefully they will know, especially since there is a French Connection (sans Gene Hackman, of course!).
|
|
|
Post by George on May 10, 2005 19:55:34 GMT -5
The focus of the book is stamps (which are illustrated in B&W), so when he does mention coins or medals it is only in passing.
The Sahara section is brief and is drawn from indirect sources rather than primary documents. The following quote represents the only reference to coins in the write-up:
"He entered upon the imperial business with every detail, sceptre, crown, regal robes, his standard bore three golden bees, established his Court, which he once brought to London, and apparently issued both coins and stamps."
That's all we have to work with.
|
|
|
Post by WT Kerke on Oct 8, 2009 21:28:13 GMT -5
I've been an observer for a couple of weeks on this website. I wanted to let you know of a new micronational issue of banknotes. The Republic of Timucua is issuing its own banknotes through its central currency organization called the Timucua Currency Scrip Reserve Institution. Their website is www.csri.yolasite.com I thought ya'll might want to check it out for those who are like me and interested in banknotes.
|
|
|
Post by shibolet on Oct 15, 2009 8:50:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip!
|
|