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Encased Postage Stamp, Rarity-9 RIBBED FRAME 12 Cents HUNT + NASH, IRVING HOUSE!

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Encased Postage Stamp, Rarity-9 RIBBED FRAME 12 Cents HUNT + NASH, IRVING HOUSE!
Encased Postage Stamps
Rated as Rarity-9 “Ribbed Frame” Twelve Cents “Hunt & Nash, Irving House” - One of Only 2 to 4 Known to Exist
EP-151, HB-156, S-110a, Reed-IH12RB. Twelve Cents. HUNT & NASH, IRVING HOUSE. New York. “Ribbed Frame” Type. Choice About Uncirculated.
Rated as Rarity-9 (2 to 4 Known) according to Fred Reed. Reed comments, "Two known" for this R-9 piece, yet this specimen is currently accepted as being one of only Three Known. It is virtually identical overall to the Finest Known, being Lot 528 of the noted Stack’s Auction of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Sale in June 2004, which was graded About New. This present example has excellent overall eye appeal. Previously, we had sold the third finest offered in our EAHA Auction, December 2, 1995, Lot 860, graded Extremely Fine, which sold for $4,950 well over two decades ago. Most recently EAHA Auction of November 20, 2015, Lot 227 graded Choice EF brought $6,600.

The black 12¢ George Washington stamp is well centered, just a bit to the left, very clean and nice. The mica is essentially perfect, crystal clear and not broken showing just some light expected surface friction. The beautiful natural light brass case is defect-free and highly attractive with sharp distinct details to both the obverse “Ribbing” and reverse legends, which read: "IRVING HOUSE - NEW YORK - BROADWAY & 12th ST - EUROPEAN PLAN - HUNT & NASH PROPT - PAT AUG 12 1862 - J. GAULT.” There is no catalog price or value listed for this extreme rarity in either “The Standard Catalogue” by Hodder-Bowers or in Fred Reed’s major reference “Civil War Encased Stamps.” An outstanding opportunity to acquire one of the true “Key” rarities of the Encased Postage Stamp.