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Encased Postage Stamps, 10 Cents ELLIS McALPIN + CO. Cincinnati, EP-112 RARITY-5

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,800.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,500.00 USD
Encased Postage Stamps, 10 Cents ELLIS McALPIN + CO. Cincinnati, EP-112 RARITY-5
Encased Postage Stamps
Ten Cents “Ellis, McAlpin & Co.” Cincinnati, Ohio Rarity-5
EP-112, HB-113, S-81, Reed-EM10. Ten Cents. ELLIS, McALPIN & CO. Cincinnati. Choice Extremely Fine.
Rated as Rarity-5 (21 to 30 known) according to Fred Reed. Legend reads: “Ellis, McAlpin & Co. - Wholesale Dry Goods. - FOR CASH - 108 Pearl St AND 119 Third St - PAT. AUG 2, 1862 - J. GAULT - Cincinnati.” The Hodder-Bowers reference states, “Six specimens of the Ten Cent denomination have been traced, two of which are in institutional collections.” This cataloger thinks that about ten or so of EP-112 are known. Whatever the exact rarity, this is certainly an important and rare encasement. This example has a rich, deep green 10¢ George Washington stamp which is centered towards the upper left, seen under clean, clear unbroken mica. The case is a natural lovely chestnut-brown, having a very clean and pleasing appearance with just light actual circulation. The Stack's, John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Sale of June 2004 had only a single example that also had noted problems. Previous examples sold in our EAHA Auction of August 26, 2000, Lot 650, graded Choice VF+, for $2,070; April 23, 2000, Lot 288, graded Choice VF, sold for $2,185 and in December 7, 2002, Lot 638, graded Choice EF, sold for $3,450. the last auction sale being our June 2011 Specialized Sale, Lot 8, graded Extremely Fine which sold for $3,405. The pedigree on this one is acquired by collector Bill Kelly from CAA's Memphis 1994 Sale (no insert tag provided) for just over $1,800 way back then! This current specimen is indeed a very lovely example of this important Merchant Type, and represents a great opportunity for Encased Postage Stamp collectors.