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Encased Postage Stamps, 10¢, NORTH AMERICAN LIFE

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:18,000.00 - 24,000.00 USD
Encased Postage Stamps, 10¢, NORTH AMERICAN LIFE
Encased Postage Stamps

Unique & Unlisted Finest Known “North American Life Insurance” Straight “INSURANCE” & “Ribbed Frame”

EP-Unlisted, HB-197, S-Unlisted, Reed-NASTRB (Unlisted). Ten Cents. NORTH AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. New York, Straight “INSURANCE” and the Ribbed Frame variety, Choice Extremely Fine.

Unlisted. Unknown. UNIQUE. Not Currently Rated for Rarity by Fred Reed in his major reference entitled “Civil War Encased Postage Stamps.” This Encased Postage should be listed as Reed-NASTRB and given a “Rarity-10” or “Unique” status in his updated, still to be printed 2nd edition. This is the first and sole example of this likely Unique major Merchant variety we have ever offered and it enjoys excellent overall eye appeal.
This rarity has its previous pedigree to Ex: Stack’s, John J. Ford Collection Sale, June 2004. In that sale it was described by Michael Hodder as “Probably Unique.” It being the sole example known to him. It originally came to be owned by John Ford as part of the famous collection belonging to collector T. James Clarke, sold at auction on August 13, 1956. Being quite familiar with John Ford’s private collection, Michael Hodder was able to include its existence in the reference “The Standard Catalogue of Encased Postage Stamps,” which he co-authored with Q. David Bowers in 1989. There it was listed as HB-197 and given a “dash” as valuation.
This example has a near perfectly centered, fresh, fully original deep green George Washington stamp. It is viewed under extremely clean, clear and unbroken mica that shows only slight circulation. There is an extremely trivial and totally natural, tiny internal lamination at the lower left moon as made, and is mentioned here primarily for identification purposes. The case is a nice glossy medium-chestnut in color and shows only slight circulation with one stray small bump on the upper right obverse moon. The reverse fields are beautifully smooth and completely defect-free. All of the text legends are exceptionally sharp and distinct. Traces of original golden-brass luster add distinctive highlights.
This is the Only Specimen Known Existent. We feel our current estimate range to be potentially conservative and definitely represents a tremendous collector opportunity.