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Encased Postage Stamps, 24¢ HUNT + NASH / IRVING HOUSE NY. Plain Frame Ch EF R-9

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Encased Postage Stamps, 24¢ HUNT + NASH / IRVING HOUSE NY. Plain Frame Ch EF R-9
Encased Postage Stamps
Twenty-Four Cents HUNT & NASH "IRVING HOUSE" New York Remarkable Rarity - One of Four Known!
EP-169, HB-157, S-111, Reed-IH24. Twenty-Four Cents. HUNT & NASH, "IRVING HOUSE." New York. Plain Frame. Choice Extremely Fine.
Rated as Rarity-9 (2 to 4 Known) according to Fred Reed. This is a virtually impossible to locate Encased Postage Stamp rarity. Only four examples are stated to be known to exist. Everything about this piece appears very desirable. The lovely violet George Washington stamp is quite original and deep in color, centered to the left. The mica is virtually perfect, crystal clear and unbroken. The case is absolutely fully original being perfectly sealed and mark free. It is a lovely natural golden-chestnut brass in color without having any marks or detractions. Only slight even wear from modest circulation is apparent and the reverse displays nice sharp legends that are very distinct. Besides this current specimen, there were two others sold in the celebrated auction of the Stack’s, John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, in June 2004. We have only had the opportunity to sell two examples, although one was on three separate occasions. That example we previously had was Ex: Early American Numismatics Auction, March 21, 1992, Lot 952, graded Choice Extremely Fine and then later became EAHA, Inc. Mail Bid Sale, December 11, 1999, Lot 629 where it then realized $4,312. That same example was later re-consigned and was offered as our February 14, 2004, EAHA Lot 687 selling for $4,427. The last example we offered was in our EAHA Auction of December 10, 2011, Lot 273 graded Choice EF and selling for $5,310. This current example is an important Encased Postage Stamp major rarity needed in virtually every major collection. It is apparently Tied with the other existing specimens (each of the four all previously being graded Choice Extremely Fine) as the Finest Known.