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Encased Postage Stamps, 5¢, AYERS CATHARTIC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 6,500.00 USD
Encased Postage Stamps, 5¢, AYERS CATHARTIC
Encased Postage Stamps

Extremely Rare Ayer’s Cathartic Pills “Long Arrows” Type 3 to 5 Known The Very First Example We Have Offered !

EP-60a, HB-8, Scott-4, Reed-AC05LA. Five Cents. AYER’S CATHARTIC PILLS. Long Arrows. Choice Extremely Fine.

Rated as (Hi) Rarity-8+ (3 to 5 Known) according to Fred Reed. The very first example of this EP number we have ever offered in our 35 years of specializing in the field of Encased Postage Stamp collecting. The 1989 Bowers & Hodder “Standard Catalogue” reference simply indicate it as “Rare” and this cataloger has heard of only two others being known.
The piece is quite beautiful. The rich brown stamp is well centered and fresh in appearance. The mica is perfectly clean and clear, with very minor natural craze at its outer rim edge. It has a glossy, medium-chestnut case that has traces of original Silvering retained within the reverse text letters. A highly important great rarity of this field and a significant sleeper variety missing from virtually all collections. Ex: Stack's John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Sale, June 2004, Lot 341 and prior was from the Siegel Auction of the famous J. K. Lilly Collection, September 13, 1967, Lot 324 where this rare example realized $60 some forty-three years ago and is also likely the Finest Known.