1862 Civil War Encased Postage Stamp, EP-11, HB-89, S-59, Reed CL01-01, ARTHUR M. CLAFLIN, One Cent, Hopkinton, MA., Choice New. The Finest Known Arthur M. Claflin One Cent Merchant Type.
Rated Rarity-8 (5 to 10 known) according to Fred Reed. The Claflin, Merchant Type, is the single rarest of all 34 different major Encased Postage Merchants known. Owning a Claflin is the most important “Key” if one hopes to ever complete a 34 Merchant Set of Encased Postage Stamps. The example we offer here is to our best knowledge the absolute Finest in quality of all the known Claflin, of all denominations.

The stamp is a fresh, bold bright rich blue in color with just a small area of light yellow on the mica or stamp from the left moon to behind Franklin’s cheek, possibly being something on the maker’s finger when inserting the mica appearing as tone on this near perfectly centered stamp. The mica is very clear and completely unbroken without any noticeable wear. The case remains a subdued lustrous golden-brass in color both obverse and reverse. The overall appearance is outstanding, this example having tremendous eye appeal and the sharpness of detail that only a Choice New example could provide. There are some faint signs of some slight friction but likely from being stored in an old time collector’s cabinet, mentioned for complete accuracy. This very specimen was sold as part of a fabulous quality collection where it had resided for some twenty years. In a Robert Siegel multimillion dollar major stamp public sale over 25 years ago this example brought $13,500 in strong competitive bidding to our present consignor. An exceptional opportunity to acquire the single Finest of all known “Claflin” merchant pieces of any denomination. Certainly worthy of our current estimate range. (Friedberg EF & Scott VF $13,500 - *apparently based on the sale of this item 25 years ago). Provenance ex: Robert Siegel Auctions; Early American History Auctions, February 10, 2001; Collection of Robert Bauer.