1862 Civil War Era Encased Postage Stamp, EP-83, HB-162, S-115, Reed KG05, Five Cents, KIRKPATRICK & GAULT, Partial Silvering, Choice Extremely Fine.
Rarity-3 (41 to 50 known) according to Fred Reed. The case is defect-free and a lovely natural chestnut in color with scattered light portions of its original Silvering still makes a bullseye at center in the reverse legends, having only slight wear to the very highest points. The deep rich brown 1861 US Postage Thomas Jefferson 5 Cents stamp is perfectly centered, viewed through clean unbroken mica with just some whispy signs of circulation. Quite a rare example having significant amounts of its original Silvering still retained upon the reverse. (VF Scott Cat. $700)