1862 Civil War Era Encased Postage Stamp, EP-84, HB-170, Scott-123, Reed-LT05, Five Cents, LORD & TAYLOR, New York, Extremely Fine.
Rated a Rarity-7 (11 to 15 known) according to Fred Reed. However, the Hodder-Bowers reference book states on page 135 that a population of only five to ten for this denomination are known. We believe that the conservative number of the low-end Reed figure is probably the more accurate, as many times reappearances of the same example over the decades are recorded. For example this piece has been offered twice at auction previously, sold in 1973 and 1999. The case has been cleaned, polished long ago and apparently lacquered for protection of its flashy golden-brass color. It is likely from the collection of T. James Clarke who similarly cleaned his encased postage. The Five Cents 1861 issue Postage stamp is bright and well centered, just a bit towards the right, being very clean and attractive. It is viewed through very clear mica has a slight lamination craze under Thomas Jefferson’s bust. A rare popular well known New York Merchant, lacking in most collections. (EF Friedberg Cat. $1,500)