1862 Civil War Era Encased Postage Stamp, EP-92, HB-218, S-162, Reed SH05, Five Cents, John Shillito & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, Extremely Fine.


Rated as Rarity-4 (31 to 40 known) according to Fred Reed. The deep brown 1861 US Postage issue Thomas Jefferson stamp is attractive, near perfectly centered just a bit to the top. It is viewed through clean clear unbroken mica having some trivial natural surface craze and a few scattered bumps in circulation. The case is medium olive-chestnut in color with clear sharp legends on the reverse. This Merchant advertiser was Cincinnati's first department store. (EF Friedberg Cat. $850)