1862 Civil War Encased Postage Stamp, EP-116, HB-133, S-97, Reed JG10, Ten Cents, J. GAULT, Plain Frame, Very Choice About Uncirculated.
A superior high quality example of this more common major Merchant type. The rich deep green 1861 George Washington US Postage stamp is well centered, just a bit high and as fresh and vivid as on the day it was printed. The mica is crystal clear and virtually perfect, with one trivial natural surface lamination near the top, almost not worth mentioning. The case exhibits nice originality, brassy-golden color and is completely free of any defects with just a tiny tone spot at the reverse side rim edge at 11:30, retaining a faint coating of its original Silvering. Other than some wispy hairlines, one could potentially grade this piece mint state. (VF Scott Cat. $800) Provenance ex: Collection of Rudolph Bauer.