1862 Civil War Era Encased Postage Stamp, EP-136, HB-23, Scott-12, Reed-AP12, Twelve Cents, TAKE AYER’S PILLS, About Uncirculated.
Rated as Rarity-8 (5 to 10 known) according to Fred Reed. This "Take Ayer's Pills" 12¢ denomination is quite an important rarity. It is only the sixth appearance at EAHA of offering an EP-136 in five decades, half a century with one example that was defective, graded Very Good. This 12¢ 1861 issue George Washington stamp is a beautiful very clean original rich deep black and is perfectly centered. Its mica is perfectly clean and unbroken appearing about a new when made in 1862, showing just a hint of minor circulation with one tiny edge craze at the bottom rim edge, likely as made when made. The case is natural golden-chestnut in color, clean and defect free with sharp detail to the legend with the only tone being on the reverse periphery about the rim edge.

Previous EAHA Auction records include; May 24, 1991 Lot 375, it being re-consigned to December 11, 1999 Lot 624, graded Choice EF, then selling for $2,587; EAHA Auction, February 10, 2007 Lot 826, graded Choice EF, sold for $4,425; and our EAHA Auction of November 15, 2011 Lot 144, sold for $4,720; and our latest offered was EAHA Auction of December 8, 2017 Lot 191, graded Choice EF which brought $5,400. This current example being offered appears somewhat finer overall ia is graded About Uncirculated, no doubt ranking as one of, if not, the finest known. An important opportunity for specialized Civil War Era Encased Postage Stamp and Numismatic collectors. (VF Scott Cat. $3,250)
Ayer's Cathartic Pills were a 19th-century patent medicine manufactured by Dr. J.C. Ayer & Co. in Lowell, Massachusetts. Marketed as a, "sugar-coated vegetable pill" for treating constipation, headache, and liver issues, they were marketed globally with massive advertising. They were a popular, widely used laxative, marketed as safe family medicine between the 1850s and early 1900s.

In 1843, James Cook Ayer mixed up a cherry cough medicine in a Lowell, Mass., apothecary while his boss was on vacation in Europe.

The cough medicine, known as ‘Cherry pectoral,’ marked Ayer’s first step on the road to a fortune. It was followed by a strong laxative called Cathartic Pills, a blood medicine called Sarsaparilla that was supposed to cure syphilis, a cure for malaria called Ague Cure, and a hair restorer called Hair Vigor. Plus many more diverse interesting products for mass consumption.

Cliff Hoyt and the Lowell Historical Society spoke on “J. C. Ayer and Company during the Civil War.” The Lowell-based Ayer company was one of America’s most prominent producers of patent medicine during the nineteenth century.

Its founder was James Cook Ayer who lived in the “stone house” on Pawtucket Street (opposite Fletcher) who quickly brought in his brother, Frederick Ayer (whose house is now the Franco-American School) into the business.

Both brothers and their families are buried in the Lowell Cemetery and are prominent stops on the tours during the year. It was wonderful to learn more about the company that made these brothers and their company famous.