Encased Postage Stamps
Splendid One Cent "White The Hatter" New York a Rarity-7
EP-30, HB-234, S-178, Reed-WH01. One Cent, WHITE THE HATTER, New York, "Under Barnum's Museum." Rarity-7 (11 to 15 known), with Original Silvering, Choice About Uncirculated.
Rarity-7 (11 to 15 known) according to Fred Reed. This White the Hatter is a highly popular merchant rarity and is a "Key" merchant type towards completing a complete 34 Encased Postage Stamp merchant Set. This high quality example has a Civil War 1861 U.S. Postage issue deep bright blue Benjamin Franklin stamp that is well centered yet tilted at an angle when inserted into its case, as made. The crystal clear mica displays the stamp very well. The reverse case legends remain exceedingly sharp, completely defect-free, highlighted with significant traces of original silvering attractively surrounding the central legends.
There were only two examples of EP-30 in the John J. Ford Collection Auction of June 2004, where both were graded Choice Extremely Fine and they sold for $3,738 and $3,450 respectively. A more pleasing example that EAHA offered was in our August 2005 Dr. Gratz Collection which was graded Choice Very Fine and brought $3,245. Here is an opportunity to acquire a bold looking topnotch example of the "White The Hatter" merchant type with silvery highlights.