Encased Postage Stamps
Elusive Five Cents "J. Bailey & Co. Jewellers" Philadelphia Rarity-8 (Only 5 to 10 known) Choice About Uncirculated
EP-64, HB-46, S-23, Reed-BC05. Five Cents, J. Bailey & Co., Jewellers, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Plain Frame, Rarity-8 (Only 5 to 10 known), About Uncirculated.
Rated as Rarity-8 (5 to 10 known) according to Fred Reed. This is a very attractive example having near perfect centering to its 1861 Civil War U.S. Postage issue deep brown Thomas Jefferson stamp. It is viewed under perfectly clear natural mica. The case is a natural, even golden-chestnut in color with a generous amount of its original satiny luster having been cleaned long ago still seen on the reverse, highlighting the legends. We previously sold another, quite similarly graded example of EP-64 in our EAHA, February 2001 Sale, Lot 759, selling for $2,760 which was later reconsigned and was resold in our February 14, 2004 Auction as Lot 665 selling for $2,875. The last example we offered was way back in our EAHA Auction of December 5, 2009 Lot 530, graded EF but with a piece of its mica lacking, selling at $2,125. This current lovely Five Cents specimen is very elusive as you can see, and from a very popular major Philadelphia, jewelry merchant on Chestnut Street. With rarity and becoming increasingly appreciated in this specialized field of collecting, we expect to find this EP number is currently worth much more.