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Table of Contents > Encased Postage Stamps > Lot 171 |
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Browse the Auction in Groups of 25 Lots: |
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Lot Number: 171
Click for a Printable PageSign-in to Bid or Register to Bid Estimate Range: $8,000 - $10,000 |
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Five Cents “B. F. Miles” Peoria, Illinois Exceptionally Rare & Elusive “Key” Merchant Type Required to Complete the Thirty-Four Individual Encased Postage Merchant Type Set |
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  Click an Image to Enlarge It |
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1862 Civil War Era Encased Postage Stamp, EP-86, HB-183, Reed-MI05. Five Cents, B. F. Miles, Peoria, IL, Fine/Extremely Fine. Rated as Rarity-8 (5 to 10 known) According to Fred Reed, yet since that time some additional examples have appeared, though not yet verified. More importantly, for the entire issue, only these ten or so 5 examples, and only two 1 examples, are thought to exist for the entire issue. Miles is a controversial Merchant in that some believe is the rarest of the major “Key” Merchant types required to complete the entire 34 Merchant Set of Encased Postage Stamps. This cataloger holds that the Claflin merchant type is more difficult to attain and that B. F. Miles is second. In any event, this critical Merchant type is extremely elusive, with the current 22nd edition of Friedberg listing a value of $20,000 for an EP-86.Early American offered a B. F. Miles in 1988 as part of a complete 34 Merchant Type Set. The June 2004 John J. Ford, Jr. Encased Postage Collection auction held only two B. F. Miles examples in his extensive holdings. Those included a single 1, which was graded “About Uncirculated” selling in 2004 for $25,300, plus a single 5 graded Extremely Fine which sold for $14, 950. The last similar 5 B. F. Miles which EAHA offered was in our February 14, 2004 Auction Lot 676, grading Very Fine selling then at $13,800. Previously, we’ve offered two other examples -- an Extremely Fine in our March 1998 sale Lot 405 which sold at $9,200; and a Choice Extremely Fine in our October 1999 EAHA Auction Lot 489 selling at $14,950. This current example has a rich brown 5 Thomas Jefferson 1861 issue U.S. postage stamp being near perfectly centered. It is clear, yet viewed through somewhat surface crazed mica that has some light bumps and natural laminations primarily near the rim edge as shown. The case looks great being sharp in its reverse legends and is a lovely natural medium chestnut in color and no other major defects or detractions. All of the reverse legends are perfectly clear and readable. Overall, a highly desirable example worthy of consideration in acquiring this rare critical Merchant. The brown Thomas Jefferson stamp is well centered, yet tilting the piece reveals the surface crazing and a tiny hole in the mica at 11 o'clock by the rim edge and a small pinscrape near the reverse “F” in “B. F.”. Always in demand, some minor distractions, yet a reasonably attractive “Key” example to help complete a Merchant Set. |
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Lot Number: 171
Click for a Printable Page Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid |
Estimate Range: $8,000 - $10,000 |
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Early American History Auctions, Inc. 1520 Commerce St., # 312 • Winchester, VA 22601 Phone: 858 • 759 • 3290 Email: Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com |
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