Encased Postage Stamps
Important Ten Cent "H.A. COOK" Evansville, Indiana R-7 The Single Finest Quality Example EAHA has Ever Offered
EP-108, HB-95, S-65, Reed-CO1010. H.A. COOK - Eureka Bazaar, Evansville, Indiana, Choice About New.
Rated as Rarity-7 (11 to 15 known) according to Fred Reed. A most elusive Merchant type which is extremely difficult to locate and a "Key" to completing a complete thirty-four Merchant Encased Postage Stamp type set. The Hodder-Bowers reference states: "About twelve 10 pieces are known. The 10 George Washington 1861 series U.S. postage stamp is near perfectly centered and remains a vivid deep bold original green in color. The mica is crystal clear and unbroken, having just one fine near invisible natural lamination line at the bottom rim edge. The case itself is a lovely defect-free, medium chestnut in color with some natural deeper tone within the inner reverse rim, with extremely sharp clear legends and underlying glossy luster, suggesting slight actual wear from circulation. In December 1999 EAHA sold an EF example as Lot 609 which sold for $2,300; in December 2003 we sold Lot 771 being another EF at $5,750; a third sold in June 2005 as Lot 1059, also graded EF which sold at $5,750. In more recent years, the pricing for these "Key" Encased Postage rarities has continued to increase quite rapidly due to higher collector demand and we expect this impressive Rarity-7 to bring a very competitive hammer price. This current Ten Cent "H.A. COOK" is the only one to be consigned since 2005 and ranks as the single finest quality example we have ever offered.