SELECTIONS FROM JULY 2019 EARLY AMERICAN SALE

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V22 2019 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 22, Number 27, July 7, 2019, Article 22

The July 13, 2018 sale from Early American History Auctions (EAHA) has a number of items of interest that caught my eye this week. -Editor

Georgia. 1777 Act. Seven Dollars. "Hand" Vignetted Seal. PCGS graded Extremely Fine-45.

Fr. GA-88. A classic 1777 Revolutionary War Georgia bold color Seal type. In the John J. Ford, Jr. / Ex-Boyd Auction Sale there were two such "Hand" Seal notes offered, which realized $9,200.00 and $6,325.00 respectively. This is the One of only Two "Hand" Seal examples we have catalogued and it is a beauty! The laid period paper quality is crisp with just some light folds from circulation. It has excellent printed border ornaments that are fully on the paper, but for a few at the slightly trimmed lower right corner, its holder comment, missing LR corner.

The "HAND" Seal is superb blue, well detailed, with great line flow within the Hand itself. The motto, "ULTIMA RADIO" is clear (note: this is an Error Printed Note, as the second word should be "RATIO". This current example is printed such that the D appears like an L. The reverse is very clean, signatures include; Samuel Saltus, Benjamin Andrew, Thomas Stone, Nehemiah Wade and William O'Bryen. Notes on this 1777 Georgia series are wonderful and classic, yet the "HAND" is truly a special beauty in many respects. This vividly printed red and black with a vivid Seal making it a highlight for any Georgia Currency collection.

Colony of Massachusetts Bay. May 25, 1775 Indent Note. Sixteen Shillings. Copper Plate Engraved by Paul Revere. Due date of May 25, 1776. Genuine. PCGS graded Very Fine-30.

Fr. MA-146. An outstanding example of this very rare Revolutionary War period issue. All genuine Paul Revere Engraved Plate notes are important and the Indent series notes are particularly elusive, due to the fragile paper used and strong demand in commerce. This note has excellent overall eye appeal, exceptional full wide margins and handsome general appearance. Printed on "American Paper" only the "Americ" portion having being trimmed at the left indenture as issued. Printed on fine laid paper and having the manuscript signature of Henry Gardner very lightly canceled in red pen as Receiver General of the Colony.

Issued to pay 6% Interest per Annum. Most all of these notes were actually turned in and destroyed by the Treasury, having a printed one year life, only until May 5th of 1776, thus making any note of this issue exceedingly rare, particularly in such high quality. Holder states, apparent pen cancelled, restorations, minor mounting remnants and damage on back. Several light folds, traces of prior album mounting on the blank reverse ends, and the face eye appeal is superior and very sharp. Some old generation faint pencil notations on the face and sealed splits are hard to see and can be easily erased. A superior quality example of Paul Revere's engraving, and a denomination missing in even the most specialized Colonial currency collections.

EP-52a, HB-185, S-137, Reed-NO03. Three Cents. JOHN W. NORRIS, NEWS-BOOKS & STATIONARY, Chicago, Choice Extremely Fine.

c. 1862 Civil War. Rated as Rarity-9 (2 to 4 known) according to Fred Reed. In "The Standard Catalogue of Encased Postage Stamps" Michael Hodder suggests that this 3¢ denomination is the rarest for this merchant, with less than three examples known, and now being two decades later, the consensus is at perhaps four exist. Two were sold as part of the historic Stack's sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection in June 2004. We sold one in our EAHA Auction of June 10, 2007 Lot 5265, graded Extremely Fine with mica problems, which sold for $5,074; plus another graded Extremely Fine+ on October 15, 2011 selling for $7,080.

This current example is a great rarity by all numismatic and philatelic standards. It is at least the equal in quality to our October 2011 auction lot. This current example also has scattered traces of original Silvering present within its reverse legends and is very well centered, with a clean red George Washington stamp. Its mica is solid having a tiny area of mica craze to the outer surface layer at the upper rim of the left obverse moon. The case itself is choice and fully original, having one trivial nick on its left moon, with a natural golden-chestnut color. A notation on a paper card insert has a pedigree and attribution notation to Richard Wolffer Stamp Auction of April 26, 1985. This is rarest of John W. Norris denominations and the very finest that we have ever offered.

Indeed a great rarity. The 1985 Wolffer sale is legendary. I was just beginning to collect encased postage at that time. I could only afford to bid on a handful of lots but would have liked to bid on nearly every one. -Editor

Salem, NY. Private Issuer. "I promise to pay at my Office". 6 Cents. November 15, 1814. Backed. PCGS Very Good-8.

Haxby NY-Not Listed. Harris HXX. Extremely Rare scrip note backed on card, at least 95% compete. Imprint at bottom, Dodd, Rumsey & Stevenson's Print Salem. Holder states apparent severed, splits and tears, backed. Signature faded. Boldly printed. Extremely Rare and absolutely missing in virtually all New York currency collections!

Six cents is a very odd and rare denomination. 6 1/4 cents is far more common for this era, equal to half a bit. -Editor

Rare, Philadelphia Abrams Type "Hard Times" Satirical Note, Philadelphia, PA, Isaac Abrams 10¢ Capital Currency, Satirical Note, June 1, 1837, Choice Very Fine.

Haxby-Not listed. HT-N26B in Russ Rulau's "Standard Catalog of United States Tokens, 1700-1900". Signed by T. Young as Cashier and Issaac Abrams as President. This note refers to Nicholas Biddle, who was President of the ill-fated Bank of the United States. In May 1837, specie payments were suspended following a run on the banks. This resulted in massive shutdowns of factories, subsequent high unemployment, and freezing and starving during the winter of 1837-38.

This interesting note shows a group of Quakers protesting the street-preaching of a man named Abrams. There are at least three dates known of this type and these are quite scarce in high grade. This is superior to the Ford X Sale piece which eclipsed $1,000 with ease. Later, that note fetched $1,840.00 in the January 2010 Americana Sale.

1909-Dated Copyright, Macerated Currency Portrait Plaque of President William H. Taft (27th President of the United States from 1909–1913), Very Choice About Mint.

This exceedingly rare example of Political Commemorative Macerated Currency. It is round measures about 4" in diameter and 1/2" thick including the displayed extremely large central raised high relief Bust Portrait of President Taft, shown with an embossed scroll above from which dangles two short wreaths. With the partial punch located above the head at top for potential use in wearing on display, as it was made. Trivial flaws inherent to the manufacturing process and as made affect some of the highest points and are barely worthy of mention.

Overall, this specimen is virtually perfect and nearly as nice as on the day it was made. An original fully intact crisp label on the reverse reads: "Made of the U.S. Greenbacks redeemed and macerated by the U.S. Government at Washington, D.C. Estimated at $5,000." The finest and only the second example of two we have ever offered, the first sold in our EAHA Auction of August 23, 2003, Lot 904, (which was not as nice in quality), which sold for $1,035. Now being a decade and a half later, another delightful opportunity for the specialists in this unusual collecting field.

An odd item of numismatic ephemera, but a great conversation piece. -Editor