The Grant Inman Collection, Part 7: Private Die Medicine Stamps continued...

FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT J. C. AYER & CO. PRINTED IN BROWN CARMINE. ONLY TWO OR THREE ARE REPORTED TO EXIST. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF PRIVATE DIE MEDICINE COLLECTING.

The one-cent Ayer's stamps were printed and issued in seven different colors. Three colors are the only recorded examples, the Orange is one of two known and the Brown Carmine and Blue are represented by two or three known. All six of these rare colors are included in the Inman collection, which is a remarkable feat. The majority used by Ayer were in Black, where it has been estimated that 1.25 million were used each year.

The rarity of Medicine stamps is often attributable to paper type, such as pink or experimental silk paper. This is an unusual case where the item's rarity is based on the printed color, which is more easily discernible than most paper types. There are three examples of the Brown Carmine reported in the Aldrich book. However, the census notes two were included in the Joyce collection, but the Joyce auction contained only the example offered here. The only other example we were able to locate was in the Lilly sale, which has similar margins and is also faulty.

Ex Joyce and offered to the market for the first time since that 1991 auction. (Image)

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THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT J. C. AYER & CO. PRINTED IN GREEN. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INMAN COLLECTION AND OF THE ENTIRE FIELD.

The one-cent Ayer's stamps were printed and issued in seven different colors. Three colors are the only recorded examples, the Orange is one of two known and the Brown Carmine and Blue are represented by two or three known. All six of these rare colors are included in the Inman collection, which is a remarkable feat. The majority used by Ayer were in Black, where it has been estimated that 1.25 million were used each year.

The rarity of Medicine stamps is often attributable to paper type, such as pink or experimental silk paper. This is an unusual case where the item's rarity is based on the printed color, which is more easily discernible than most paper types. This is the only recorded example in Green.

Ex Lilly and Joyce. Offered to the market for the first time since 1991. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TYPE 2 AYER'S ISSUE ON PINK PAPER.

Only 22 are recorded in the Aldrich book, of which half are sound.

With 1979 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT J. C. AYER & CO. PRINTED IN BLUE. ONLY THREE ARE REPORTED TO EXIST. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF PRIVATE DIE MEDICINE COLLECTING.

The one-cent Ayer's stamps were printed and issued in seven different colors. Three colors are the only recorded examples, the Orange is one of two known and the Brown Carmine and Blue are represented by two or three known. All six of these rare colors are included in the Inman collection, which is a remarkable feat. The majority used by Ayer were in Black, where it has been estimated that 1.25 million were used each year.

The rarity of Medicine stamps is often attributable to paper type, such as pink or experimental silk paper. This is an unusual case where the item's rarity is based on the printed color, which is more easily discernible than most paper types. The Blue is extremely rare, with three reported in the Aldrich book. The Joyce collection contained two, but only this one was offered in the auction. The only other example we were able to locate was in the Lilly sale, which has similar margins and is also faulty.

Ex Eagle, Colonel Green and Joyce. Offered to the market for the first time since 1991. (Image)

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ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT J. C. AYER & CO. PRINTED IN ORANGE. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INMAN COLLECTION AND OF THE ENTIRE FIELD.

The one-cent Ayer's stamps were printed and issued in seven different colors. Three colors are the only recorded examples, the Orange is one of two known and the Brown Carmine and Blue are represented by two or three known. All six of these rare colors are included in the Inman collection, which is a remarkable feat. The majority used by Ayer were in Black, where it has been estimated that 1.25 million were used each year.

The rarity of Medicine stamps is often attributable to paper type, such as pink or experimental silk paper. This is an unusual case where the item's rarity is based on the printed color, which is more easily discernible than most paper types. The Aldrich book notes that only one is recorded in Orange, but the Lilly sale contained a different example.

Ex Joyce. Offered to the market for the first time since 1991. (Image)

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THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT J. C. AYER & CO. PRINTED IN RED. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INMAN COLLECTION AND OF THE ENTIRE FIELD.

The one-cent Ayer's stamps were printed and issued in seven different colors. Three colors are the only recorded examples, the Orange is one of two known and the Brown Carmine and Blue are represented by two or three known. All six of these rare colors are included in the Inman collection, which is a remarkable feat. The majority used by Ayer were in Black, where it has been estimated that 1.25 million were used each year.

The rarity of Medicine stamps is often attributable to paper type, such as pink or experimental silk paper. This is an unusual case where the item's rarity is based on the printed color, which is more easily discernible than most paper types. This is the only recorded example in Red.

Ex Joyce. Offered to the market for the first time since 1991. (Image)

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THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT J. C. AYER & CO. PRINTED IN GRAY LILAC. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INMAN COLLECTION AND OF THE ENTIRE FIELD.

The one-cent Ayer's stamps were printed and issued in seven different colors. Three colors are the only recorded examples, the Orange is one of two known and the Brown Carmine and Blue are represented by two or three known. All six of these rare colors are included in the Inman collection, which is a remarkable feat. The majority used by Ayer were in Black, where it has been estimated that 1.25 million were used each year.

The rarity of Medicine stamps is often attributable to paper type, such as pink or experimental silk paper. This is an unusual case where the item's rarity is based on the printed color, which is more easily discernible than most paper types. This is the only recorded example in Gray Lilac.

Ex Lilly and Joyce. Offered to the market for the first time since 1991. (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT RED J. C. AYER & CO. "STAR" DIE CUT ISSUE. ONLY FIVE ARE RECORDED.

The 4c J. C. Ayer & Co. stamps were initially printed in six colors on old paper -- Black (none known), Red (5 known), Vermilion (3 or 4 known), Green (3 known), Purple (1 known) and Blue. The majority of stamps issued were Blue on various papers. It has been estimated that slightly over a million per year were used, over a 20-year period, so most of the Blue stamps are common, except for some paper varieties. They were generally not cancelled, since they were normally destroyed or damaged when the pill box or bottle was opened.

The Aldrich book records three examples. There are two additional examples recorded by Eric Jackson. Our census illustrates them at https://siegelauctions.com/census/US/RS8a . Part 25 of the Colonel Green collection also contained one, described as "fine looking but expertly repaired" but not illustrated -- this is likely one of the examples listed in the census.

Ex Joyce. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT BLUE J. C. AYER & CO. ON EXPERIMENTAL SILK PAPER.

As an indication of rarity, none was offered in the Lilly or Joyce sales. It was first listed in the 1993 Scott U.S. Specialized, two years after the Joyce sale, with a dash for the price. It is also not mentioned in the 1994 Aldrich book. This is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records.

With 1985 P.F. certificate noting only a thin spot (Image)

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