1860 J.A. Bolen Advertisement Header. Musante JAB-Unlisted. Paper. 57.8 x 76.9 mm overall. Choice Extremely Fine.

One broad corner bend in the card, passing just tangent to one of the clipped corners of the printed area. Minimal handling otherwise. Vivid blue ink and quite attractive. This was the header for Bolen's 1860 advertisement, an example of which is reproduced in Neil Musante's excellent study of Bolen's issues, The Medallic Work of John Adams Bolen, published in 2002. Undoubtedly a printer's proof from a plate cut by Bolen himself. The first we recall having seen and likely very rare, if not unique, in this form.

From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.