Sold for A$1,050
Convict era ginger beer, lip impressed FOWLER, lower body also impressed upside down FOWLER, then under base in tiny letters is a third FOWLER. Ginger Beer Impressed Grey. Impressed. 10 oz. 161 mm. 1840s
Very Good. On first impression, this is mint in every way. However, close inspection reveals a hairline to the left lip, this runs diagonally down the lip and finishes just under the lip, it can just be felt with the fingernail. There is an even finer one to the rear lip, again, only just felt by the fingernail in the mid part of it. This last one is exceptionally difficult to detect, I missed it several times, only on very close inspection under strong light did I see it, and even after finding it, I turned the bottle around and couldn't find it again for a while. This hairline starts at the right shoulder and runs diagonally down to the base right next to the upside down Fowler stamp. This disappears in the middle, it cannot be felt by your fingernail and very much looks like simply a glaze line, possibly from making. It truly cannot be seen on display, even when looking very closely it is exceptionally difficult to make out. This bottle is believed to be unique with the three stamps, the two main ones on the front are what is known as the small ER Fowler stamp, as the ER is smaller then the FOWL. This is the only example ever seen that utilises two different stamps, the base stamp being the tiny 2 mm letters that Fowler used at times, normally individually. This is one of the finest convict era ginger beers available, how many people can say they have a triple stamped convict, not only that but using different sized letters, with one upside down, one on the lip - this is magnificent in every way! Grade: 7.9 Estimate: $4000 - 5000
