Blazing Mostly Red Proof 1837 Quebec Bank Token, ex Brand-Ford

From John J. Ford Jr.'s world-class collection of Canadian colonial tokens, where I described this piece as follows: "1837 Quebec Bank Habitant Penny Token. Copper. 34 mm. Breton-521, Charlton LC-9B1 (Strong ground, with period). Choice Proof. A remarkable copper, with full blazing orange-red fields on the obverse, barely mellowed to the lower left, while the reverse is bright red across the center, toned in a rainbow crescent across upper left, and deepened around the remainder of the periphery. The fields are deeply mirrored on both sides, fully reflective and beautiful to behold. Some light hairlines and evidence of handling, nothing serious or unexpected, and a glass picks up a few specks here and there. The strike is crisp and the eye appeal is superb. An extremely impressive Proof specimen of this popular issue." Pedigreed to Virgil Brand, via his daughter Jane Allen Brand, to John Ford on September 3, 1967. A spectacular Soho Mint proof that has been lovingly cared for since its mintage, this token is a significant rarity in Proof format, though bronzed proofs of similar varieties are occasionally encountered. Ford owned three examples of this type in Proof, an unheard of concentration, all three of which came from the Brand collection. This was far and away the nicest of them (the second nicest, which was not close to this nice, brought over $4400). Circulation-strike examples of this type saw decades of circulation in Canada and the northern US, though a Proof like this makes for a far more elusive and eye-catching inclusion in an advanced cabinet.