Sale 1057 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 November, 2013
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Large part original gum, intense shade and impression, lighter than usual grill impression which leaves perforations on all sides completely intact, faint horizontal creaseFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE PERFORATIONS INTACT.
Due to the nature of the grilling machine and the all-over grill, most examples of this issue have missing or ragged perfs. The example offered here, with intact perfs all around, is a condition rarity.
Ex Geisler. With 1986, 1990 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, bright color, wide and well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.
The 3c is the only denomination that comes with the distinctive C Grill, with the grill points facing up instead of down.
With 2000 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
3c Rose, C. Grill, Imperforate (83a). Horizontal pair, original gum, large margins to clear at right, deeply impressed grill, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Original gum, small h.r., deep shade, clearly-defined grill, centered to rightVERY GOOD. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
With 1971 P.F. certificate for pair, this the right stamp
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Unused (no gum), clear grill, distinctive shade of 3c used for the early grills, Very Fine, rare in unused condition, with 1982 P.F. certificate (stating "toned", which it is not) and with 2000 P.F. certificate as "genuine"
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Slightly disturbed original gum, clear grill, three wide margins to touched at leftFRESH AND FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1977 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, centered to bottom right, toned perfs at bottom, Very Good appearance, a rare stamp in original-gum condition missing from the vast majority of unused U.S. collections, with 2000 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, disturbance from hinge removal, clear grill points and bright Rose color, small sealed tear at lower right, horizontal crease at bottomVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples, especially in original-gum condition.
Ex Argentum. With 1971 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Unused (no gum), characteristic deep shade, wide margins, clearly-defined grillVERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1988 A.P.S. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color and proof-like impression on fresh paper, clear grill points, trivial natural gum bend which is extremely faint and not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL IS FAR SCARCER THAN ITS F GRILL COUNTERPART, PARTICULARLY IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Some time ago we observed that the 1c E Grill appeared at auction very infrequently, in any form. After analyzing the early 1868 regular-production grills (Z, D, E and F), we concluded that grilling of the 1c 1861 issue with the E (and Z) Grill must have been short-lived, occurring sometime around February 28, 1868. Later grilling of 1c stamps was probably done with the F Grill. Relatively little of the 1c E Grill supply appears to have reached the philatelic market, as evidenced by the stamp's scarcity.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Original gum, prominent grill, attractive centering, couple short perfs at upper left, Extremely Fine appearance, an exceedingly difficult stamp to find with original gum and decent centering, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, F 70; SMQ $1,000.00), we are sure this would have graded much higher if not for the short perf
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, fresh color, prominent grill, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Unused (no gum), incredibly wide Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centering, rich color, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 1989 and 2005 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Unused (no gum), bright color, clear grill, shortish perf at lower right and tiny perf hole tear at bottom left, only the latter mentioned on accompanying certificate (though calling it a crease), Very Fine appearance, with 2006 P.F. certificate
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade and detailed impression, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
As collectors who have been searching for a superb original-gum copy of the 12c E Grill can attest, it is rarely seen in choice condition. One reason is that there have been far fewer multiples of the 12c E Grill than other grilled issues, and, therefore, fewer singles from broken blocks. No blocks were offered in sales of great classic collections, such as Crocker, Caspary, Eno, Lilly, Moody, West or Ishikawa. The Zoellner block was broken into Fine-Very Fine singles. The singles in most of the important U.S. collections offered during the past 25 years have been unsatisfactory in one way or another.
With 1999 P.S.E. certificate
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, barest trace of hinging if at all, deep shade, wide margins and attractive centering, expertly reperfed at rightVERY FINE APPEARING AND SCARCE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.
As an indication of rarity of 15c E Grill stamps with original gum, the Scott Catalogue values original-gum condition at almost three times the value of unused without gum.
1c Pale Blue, F. Grill (92a). Original gum, slight disturbance at top from hinge removal, pretty pastel color, clear grill, Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Original gum, well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Original gum, lightly hinged, strongly-impressed grill, radiant color on bright paper, huge marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT F GRILL.
Ex Scarsdale. With 2002 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Large part original gum, wide margins, deep rich color and clearly-defined grillVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
With 1979 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear and sharp grill points, choice centering with unusually wide margin at top, rich colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.
Ex Laila and Hampshire. With 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Unused (no gum), crisp shade and impression, wide margins, tiny thin spot in grill, appears Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, clearly-defined grill points, huge margins and choice centering, intense shade and impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL.
This highly desirable stamp combines margin width, centering, shade, impression, clear grill, and original gum. As such, it ranks among the finest 12c F Grill stamps extant.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Slightly disturbed original gum, intense shade, horizontal creases toward bottom, Fine appearance and scarce with original gum, with 1990 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Slightly disturbed original gum, clearly-defined grill, rich colorFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
The higher-denomination F Grills were produced in limited quantities and seem to have caused National Bank Note Co. difficulty in applying perforations. They are typically off center with very choppy perfs. This stamp has attractive centering and well-formed perforations.
Small red backstamp does not show thru. With 2001 P.F. certificate as "previously hinged"
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Disturbed original gum, intensely impressed grill which is easily visible from face, light corner crease at top right, Very Fine appearance and scarce with original gum, with 1992 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Unused (regummed), bright color, choice centering and margins, tiny stain at bottom left next to "U" is barely noticeable, Very Fine appearance, with 1999 P.F. certificate