Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue, A-Z Grills (Scott 79-85E)
3c Lake, All-Over Grill Essay, Points Up, Imperforate (79-E15c). Bottom imprint and plate no. 52 block of twelve, large margins, original gum, h.r. at bottom left mostly in selvageEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF TWELVE OF THE 3-CENT LAKE IMPERFORATE GRILLED ESSAY WITH POINTS UP.
The largest multiple we have offered in one of our auctions is a block of four. With 1996 P.F. certificate. Unlisted as an imprint and plate number block in Scott
3c Lake, All-Over Grill Essay, Points Up, Imperforate (79-E15c). Horizontal pair, original gum, single hinge mark, large margins, rich color, right stamp pinhole at top right, Very Fine appearance
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Clearly-defined grill and with intact perforations (a rarity on this issue), brilliant color, bold 5-Point Star fancy cancel, fresh and Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, h.r., brilliant color, clearly-defined grill pointsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.
With 1995 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Rich color, clearly-defined grill easily discernible on the face of the stamp, unobtrusive cancel, Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill, Imperforate (83a). Horizontal pair, large margins including left sheet margin, original gum, h.r., rich color, clear grills, Very Fine
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Original gum, right sheet margin with part of "NATIONAL BANK N(OTE CO.)" imprint, intense shade and impression, full clear grill impression showing the requisite 15 columns of pointsFINE CENTERING WITH WIDE MARGINS ON THREE SIDES BALANCED BY SHEET MARGIN AT RIGHT. ONLY ONE OTHER IMPRINT STAMP WITH ORIGINAL GUM IS RECORDED. APART FROM THE A AND Z GRILL RARITIES, THE 2-CENT 1868 D GRILL IS THE RAREST OF ALL GRILLED ISSUES.
As a thorough search of past auction catalogues shows, the 2c D Grill in original gum condition is conspicuously absent from most important collections. The finest examples are contained in the intact block of four, ex Caspary, Lilly and Klein. The stamp offered here, with full original gum and part imprint, is a rarity of the highest order.
Ex Crocker, Hetherington, Eno and Sheriff as part of a block and ex Golin as a single; the adjoining block below (with second half of imprint) was part of the Close collection. With copy of 1954 P.F. certificate as block and 1992 P.F. certificate as single. Scott Retail for Fine centering
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Original gum, near perfect centering, deep shade, prominent grill with full width visible, few slightly nibbed perfsEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
The D Grill was refitted with the E Grill on or about February 9, 1868. Based on the earliest documented uses of the 3c D Grill (2/1/68) and 3c E Grill (2/12/68), it is our theory that the conversion from the D to E Grill took place very soon after sheets of 3c stamps were first run through the D-equipped machine.
To determine Scott 85's rarity, we surveyed a series of major United States collections. The results of our survey are as follows: Caspary--none; T. Charlton Henry--none; Concord (1994 Rarities)--unused (no gum); "Connoisseur" (Superior 1992)--choice o.g. stamp (also Whitman); Cole--unused (no gum); Grunin--unused (no gum); Ishikawa--unused (no gum); Klein-none; Lilly--off-center block (no gum); Seymour--none; Sinkler--Fine block (no gum); Weisman--unused (no gum); West-none; Zoellner--used only; and Rarities sales (blocks without gum and stamps accounted for elsewhere in this list). A total of eight sound original-gum stamps in Very Fine (5) or Extremely Fine (3) grades have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. Therefore, although the Scott Catalogue values an original-gum example at $6,000.00, in real terms the rarity of a sound well-centered 3c D Grill with original gum puts it on a par with the major A and Z Grill rarities (2-8 recorded for each). The bidders will determine the ultimate price, but we foresee this stamp easily realizing a substantial five-figure sum.
With 1993 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Bright color, clear grill, neat cork cancel, fresh and Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clearly-defined grill points, beautiful centering with wide margins, sharp impression nicely contrasted by blue segmented cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL.
The plates used to print the Black Jacks did not provide enough space between subjects for the large 12-gauge perf holes. Consequently, most Black Jack stamps have perfs touching the design on one or two sides. This scarcity of four-margined copies multiplies exponentially when the Z Grill is factored into the equation. Only a small quantity of 2c sheets were grilled during the period when the Z device was active -- after the D Grill, the Z is the rarest of the Black Jack grilled stamps.
Ex Drucker. With 1980 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, clearly-defined grill, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, GRILL, COLOR, CENTERING AND OVERALL FRESHNESS.
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 sound, original-gum condition. Our review of past auctions, including Power Search, found precious few sound copies with Very Fine centering.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Bright color, clear grill, neat grid cancel, few nibbed perfs at left, otherwise Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Disturbed original gum, intense shade, some toned spots and slight creasingFINE CENTERING. A VERY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
We have offered only approximately ten examples with original gum in the past fifteen years.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Deep shade and impression nicely complemented by blue grid cancel, nibbed perf at left, otherwise Very Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate