Sale 1254 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 6-7 April, 2022
Category — 1861-68 Issues and 1861 Re-Issue
3c Brown Rose, First Design (56). Mint N.H., intense color, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Rose (65). Mint N.H., radiant color, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate (XF 90), Scott value as hinged
3c Rose (65). Rich color, cancelled by well-struck All-Seeing Eye fancy cancel of New York City, bold and virtually complete strike, stamp with tiny corner crease at top right, Extremely Fine strike
3c Lake (66). Original gum which is slightly disturbed at top, unmistakable Lake shade, Fine, ex Frelinghuysen
5c Buff (67). Radiant color beautifully complemented by both blue and red postmarks, blue "Cincinnati O. Feb. 19" double-circle datestamp and red New York "Paid" exchange office datestamp, outstanding centering and margins, bright and fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 5-CENT BUFF, CANCELLED IN BOTH BLUE AND RED AND GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Due to narrow spacing on the 5c plate, it is very difficult to find centered copies with the perforations clear of the design on all sides. The stamp offered here, with its choice centering, fresh color and two different color postmarks is a true condition rarity.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. By way of comparison, the P.S.E. Population Report also lists XF-Superb 95 as its highest grade, with six examples. We have offered five of those six and none have a two-color cancel.
24c Steel Blue (70b). Lovely color, neat strike of circular datestamp cancel, corner crease at top right, Very Fine appearance, with 2021 P.F. certificate
24c Violet, Thin Paper (70c). Deep rich color complemented by blue "Cincinnati O. Jan. 27" double-circle datestamp, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1861 24-CENT VIOLET ON THIN PAPER, SCOTT 70c, GRADED XF 90 BY THE P.F.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF 90). This is scarce in the higher grades
90c Blue (72). Choice centering and wide margins, deep color, Leaf cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1979, 1998 P.F. and 2021 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $600.00)
5c Red Brown (75). Slightly disturbed original gum, rich Red Brown color, attractive centering and marginsFINE AND SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT IN THE 1862 RED BROWN SHADE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
24c Blackish Violet (78c). Distinctive rich color, nicely complemented by blue cork cancel, small thin at bottom left, tiny corner crease at bottom rightFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT BLACKISH VIOLET, A SHADE VARIETY THAT IS MISSING IN MOST ADVANCED CLASSIC UNITED STATES COLLECTIONS.
Our census of Scott 78c, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/78c , records three unused and 49 used examples of this issue, of which only 39 have been certified as genuine by The Philatelic Foundation. Some were certified a long time ago and need to be re-confirmed. We also record nine on covers.
Census no. 78c-CAN-49. With 2021 P.F. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Double transfer at top, attractive margins and centering for this notoriously difficult issue, quartered cork cancelFRESH AND FINE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
With 1993 P.S.E. certificate noting the double transfer, which is listed but unpriced in Scott. Scott value as normal.
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, brilliant color, clearly defined grill, grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
It is our hypothesis that two grilling machines were used to make regular-production grilled stamps, beginning in January 1868. Based on our analysis of grill production, the D Grill machine was refitted with the E Grill on or about February 3, 1868. Based on the earliest known 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 2c and 3c stamps were first run through the D-equipped machine. This would explain the scarcity of 3c D Grill stamps.
Ex Kirke. With 2006 P.F. certificate (Superb 98). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $24,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other has achieved this grade. The other P.S.E. 98 was offered in our sale of the "Natalee Grace" collection (Sale 1024, lot 142)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Perfect centering with unusually wide margins all around, clearly defined grill, bright shade and crisp impression, beautifully cancelled by red segmented corkEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ASTONISHING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS SPECTACULAR STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST AWARDED.
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 (Scott 84), the Z is the rarest of Black Jack grilled stamps.
Ex Kirke. With 2010 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $31,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other.
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Horizontal pair, centered to bottom left, unobtrusive grid cancels, Very Good, a scarce multiple of the 2c Z Grill, with 2000 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Radiant color on bright paper, clearly defined grill, wide margins and choice centering, segmented cork cancel, most recent certificate notes light diagonal corner crease at top left, still Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $3,750.00), with 2022 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IS SELDOM SEEN IN SUCH CHOICE USED CONDITION.
With 2006 and 2010 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering, clear grill points, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Twigg-Smith, with 1987 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90), with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $500.00)
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, bright color, fresh and Fine, small pencil notation on gum, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, F 70; SMQ $475.00), with 2016 P.S.A.G. certificate (70 ogH)
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering with extraordinarily wide margins, sharp grill impression, vertical crease at top, natural crease at right, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Fox and Wingate, with 1993 and 2021 P.F. certificates, the former notes only "light pre-printing paperfolds"
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, strong grill, deep shade and sharp impression, very freshVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
Ex Hoffman. With 1990 P.F. and 1991 P.S.E. certificates
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, clearly defined grill, choice centering and margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 5-CENT F GRILL.
The 5c F Grill is rare but does exist in Mint N.H. condition. These have primarily been harvested from blocks broken in the last 30 years. This is a fresh and desirable example.
Ex Klein. With copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for a block of ten. With 1999 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value as hinged.
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5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Rich color and proof-like impression, clear grill points, perfectly centered with balanced margins, neat strikes of brownish-black target cancel, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL IN EXISTENCE. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- COLOR, CANCEL, STRENGTH OF GRILL, CENTERING AND PERFORATIONS.
Our usual statement about Scott 67, explaining about the rarity of choice grades with the 5c issue due to the spacing and layout on the plate, can be underscored and boldfaced for the 1868 5c F Grill. The stamp offered here defies the norm, possessing wide margins all around and a lightly struck brownish-black target cancel.
Ex Dr. Hinrichs, "Scarsdale" and Kirke. With 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,500.00). Only one grades higher (at 95J, we have never offered it) and two others share this desirable grade.