Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue, cont. (Scott 92-101)
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Block of nine, original gum, h.r., clearly-defined grills, bright color, few sensibly reinforced perf separations, few small faults including light horizontal crease affecting middle horizontal rowFINE APPEARANCE. THE LARGEST RECORDED UNUSED MULTIPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT F GRILL.
This is the only recorded block of nine of this issue.
Ex Evans and illustrated in his 1c book on p. 51. Scott Retail $32,000.00 as block of four, two pairs and a single
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Vertical block of six, original gum with usual minor offset, each stamp with well-defined grill, four stamps with small faults only visible in fluid, Very Good appearance, with 2000 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail $3,550.00 as a block of four and a pair
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Choice centering with wide margins, detailed impression on bright paper, target cancel, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Block of four, unused (no gum), bright color on slightly blued paper, strong grill, fresh and Very Fine, ex Klein, with 1980 and 1989 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail $360.00 as no gum singles
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Bottom imprint and plate no. 52 block of eight, original gum, few h.r. including some reinforced perf separations, gum soak at top center, bottom right stamp Mint N.H., bright color, clear grill points, few light creasesVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCKS OF EIGHT OF THE 1868 3-CENT F GRILL.
Scott Retail $8,750.00
3c Rose, F. Grill, Imperforate (94b). Block of four, original gum, h.r., large margins, rich color, fresh and Very Fine, ex Chapin, with 1978 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail $3,000.00 as two pairs
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Large part original gum, wide margins, deep rich color and clearly-defined grill, small thin spot at right, Very Fine appearance, with 1979 and 2014 P.F. certificates
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, original gum, h.r., clearly-defined grills, rich colorVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
With 1988 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $17,000.00
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, bright color, clear grills, tiny surface scrapesVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
Ex Klein. With copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for block of ten. Scott Retail $17,000.00
5c Brown, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (95 var). Block of four, unused (no gum), with left part imprint selvage, unusual "Chestnut" shade (in our opinion a changeling of some kind), left stamps vertical creaseFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL ON VERY THIN PAPER.
Ex Caspary. With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $17,000.00 as original-gum block of four on normal paper
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Choice centering with uncharacteristically wide margins leaving a white frame all around the design, rosette fancy cancel, deep rich color on fresh paper, clear grill pointsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO FIND WITH WIDE MARGINS ON ALL SIDES.
The narrow space between stamps and large 12-gauge perforations left little opportunity to clear the design. This stamp is an extraordinary exception to the rule.
Ex Natalee Grace. With 1998 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,250.00). Only two have graded higher (both at 95).
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Wide margins, rich color, bold cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1985 P.F. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Block of four, unused (no gum), clear grill points, well-centered and sharp impressionVERY FINE TO EXTREMELY FINE. THE UPPER RIGHT STAMP IS SUPERB.
As an indication of rarity, the Scott Catalogue value for four singles with gum is $12,000.00, versus $50,000.00 for the block.
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, bright shade, light strikes of target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00), only five have graded higher
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Choice centering with wide margins, detailed impression, bold cork and also red transit cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $475.00), the centering on this stamp is well above the grade awarded, this was probably knocked down 5-10 points for the cancel
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Block of four, original gum, clearly-defined grills, bright shade, light horizontal crease and thin spots affect top stamps, tiny perf crease at bottom left, few minor reinforced perf separationsFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
Despite some flaws the appearance of this block is bright and fresh. With the demand for choice singles, it is unlikely that any sound and centered blocks have survived.
Scott Retail $35,000.00
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Detailed impression on bright paper, unobtrusive strike of cork cancel, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
Ex Merlin. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00), only two have graded higher
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Horizontal strip of four, bright shade and crisp impression, purple grid cancels, few small flaws, Fine appearance, a scarce used multiple, Scott Retail as two pairs
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Block of four with left sheet selvage, selvage also with partial grill, original gum, radiant color, top stamps light horizontal crease, bottom stamps thin spots, top right stamp two toned perfs at top left, top left stamp single toned perf at bottom right, few sensibly reinforced perf separationsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL. VERY FEW BLOCKS EXIST.
Perhaps four or five blocks of four exist. This sheet-margin block shows the extra grills in selvage, which occur at the sides on Z and F Grill multiples and the top or bottom of D and E multiples, a distinction that we believe is evidence of two different machines used to grill sheets (D converted to E, and Z converted to F).
With 2004 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $45,000.00
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Perfectly centered with wide margins all around, bright shade and detailed impression on brilliant white paper, neat strike of black grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN SUCH CONDITION.
The higher-denomination F Grills were produced in limited quantities and are often found either off center or with choppy perforations. This stamp is a true condition rarity.
With 1997 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,500.00). This is one of only four examples to achieve this desirable grade with none higher, a statistic that has not changed in at least four years
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Block of four, rich color and detailed impression, each stamp has sharp grill points, neat strikes of oval registry cancels, top stamps faint horizontal crease, bottom right stamp two tiny tears and thin spotVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USED BLOCK OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
Approximately six used blocks of four are known.
Ex Ishikawa and Twigg-Smith. Each stamp with small "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. With 1979 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $10,500.00
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Block of four, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grills, bold quartered cork cancels, bottom right stamp tiny thin spotFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
Approximately six used blocks of four are known.
Scott Retail $10,500.00
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Clearly-defined grill, bright color, cancelled by circle of wedges on registered legal-size cover to Franklin La., neat "Registered" in oval handstamp, purple manuscript registry no., mostly intact wax seal on back from New Orleans gives only indication of origination, 1869 docketing, some toning affects stamp and cover, still Fine, scarce domestic use of the 24c grilled issue, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail $2,600.00
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Bright color, clear grill points, well-centered for this difficult stamp, cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Twigg-Smith, with 1988 P.F. certificate
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Block of four, partly split grill, segmented cork cancel, faint crease and couple minor faults, perfs in, still an attractive and extremely rare used block, Scott Retail $10,000.00
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Block of six which is rejoined horizontally, vibrant color, light rosette cancels, top left stamp small corner crease at top left, bottom left stamp repaired tearsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1868 30-CENT F GRILL.
A block of six is the largest recorded used multiple, and this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records.
With 2005 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $12,000.00
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Radiant color, clearly-defined grill, tied by bold strike of cork cancel, red "New York Paid 12 Nov. 10" credit datestamp on 1868 folded cover to Lyon, France, endorsed "P Cambria", red boxed "PD" handstamp, Calais transit, receiving backstampsVERY FINE. ACCORDING TO SCOTT CATALOGUE, THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE 1868 30-CENT F GRILL.
With 1994 P.F. certificate. With 1999 A.P.S. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, wonderful depth of color, clear grill, light cancel leaves Washington vignette completely visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL. THIS SUPERB STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
The 90c stamps used to make grilled issues were printed on a thick stock of paper. It is likely that sheets remaining from the pre-grill period were used and that the thinner paper introduced in 1868 had not been used for the 90c value. Two characteristics of 90c F Grill stamps are poorly punched perforations and generally poor centering.
A review of the P.S.E. Population Report statistics for the grilled issues reveals how rare this 90c stamp truly is. Only one other 1867-68 grilled stamp in any condition -- used or unused -- has achieved a grade of 100 (15c used). Even the very common 3c F Grill stamps have not had an example grade 100. To achieve this grade with the top value of the issue is remarkable.
Ex Kirke. With 1977 and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $25,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and no other example has achieved this grade. The next highest graded example is a 95 (2 examples).
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Rich color, enormous margins including right straddle-pane margin with centerline and part of stamp in adjoining pane, wide bars cork cancel, Extremely Fine, a rare straddle-pane margin example of the 90c F Grill, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Block of four with top sheet selvage, rich color, clearly-defined grills, large grid cancels, bottom stamps light diagonal crease, top left stamp light toning along top perforationsFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL, WHICH IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE. ONLY THREE ARE KNOWN.
Multiples of higher-denomination stamps such as the 90c F Grill were usually used on heavy parcels or large covers to foreign countries. The parcels or wrappers were rarely kept, and so few multiples have survived. Of the 90c F Grill, we record two other off-center blocks, as well as two rejoined and faulty blocks (one ex Klein and the other ex Ishikawa).
With 1993 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $25,000.00