Sale 1150 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Fully impressed grill with perfs far more intact than normally seem on this experimental all-over grill issue, central cork cancel, Fine
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Bright color, neat circle of wedges cancel, Fine, with 2007 A.P.S. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Wide and balanced margins, intact perfs at top with portion of adjoining stamp, clear strike of fancy blue Geometric cancel of New York CityVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT Z GRILL WITH A PREMIUM CANCEL
The 2c Z Grill is normally found with black cork cancels. This example, with choice centering and a colored fancy cancel is very desirable.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, detailed impression, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT GRILLED ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN SOUND, CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
To form our assessment of this 2c Z Grill, we conducted a survey of approximately 100 auction catalogues for major United States collections sold over the past 60 years. The majority of these collections contained only used or very poor unused examples of 85B. In general, many accomplished collectors, such as Sheriff, Klein and Seymour, evidently were unable to acquire a well-centered, original-gum 2c Z Grill. Power Search produced only a very few, along with some near-misses -- the most common flaw being faint creases. A Power Search review turned up perhaps 2-3 sound copies, but the centering was off side-to-side, as on the Whitman copy and one in our 2010 Rarities sale. Finally, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five OG stamps, graded 10 (two), 20, 30 and 50.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Huge margins with almost mathematically perfect centering, long and full perforations all around and clearly-defined grill, rich color, cancelled by "Peoria Ill. May 4" circular datestamp and bold letter "B" (postmaster was George C. Bestor)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE -- MADE MORE DESIRABLE BY THE STRIKING "B" CANCEL. P.S.E. HAS AWARDED THIS STAMP THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE, AND THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
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. Our review of past auctions, including Power Search, found precious few sound copies with Extremely Fine centering, and none that rival this stamp.
Ex Merlin. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $35,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve it.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Unused (no gum), characteristic intense shade, clear grill, centered to top right, Very Good, a scarce sound unused example of the 12c Z Grill, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Outstanding centering with enormous margins, blue town cancel, extraordinary proof-like impression and very deep shade, Extremely Fine Gem, a premium example of this stamp rarely found in this condition, ex Zoellner
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, lightly hinged, with "TAG" transfer variety, warm shade, unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A WONDERFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL. THIS STAMP IS THE ONLY ONE TO ACHIEVE A P.S.E. GRADE OF 90, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE ON RECORD.
A Power Search review shows how difficult it is to find this issue in sound, centered original-gum condition. Most have one margin significantly larger than the others, or are poorly centered.
With 1997 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $16,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to an original gum example and the only example to achieve it.
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Clearly-defined grill, crisp impression nicely contrasted by blue cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, lightly hinged, strong grill impression, soft charcoal shade on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE AND FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.
Although at least one block of four of the 15c E Grill has been split in recent years, few of the stamps harvested from broken blocks have the centering and well-preserved gum and paper of this example. As an indication of rarity, Scott Catalogue values Scott 91 at $4,500.00 without gum, and $12,500.00 with original gum.
Ex "Silver Lake". With 2002 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Deep dark color on bright white paper, bold grid cancel, strong grill impression, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Deep shade and detailed impression, red cork cancel, clear grill, Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-defined grill, rich color, crisp impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL. A SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
Over the years several multiples have been broken to feed collector demand for singles, so the overall number of original-gum copies is relatively high. However, virtually all original gum-copies seem to have at least one margin that is larger than the others. The stamp offered here, perfectly centered with four wide and balanced margins, is a true condition rarity.
With 2005 and 2006 P.F. certificates, the latter graded (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, the highest grade in P.S.E.'s Population Report is 70.
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered with remarkably wide margins all around capturing the characteristic plate burrs of 12c 1868 grills, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grillEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. AN EXTRAORDINARY STAMP AND CERTAINLY AMONG THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
We acknowledge the past existence of original-gum 12c F Grill multiples, which in recent years have been broken to furnish choice singles. However, the quality of this particular stamp -- its centering and margins, shade and overall freshness -- qualify it as one of the three or four finest in existence.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 1997 P.S.E. and 1998 P.F. certificates
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Intense shade, light strike of cancel, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $750.00)
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, small h.r., centered to right with wide top and left margins, fresh and Fine, scarce in sound condition with original gum, with 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, precise centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
The high-value F Grill stamps are scarce in original-gum condition and rarely seen with the centering of this superb example.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, light horizontal crease at bottom, small toned spot on back mentioned only on most recent P.F. certificateFINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
With 1986 and 2008 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Fresh color, clear grill, neat wedge cancel, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate