Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1867 Experimental Grilled Issue (Z Grill, Scott 85B-85E)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, intense shade and impression on crisp paper, clearly-defined grillVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN SOUND AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A GREAT RARITY.
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. Finally, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only four OG stamps, graded two 10's, a 20 and 50.
Ex Connoisseur and Morris. With 1977 and 1992 P.F. certificate. Offered to the market for the first time in 16 years.
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide selvage at bottom, rich color, detailed impression, clearly-defined grillVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE SCARCEST OF THE REGULARLY-PRODUCED GRILLED ISSUES. THE RARITY OF THIS STAMP IN SUCH PRISTINE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION CANNOT POSSIBLY BE OVERSTATED.
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. The editors of Stamp Market Quarterly have had no basis to value a stamp graded better than 85.
Ex Lilly. With 1998 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, intense shade and impression, beautiful centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM COPIES OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IN EXISTENCE. IT IS THE FIRST SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM COPY WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE 2001, AND THE CENTERING ON THE STAMP OFFERED HERE SURPASSES THAT OF THE OTHER COPY. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
Although the supremely rare Z Grills (1c, 10c and 15c) have attracted more attention over the years, the rarity of original-gum examples of the 2c, 3c and 12c Z Grill has been well-known to collectors who demand Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering and original gum. Unlike the 2c Z Grill, no well-centered blocks of the 3c or 12c have been available to furnish singles.
A review using Power Search found only one other sound and reasonably well-centered copy, which sold for $50,000 hammer in our 2001 Rarities sale versus $9,000 catalogue value. We also spent time looking through our library of older auction catalogues, and found only one other potential rival, which was described as having large part original gum. The editors of SMQ apparently agree with us -- they do not price Scott 85E as an OG stamp above the grade of 70 (they have never graded an OG copy).
Ex Morris. With 1978 and 1991 P.F. certificate. Offered to the market for the first time since 1996.