Sale 1061 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 19 November, 2013
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 83-100)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, fresh color, Fine and rare, with 1964 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Clear grill, neat strike of rosette fancy cancel, choice centering with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1993 and 2007 P.F. certificates
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Deep shade and proof-like impression, clear grill, bold strike of quartered cork cancel, almost perfectly centered, faint corner crease at lower left not described on most recent certificate but is visible in fluidEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
The 2c D Grill is the rarest of the regular-production 1867-68 Grilled Issues (excluding the 1867 trials and rarest Z Grills), followed in order of scarcity by the 3c Z Grill, the 3c D Grill and the 12c Z Grill.
It is our theory that two grilling machines were used simultaneously, and that one of the machines was converted from the D to E Grill in early 1868, after a small number of 2c sheets were run through the D-equipped machine.
A review using Power Search found very few examples with centering close to the example offered here. If this did not have the tiny corner crease, its selling price would be astronomical.
Ex Hansen (Siegel Sale 963, lot 560). 1991 P.S.E. certificate noting corner crease no longer accompanies. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate as sound (Superb 98; SMQ $85,000.00)
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Brilliant color, clear grill, neat target cancel, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT D GRILL. A BEAUTIFUL AND FRESH STAMP.
Most of the well-centered copies we have encountered of the 3c D Grill come with heavy cancels. This choice stamp is a notable exception.
With 2002 P.S.E. and 2013 P.S.A.G. certificates (XF 90)
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Wide margins and attractive centering, fresh color, bold circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine and choice
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Brilliant color, clearly-defined grill, bold strike of circle of wedges cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate as on cover
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Bright color, bold strike of Elaborate Star in Geometric Circles fancy cancel of New York City (Skinner Eno ST-E 41), red cancels at top and bottom, Fine and stunning appearance, 3c D Grill stamps with fancy cancels are rare, this is one of the more elaborate we have seen and is made even more desirable by the combination with the red cancel, Scott Retail as normal cancel
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Wide margins and well-centered, bold red New York Carrier datestamp, few minor perf flaws, otherwise Very Fine, used 2c Z Grill stamps seldom have margins of this size, especially scarce with the red carrier cancel
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Bright shade and crisp impression, clear grill, unobtrusive cancel, most recent certificate notes reperfed at left, Extremely Fine appearance, with clear 1998 A.P.S. and 2002 P.F. certificates, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate mentioning reperfed
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Brilliant color, neat target cancel, well-balanced margins, fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Wide margins, beautifully centered, sharp impression, neat Leaf cancel (NYFM 68-7, Skinner-PF Seminar series No. 3), Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, clearly-defined grill, bold strike of grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Connoisseur and Dr. Morris. With 1992 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $5,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others share it. This is the first in this grade we have offered in one of our auctions.
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, clearly-defined grill points, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, a scarce Mint N.H. example of the 3c F Grill, we have offered only five others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate for pair
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Faults incl. small thin and closed tear, clearly struck "A J", Skull and Crossbones on Tombstone Anti-President Johnson fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn. (S-E PH-S 30), a clearly struck example of this rare political fancy cancel, ex Skinner, with 1984 and 2011 P.F. certificates
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Bright shade and crisp impression nicely complemented by blue cancels, clearly-defined grill, perfectly centered with balanced margins, small corner creases at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE BLUE CANCEL.
This stamp received P.F. certificate no. 307120 describing it as "Genuine, small corner creases at top right" It subsequently received P.F. certificate no. 312426 with the opinion "it is genuine". The photo on the former shows the top right corner perf folded down. Our detailed examination of the stamp shows another very faint pressed-out corner crease in the top right corner.
With 1997 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,000.00) as sound. This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it, which was offered in our recent Kirke sale.
5c Brown, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (95 var). Choice centering, strong color, light target cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,450.00)
5c Brown, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (95 var). Well-balanced margins, deep rich color and sharp impression, light cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful centered example of the 5c F Grill on thin paper, several E and F Grill denominations from 1c to 15c are found on this very thin paper, all are scarce, particularly the 5c-15c values, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate
10c Blue Green, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (96 var.). Wide margins and nearly perfectly centered, unobtrusive blue target cancel, Extremely Fine
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Unused (no gum), intense shade and proof-like impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful unused stamp, with 2005 P.F., 2004 and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,700.00)
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Intense shade, wide margins, clear grill, bold blue circle of V's cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Intense shade, wide and balanced margins, cork cancel, clear grill points, small corner crease at top left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2012 P.F. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (97 var). Wide margins and choice centering, characteristic burnishing marks in side margins, bold Leaf cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1991 A.P.S. and 1997 P.F. certificates
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Mathematically perfect centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, bright shade and crisp impression, clear grill points, light strike of target cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS USED 1868 15-CENT F GRILL IS UNDENIABLY THE PERFECT STAMP, POSSESSING EVERY QUALITY ONE COULD POSSIBLY HOPE FOR -- CENTERING, IMPRESSION, STRONG GRILL, FULL PERFORATIONS AND A LIGHT CANCEL.
We created Power Search for occasions like this, when superlatives fail to do justice to an extraordinary stamp. To see the centering, margins and cancellations on typical used examples of the 15c Lincoln -- ungrilled or not -- please use our website's Power Search feature to find Scott 77, 91 and 98 (three different searches). You will see that the 15c Lincoln is almost always a stamp of compromise. Great centering and margins, but heavy cancel. Light or colored cancel, but small margins or not quite centered. Great looking, but small faults. Then look at the "name" collections and see which 15c Lincoln stamps were included. No one -- and there are great collector names on this list -- managed to obtain this stamp or one even remotely like it.
When numerical grading started, the 15c Lincoln was on our list of "Try to Find a 100" stamps. We did not believe one existed. When this 15c F Grill was presented to us, we knew it was perfect without even looking at the grade. The Gem 100 grade and a note of praise from master grader Dr. William A. Litle confirmed our gut reaction.
The ungrilled version of this issue was released in 1866, about one year after President Lincoln was assassinated. It is regarded by many to be America's first commemorative issue, memorializing the martyred president as the nation started to heal from the wounds of the Civil War. In 1868 it was issued with two grill types, the E Grill (Scott 91) and F Grill (Scott 98). 15c usually paid the registration fee on domestic mail or the U.S.-French treaty rate. The 15c stamps used on transatlantic mail passed through foreign-mail exchange offices, where clerks were zealous about cancelling high-value stamps. For this reason, the 15c Lincoln usually has a heavy cancel or large cancel over the portrait. This stamp, with its light target cancel, is the rare exception.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $10,500.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade.
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Balanced margins and almost perfectly centered, small cork cancel and part of blue French transit marking, Extremely Fine
15c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (98 var). Intense shade and impression, well-proportioned margins, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine example of this scarce paper variety, small purple backstamp, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Intense shade and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with unusually wide margins, long and full perforations all around, clearly-defined grill, neat strike of rosette cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL IS RARELY OBTAINABLE IN THIS OUTSTANDING USED CONDITION. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
The higher-denomination F Grills were produced in limited quantities and are often found either off center or with choppy perforations. The example offered here, with long perforations, superior centering, a clear grill and with a neat cancel, is a true condition rarity.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1986 and 1994 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only three others share it.
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Quartered cork cancel, well-centered, rich color, tiny trace of a thin spot, Very Fine appearance
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Unused, regummed, well-centered for this issue, certificate states "perforation holes repunched to clean them out", Very Fine appearance, a scarce unused stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Bright color, unusual small unframed split grid cancel, well-centered for a stamp from the tightly-spaced 30c plate, Very Fine