Sale 1062 — The Golden Oak Collection of Superb United States
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 December, 2013
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Unusually choice centering, perforations completely intact on all four sides, brilliant color and detailed impression, clear grill points, attractive blue pinwheel fancy cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1867 EXPERIMENTAL ALL-OVER GRILL IN EXISTENCE. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- CENTERING, COLOR, IMPRESSION, PAPER, PERFORATIONS AND CANCELLATION.
The August 1867 3c experimental A Grill was the first grilled issue. It was soon learned that the all-over grill weakened the paper and interfered with perforating and separating, resulting in rough perforations and pieces torn out of the margins when split apart. Within two months of A Grill production the apparatus was modified by dividing the embossed area into small rectangular units within each stamp (C Grill).
The 3c A Grill, Scott 79, is one of the most distinctive of 19th century United States stamps by virtue of its consistently poor appearance (the highest grade thus faR is a 60). The Scott Catalogue values this stamp in Fine-Very Fine grade and with perforation faults, the norm for the issue. Any example with complete perforations and in sound condition is valued far in excess of the Scott Catalogue price. The example offered here, which received a clear but not as heavy grill impression as usual -- allowing the perfs to remain intact -- realized hammer prices of $5,500 when sold by our firm in 1987, $7,500 in our 1998 Zoellner sale, $12,500 in our 1999 Dr. Puliafito sale and $35,000 in its last auction appearance in the 2012 Natalee Grace sale.
Ex Zoellner, Dr. Puliafito and Natalee Grace. With 1966, 1987 and 2012 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue states that "Values for No. 79 are for Fine-Very Fine examples with minor perf faults. Examples with complete or virtually complete perforations sell for much more."
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Rich color complemented by blue segmented cork cancel, clear grill, fresh and Very Fine, ex Dr. Morris, with 1993 and 1996 P.F. certificates
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Characteristic intense shade, clearly-defined grill, choice centering and margins, target cancel neatly frames Jackson's left eyeVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 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.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Brilliant color on bright white paper, extra wide margins, perfect strike of segmented cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT D GRILL.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Sharp grill points clearly showing the horizontal ridges characteristic of the Z Grill, cancelled by bluish-black New York City "Post Office" datestamp, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance, with 1960 P.F. certificate not mentioning reperf
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). An astonishing example of this rare Z. Grill, mammoth margins all around, blue diamond cancel, clear grill impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 1867 3-CENT Z GRILL IN EXISTENCE.
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.
Ex Renne and Dr. Morris. With 1990 and 1994 P.F. certificates
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and proof-like impression, perfect centering with wide margins, clearly-defined grill, red quartered cork cancel leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN UNEQUALED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. AN EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The 12c Z Grill stamps are often quite off-center. The example offered here, combining margins, centering, cancel and color is a true condition rarity. The red quartered cork cancel looks identical to the cancels found on New York Supplementary Mail covers of the period.
With 1994 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $39,000.00). This is the only Scott 85E graded Superb 98 in the P.S.E. Population Report and the highest grade awarded. Only two other stamps have graded above 90 (both at 95)
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Rich color and proof-like impression, clearly-defined grill, incredible Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, unobtrusive cancel with rim of circular datestamp at topEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $4,500.00 as 95, $13,000.00 as 98). Only two have graded higher (at 98) and only one other shares this grade.
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Beautifully centered with nicely balanced margins well-clear of design, sharp detailed impression on brilliant white paper, bright red cancel, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Well-centered for this difficult stamp, bold red New York cork cancel and rim of circular datestamp, Very Fine, a striking stamp, ex Hillmer, with 1983 P.F. certificate
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Wide margins, deep shade, almost face-free strike of quartered cork cancel, Very Fine and choice
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Choice centering, bright color, unobtrusive cork cancel, Very Fine
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Detailed impression on bright white paper, clear grill points, bold circle of wedges cancel at left and small part of red cancel at right, remarkably fresh, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 1997 and 2004 P.F. certificates
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Choice margins and centering, bold Leaf cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, neat strike of San Francisco cogwheel cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT F GRILL. A SCARCE STAMP IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
With 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,250.00). Only four have graded higher and only three others share this grade.
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Wide margins all around with outstanding centering, blue cork and circular datestamp cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL, CANCELLED IN BLUE.
Ex Dr. Morris and Barwis. With 1992, 1995 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,000.00)
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Unusually wide margins, choice centering, neat strike of blue cork cancel, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Choice centering with wide balanced margins, detailed impression, bold strike of prominent green cork cancel, faint corner crease at top right, Extremely Fine appearance, extremely rare with a green cancel, with 1989 P.F. certificate
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Vivid color, essentially precise centering with wide margins, beautiful strike of diamond grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp combining centering, freshness and a desirable cancel, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $320.00 for normal cancel)
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Well-centered, deep shade, full socked-on-the-nose strike of Negative "OK" cancel (Skinner-Eno LC-OK 29), Extremely Fine, ex Dr. Morris, with 1992 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Extra wide margins, deep shade, clear grill, neat target cancel, Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Well-centered with wide margins, rich color, red cork cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Dr. Morris, with 1984 and 1994 P.F. certificates
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Almost perfect centering with wide and balanced margins, intense shade, neat strike of circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,450.00), only five have graded higher
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Bright color, choice centering, clear strike of red Leaf cancel typical of New York Supplementary MailEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL WITH A RED LEAF CANCEL. A GORGEOUS STAMP.
With 1995 and 2008 P.F. certificates, both stating the cancel is genuine, the latter declining opinion as to its origin (submitted as New York City, which it is). Scott Retail as normal cancel
15c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (98 var). Centrally struck target cancel, detailed impression, well-centered, Very Fine and choice example of this paper variety, with 1986 and 2007 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Rich color on bright paper, clearly-defined grill, extra wide top and bottom margins and nicely centered, bold strike of unusual segmented grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1990 P.F. certificate
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Brilliant color complemented by blue target cancels, fresh and Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Bright color, neat strike of red Leaf cancel typical of New York Supplementary Mail, attractive margins and centering, fresh and Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as red cancel