Sale 1078 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 16-17 September, 2014
Category — 1870 National Bank Note Co. Grilled Issue (Scott 134-144)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Original gum, clear grill, radiant color, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 ONE-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
A beautiful stamp.
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Bold cork cancel, bright color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Intense color, easily discernible grill points at right, bold target cancel, Very Fine and choice
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Radiant color nicely complemented by blue circle of V's cancel, Very Fine, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Clearly-defined grill, rich color, bold target cancel, Very Fine
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Horizontal pair, natural s.e. at right, right stamp shows clear grill points, left stamp shows almost no trace of grill, bright color, bold quartered cork cancels and red circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. and 2014 P.F. certificate, the former stating that the left stamp shows no grill points and the latter stating the left stamp shows few barely discernible grill points
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Slightly disturbed original gum, vivid color, several rows of easily discernible grill points, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL ISSUE.
With 2006 and 2014 P.F. certificates
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Unused (no gum), wonderfully well-centered with vivid bright color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, with 1977 P.F. certificate
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Bright color beautifully complemented by red cork cancel, easily noticeable grill points, tiny corner creases at bottomVERY FINE APPEARING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL WITH A RED CANCEL.
Small Miro backstamp. With 2001 P.F. certificate
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Pretty shade, easily discernible grill points, unobtrusive cork cancel, small corner creases at top rightVERY FINE APPEARING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Clear grill, brilliant color, neat circle of wedges cancel, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
This is a surprisingly difficult issue to obtain in sound condition with wide margins. With 1966 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Redistributed original gum, light pastel color, Fine, especially desirable with the I Grill, which recently was given its own major catalogue number, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Horizontal pair, rich color, clearly-defined grills, unobtrusive cork cancels, Very Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as singles
1c Ultramarine, 2c Brown, I. Grills (134A, 135A). Used singles, clear grills, 2c small tear at upper right corner, still appear fresh and Fine-Very Fine, 2c with 2013 PSAG certificate
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, brilliant color, Fine, scarce, this was recently assigned a major catalogue number, with 2013 PSAG certificate
3c Green, I. Grill (136A). Unused (no gum), remarkably wide margins and virtually perfect centering, slightly shorter perf brings this down from a 95 or 98 designation, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $725.00)
3c Green, I. Grill (136A). Slightly disturbed original gum, beautiful centering and marvelous color, Extremely Fine, with 1976 P.F. certificate
3c Green, I. Grill (136A). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, pretty shade, Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Unused (no gum), uncharacteristically wide balanced margins, vivid color with clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1978 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Exceptionally choice margins and beautifully centered, rich color, attractive New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel, minute thin and negligible corner crease top right, Extremely Fine Gem appearance, with 2011 Weiss certificate stating "two tiny faults", Scott Retail with ordinary cancel
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Brilliant color, clear grill, segmented cork cancel, short perf at left, still Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Brilliant color, clear grill easily visible from the front of the stamp, cork cancel, few faults, Fine appearance, with 2012 Weiss certificate
15c Orange, I. Grill (141A). Well-defined I Grill points from the early state of the grilling device, choice centering for this difficult issue with wide margins, brilliant color with trace of oxidation at bottom left (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), neat strike of cork cancel, light diagonal crease at centerEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 15-CENT I GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY SIXTEEN USED AND THREE UNUSED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.
Starting with the 2013 Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, the I Grills have been elevated to major catalogue number status. We anticipate that collector demand will be difficult to satisfy based on populations we have seen. For the 15c I Grill, Ronald A. Burns records 14 used off-cover, three unused and two covers, for a total of 19 items.
Illustrated in Opinions VII published by The Philatelic Foundation. With 1992 P.F. certificate.