Sale 1107 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 28-29 July, 2015
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 88-101)
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful deep Rose shade characteristic of early regular-issue 3c grilled stamps, strong grill impression, choice centering on fresh paper with long full perfs all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A WONDERFUL COPY OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL. AN ELUSIVE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1983, 2002 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Block of four, original gum, h.r., choice centering, brilliant color, clearly-defined grillsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL.
Very few well-centered blocks of the 3c E Grill have survived the mass extinction of multiples, as dealers broke them up in the 1980s and 90s to feed the market for choice singles. This is one of the last left intact.
Ex Caspary and Ishikawa. With 1993 P.F. certificate
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Unused (no gum), deep rich color and proof-like impression, clear grill, trivial corner perf crease at bottom rightVERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL.
Scarce with such wide margins.
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, h.r., wide top and bottom margins to touched at left, rich color, Fine
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Bright shade, clear grill points, neat strike of red cork cancel, beautifully centered, fresh and Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 1994 and 2014 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Unused (no gum), crisp impression, clear grill, reperfed at left, Very Fine appearance, ex Neinken, with 1970 P.F. certificate as sound
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Balanced margins, bright color, bold strike of unusual small square segmented cork cancel, pulled perf at top right, Extremely Fine appearance
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Essentially perfect centering, clearly-struck "(Pai)d All" straightline handstamp, bright and crispEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL WITH A CHOICE STRIKE OF A BETTER CANCEL.
This issue is exceedingly difficult to find with the attributes of the example offered here -- wide margins, perfect centering, impression and a "Paid All" cancel. With 2014 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Horizontal strip of five, natural s.e. at right, choice centering, circle of wedges cancels, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, scarce multiple, Scott Retail as two pairs and a single
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, some offset on gum from other 5c stamps and slight flaking of ink in printed design (as found on most of the known blocks), deep rich color, clearly-defined grills, almost perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL. ONE OF THE FINEST EXTANT.
As this block demonstrates, the 5c 1861-68 Issue was printed from plates with closely-spaced subjects that left little room for the large 12-gauge perforations. In this instance, the perforations were applied almost exactly within the narrow spaces between the stamps.
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, original gum, h.r., clearly-defined grills, rich colorVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
With 1988 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $17,000.00
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Essentially perfect centering with wide and balanced margins, quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1988 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00)
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, bright shade, few creases at top left, Fine appearance
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Unused (no gum), attractively centered with intense shade, tiny corner perf crease bottom right, Very Fine appearance, with 1974 and 2014 P.F. certificates, the former as sound
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, deep rich color and detailed impression, Very Good, scarce in sound original-gum condition
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Large part original gum, gorgeous color and fresh, perfs touch at right and barely in at top, Very Good, a scarce stamp with original gum
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Original gum, single hinge mark, clearly-defined grill, rich colorFRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL.
With 1999 and 2014 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75)
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Slightly disturbed original gum, deep rich color, clear grill, tiny thin specks at topA FINE APPEARING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL.
A difficult issue to obtain with original gum.
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Large part original gum, incredibly fresh with gorgeous color and clear impression, perfs close to barely touch, Very Good, a fresh and desirable original-gum example of this rare grilled issue, ex Roy White (author of Color in Philately), with photocopy of 1981 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Rich color, enormous margins including right straddle-pane margin with centerline and part of stamp in adjoining pane, wide bars cork cancel, small tear and perf tear at lower left, Extremely Fine appearance, a rare straddle-pane margin example of the 90c F Grill, with 2002 and 2014 P.S.E. certificates, the latter graded 60 but stating "Apparent Centering: Superb 98"