Sale 1116 — United States Stamps and Possessions
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 16-17 December, 2015
Category — 1870-75 National and Continental Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 134-179)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Original gum, gorgeous rich color, choice balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. A VERY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WITH THIS OUTSTANDING APPEARANCE.
With 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Clear grill points at bottom left, brilliant color, Jumbo margins, unobtrusive quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,700.00)
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Well-centered with balanced margins, clear grill, bright color, circle of wedges cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Well-centered, grid cancel, several distinct grill points, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Perfectly centered within balanced margins, warm color on fresh white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful example of this I. Grill
6c Carmine, I. Grill (137A). Outstanding centering, bright color, neat strike of star fancy cancel, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING COMBINATION OF A SCARCE 1870 6-CENT I GRILL, WITH OUTSTANDING CENTERING AND A FANCY CANCEL.
This stamp is rarely encountered with the combination of choice centering and a fancy cancel. With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,200.00 for normal cancel)
10c Brown, I. Grill (139A). Well-defined outline of I Grill points, rich color, light strike of cork cancel and trace of red datestamp at lower left, centered to bottom leftFINE. THE 10-CENT I GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. TO DATE, ONLY TWELVE 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. Collectors will now have to acquire these I Grills in their quest for completeness. We anticipate that collector demand will be difficult to satisfy based on populations we have seen.
Ronald Burns, the foremost authority on the Bank Note grills, records ten used examples of the 10c I Grill, plus an additional two used on the same cover. Three unused examples are also known.
With 2001 P.F. certificate.
7c Vermilion (149). Perfectly balanced margins, rich color, neat target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,675.00)
3c Green (158). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins, post-office fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 3-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THE COVETED SUPERB 98 GRADE FROM P.S.E.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ as Superb 98 in Mint N.H. condition). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. The only other example to achieve this grade stood alone for eight years (ex Odeneal, Siegel Sale 941, lot 1100). Scott Retail as hinged
3c Green, With Grill (158e). Horizontal pair, right stamp with end roller grill, original gum, h.r., left stamp with trivial crease, Fine, the end roller grill is very scarce, with 1974 P.F. certificate
3c Green, With Grill (158e). Block of four, original gum, strong grill impression, rich color, some separated perfs rejoined with hinge, Fine, a very scarce block, with 1974 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as singles
6c Dull Pink (159). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Block of four, original gum with some "dimples" and reinforced perf separations, vibrant color, small corner crease top left, still Fine and very rare original-gum block, we have offered only two others in the past 15 years
10c Brown (161). Original gum, rich color, attractive margins and centering, Very Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
10c Brown (161). Block of four, original gum, small h.r. at top and bottom, gorgeous fresh color, nice margins and centeringFRESH AND FINE-VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1873 10-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
This issue is found in block form but is rarely encountered as fresh and the example offered here
2c Vermilion (178). Block of four, original gum, vibrant color, current certificate notes nibbed perfs on bottom stamps, Fine-Very Fine, with 1988 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates
5c Blue (179). Original gum, almost perfectly centered with wide margins all around, deep rich color on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 5-CENT TAYLOR CONTINENTAL PRINTING. AN EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The addition of a 5c value was made necessary by the creation of the General Post Union in 1874, which specified a rate of 5c between member countries, effective July 1, 1875. Of the two regular-issue 5c Taylor stamps -- Scott 179 (Continental) and Scott 185 (American) -- the former is much more difficult to obtain in this superior original-gum condition.
With 1999 P.F. certificate