Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1868 Regular-Production Grilled Issue (E Grill, Scott 86-91)
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on crisp paper, clearly-defined grill, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL. THIS ISSUE IS FAR SCARCER THAN ITS F-GRILL COUNTERPART, AND THIS STAMP IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
In our previous auction catalogues, we have commented on the scarcity of the 1c E Grill in higher grades in relation to its F-Grill counterpart. Using Power Search, we were able to find perhaps three or four others which merited the grade of Extremely Fine. The stamp offered here, with its pristine gum, rich color, clear grill, and wide margins, is among the two or three finest.
Ex Gorham. With 1989 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, vibrant color, clearly-defined grill, post-office fresh paper, crisp impression with some printer's ink on face from partially unwiped plate, long and full perforationsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, clearly-defined grills, choice centering throughoutVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE AND DESIRABLE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL.
Most blocks containing stamps of this quality have already been broken to feed the demand for high-quality singles.
Ex Ishikawa. With 1990 and 2007 P.F. certificates
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grill, beautiful centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
As collectors who have been searching for a superb original-gum copy of the 12c E Grill can attest, it is rarely seen in choice condition. One reason is that there have been far fewer multiples of the 12c E Grill than other grilled issues, and, therefore, fewer singles from broken blocks. No blocks were offered in sales of great classic collections, such as Crocker, Caspary, Eno, Lilly, Moody, West or Ishikawa. The Zoellner block was broken into Fine-Very Fine singles. The singles in most of the important U.S. collections offered during the past 20 years have been unsatisfactory in one way or another.
With 1990 P.S.E. and 1989 and 1995 P.F. certificates
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, deep shade and detailed impression, clear grill points which show the entire grill, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.
As an indication of the rarity of 15c E Grill stamps with original gum, the Scott Catalogue values Scott 91 at $5,250.00 without gum, and $13,500.00 with original gum. This stamp, with its unusually balanced margins, full original gum, clear grill and overall freshness, is truly a remarkable rarity.
With 1998 P.F. certificate