Sale 972 — The Laila Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 27-28 April, 2009
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Grilled Issue (Scott 134-144)
1c Ultramarine, Grill (134). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill points, intense color on bright paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. AN UNUSUALLY WIDE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM ONE-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE WITH REMARKABLY FRESH GUM, PAPER AND COLOR. A BREATHTAKING STAMP.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, Grill (135). H. Grill, original gum, clearly-defined grill (at first we thought it might be an I Grill), bright color on crisp paper, Very Fine, with 1973 and 2001 P.F. certificates
3c Green, Grill (136). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, fresh and Fine, with 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificate, the former for block of four
6c Carmine, Grill (137). H. Grill, original gum, clear grill, radiant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IN SOUND CONDITION.
Ex Vineyard. With 1987 and 2003 P.F. certificates
7c Vermilion, Grill (138). H. Grill, original gum, several clear grill points at left, intense shade, small natural inclusion at bottom left not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, Grill (138). I. Grill, Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, long and full perforations all aroundVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE WITH THE SCARCER I GRILL. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
The 7c stamp depicting Edwin Stanton was designed to prepay the rate for mail sent directly to Prussia, Austria and the German States, effective July 1, 1870. Production of the 7c stamp was postponed when the Franco-Prussian War caused a temporary discontinuance of this service, and hence the need for this specific denomination was greatly reduced. The earliest documented use of the 7c stamp is Feb. 12, 1871. Later in 1871 the rate for mail sent to Germany and Austria by Prussian Closed Mail via England was reduced from 10c to 7c, so the stamp's utility was restored. Luff notes that the first deliveries were after January 1871.
For years we have been lobbying the editors of Scott Catalogue to create separate catalogue listings for the H and I Grills, which would make their policy consistent across all of the grilled issues. The I Grill differs in size and shape from the H Grill, and we have distinguished between them in our auction catalogues for several years. The I Grill is more common on the lower denominations, but starting with the 7c it becomes quite scarce. Using Power Search, we have located two used and one unused examples sold in our auctions. The other unused example, also in Mint N.H. condition, realized $32,500 hammer in our auction of the Scarsdale Collection.
With copy of 1976 P.F. certificate for block of four and 2004 P.S.E. certificate as single
10c Brown, Grill (139). H. Grill slightly disturbed original gum described on accompanying certificate as "original gum", rich color, reperfed (also not mentioned on accompanying certificate), Fine appearance, with 1995 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, Grill (140). H. Grill, unused (no gum), pretty shade on crisp paper, easily discernible grill pointsVERY FINE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATION OF THE SET TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION.
Aside from the 24c, which does not exist unused, the 12c is the most difficult to obtain unused, in any condition. Probably less than ten exist with original gum, and many of these have faults. The stamp here, with clear grill points, rich color, choice centering and in sound condition, is a true condition rarity.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, Grill (141). H. Grill, original gum, vibrant color, clearly-defined grill, small gum soaks not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Chapin. With 2000 P.F. certificate
24c Purple, Grill (142). H. Grill, clear grill points, pretty pastel color, bold strike of rosette cancelVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Lake Shore. With 1998 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates
30c Black, Grill (143). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, several noticeable grill points, intense shade and impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among the original-gum examples, which are rare, only a few would grade Very Fine or better. Our computerized records contain four others in sound, original-gum condition with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through sixty years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. In fact, even among the collections famed for quality Bank Note issues -- Caspary, Lilly, Henry, Ambassador, Braus, Floyd, Whitman et al -- we could not find any original-gum examples that would grade Very Fine or better. Further demonstrating just how rare Scott 143 is in this condition, the P.S.E. Population Report does not even show an "OG" category for this stamp in any grade (although the SMQ lists OG values up to VF 80). The finest we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9).
Ex Argentum and Vineyard. With 1967, 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine, Grill (144). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill points easily visible at left on face of stamp, intense shade and impressionEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. THE 90-CENT IS THE THIRD MOST DIFFICULT OF THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Considering original-gum examples only, after the extremely rare 12c and 30c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue.
Ex Grunin and "J & J". With 1972 and 1990 P.F. certificates.