Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 134-155)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Original gum, lightly hinged, lovely fresh color on bright paper, Very Fine and choice, with 2004, 2010 and 2013 P.F. certificates
2c Red Brown, H. Grill, Split Grill (135 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins, rich color, Very Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Rich color and well-centered, bold strike of red segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke, with 2000, 2005 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85), with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $700.00)
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Unused (no gum), brilliant rich color and a detailed impression, Very Fine, ex Weisman, with 1978 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Slightly disturbed original gum, wide margins all around, bright color, reperfed at left, Extremely Fine appearance, despite the reperfing, this is a rare original-gum example that has great eye appeal, with 2004 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Unused (no gum), vibrant color, Very Fine example of this scarce unused stamp, with 1982 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Vivid color, choice margins and centering, cancelled by quartered cork and red "New York Paid" circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT H GRILL WITH A RED CANCEL.
Accompanied by cover from New York to France, from which the stamp originated. With 2012 P.F. certificate
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Unused (no gum), clear grill points, deep shade, expertly reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance, a scarce unused stamp in any condition, with 2013 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, beautiful bright color, three extra wide margins, light horizontal crease at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE AND WONDERFUL EYE APPEAL. A RARE WIDE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Considering original-gum examples only, after the extremely rare 12c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue.
Ex Curtis. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Rich color, choice centering with wide margins, few grill points visible at right, cork cancel, accompanying 2014 P.S.E. certificate states "two short perfs" but the perfs are typically choppy on this issue and such irregular perf tooth length would never have been characterized as "short" in the past (which we long for), still Very Fine and a great stamp, with 1992 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $2,500.00)
6c Carmine, I. Grill (137A). Part original gum (called "small part o.g." on certificate), beautifully centered within wide margins, attractive rich colorEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1870 6-CENT I GRILL.
The Scott Specialized Catalogue elevated the I Grills to major catalogue numbers beginning with the 2013 edition. For years we have differentiated between the two grill types in our auctions and pointed out the rarity of many of the I grills -- especially in original gum condition. Now, with major catalogue listings, the I Grills have taken their rightful place alongside the 1867-68 Grilled Issues, which have long been differentiated in the Scott Catalogue. The 6c I Grill is rare in original-gum condition. We have offered only two other unused examples.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (POG XF-Superb 95), SMQ does not price higher than 90. This stamp is still listed in the P.S.E. Population Report as No. 137 (in the NG/RG/D-POG category), but it should actually be moved to No. 137A, where it will be the only example to reach the grade of XF-Superb 95.
6c Carmine, I. Grill (137A). Blue fancy geometric cork cancel of Chicago, rich color, Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate, Scott does not list any colored cancels on this stamp
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Unused (no gum), choice margins and attractive centering, vivid color, Very Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). With plate no. 33 captured in bottom margin, lightly cancelled, rich color, light crease and purple handstamp on reverse just shows thru at bottom left, Fine appearance, believed to be the only known 7c Grilled Bank Note with a plate number, ex Cleland, with 2014 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine (145). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1979 (for block of four), 2007 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
2c Red Brown (146). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color and crisp impression, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $750.00)
3c Green (147). Mint N.H., partial imprint in bottom selvage, rich color, Very Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate (VF 80), Scott Retail as hinged
6c Carmine (148). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on crisp paper, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
7c Vermilion (149). Original gum, intense color, choice centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
With 2000 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
10c Brown (150). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright fresh color, wide margins and beautiful centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE UNGRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Curtis. With 1995, 2005 and 2013 P.F. certificates (latter grading XF 90)
10c Brown (150). Original gum, small h.r., bright shade, wide margins, couple inclusions, Very Fine
12c Dull Violet (151). Original gum, lightly hinged, wonderfully rich color and crisp impression on fresh paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
15c Bright Orange (152). Original gum, small h.r., radiant color, Very Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75; SMQ $2,000.00)
24c Purple (153). Original gum, lightly hinged, exceptionally well-centered, nice color, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp and difficult to find in this quality, with 1983 and 2010 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
24c Purple (153). Beautifully centered with lovely strong color, neat circle of wedges cancel with a trace of another in red, a beautiful stamp exhibiting the three C's -- exceptional color, cancel, and centering -- an Extremely Fine Gem, ex Merlin, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00), only two have graded higher (at 95J and 98)
90c Carmine (155). Original gum, lightly hinged, vivid National printing color, attractive margins and centering, faint natural inclusion above Perry's head not mentioned on accompanying certificatesFINE AND ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 UNGRILLED 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
Ex Curtis. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate
90c Carmine (155). Unused (no gum), wide margins all around, wonderfully rich color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine and most attractive, with 1999 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (155). Lightly cancelled, rich color and crisp impression, well-centered, Very Fine