Sale 1014 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 12-14 October, 2011
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 92-101)
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Three wide margins, well clear at bottom, crisp impression, bold strike of blue 8-Point Hollow Star fancy cancel strategically placed so Jackson's eye is peering out from center, Extremely Fine strike, a pretty stamp, ex Watt White, with 1989 and 2006 P.F. certificates
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Original gum, small h.r., fresh, bright color, Very Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Unusually wide margins and essentially perfectly centered, rich color, faint grill, light grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
3c Red, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (94 var). Wide margins, neat blue Cincinnati target duplex circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate graded 95
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, strong grill, Fine, with copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for block
5c Brown, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (95 var). Well-centered, bright and crisp, bold target cancel, Extremely Fine, the 5c F Grill is very scarce in this condition, especially on the Very Thin paper, with 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Nicely centered with an extra wide top margin, rich color, clear "Hiogo Japan" double-circle handstamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, almost perfectly centered with remarkably wide margins all around, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grillEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. AN EXTRAORDINARY STAMP AND CERTAINLY AMONG THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
We acknowledge the past existence of original-gum 12c F Grill multiples, which in recent years have been broken to furnish choice singles. However, the quality of this particular stamp -- its centering and margins, shade and overall freshness -- qualify it as one of the finest in existence.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $17,600.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this grade.
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Unused (no gum), essentially perfectly centered, intense shade and sharp impression, Extremely Fine, a choice and attractive unused 15c F Grill, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,800.00)
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Small part disturbed original gum causing gum soaks in the grill, otherwise Fine
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Outstanding margins and centering, sharp impression with neat target duplex circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Bright shade and detailed impression nicely complemented by blue small rosette cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Incredibly well-centered for this difficult issue, excellent color with face-free cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL IS NOTORIOUS FOR POOR QUALITY. THIS SUPERB USED EXAMPLE WITH A FACE-FREE CANCELLATION IS ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.
The higher-denomination F Grills were produced in limited quantities and seem to have caused National Bank Note Co. difficulty in applying perforations. They are typically off center with very choppy perfs. This stamp has uncharacteristically precise centering and well-formed perforations.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Attractive margins and nicely centered for this difficult F Grill value, cork cancel, tiny corner margin crease, Fine appearance, with 1987 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill, Split Grill (99 var). Showing part of the grill at left and part at right, pretty color, cork cancel, some ms. offset on back from address, tiny corner perf creases at top, Very Fine, desirable with the split grill
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Disturbed original gum, slightly soiled, otherwise Fine, rare unused with any type of original gum, with 1995 P.S.E. certificate
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Exceptionally well-centered, blue crossroads cancel, faint blue indelible pencil "x" on back, otherwise Extremely Fine
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Bright color nicely complemented by green cork cancel, clearly-defined grill, few flaws incl. perf flaws and light corner creases at bottom, still Fine, this is only example of this issue with a green cancel we can locate using Power Search
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Outstanding centering with wide well-balanced margins, rich color, fancy Sawtooth Circle fancy cancel almost encircling Washington's faceEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL WITH AN UNUSUAL FANCY CANCELLATION.
The 90c stamps used to make grilled issues were printed on a thick stock of paper. It is likely that sheets remaining from the pre-grill period were used and that the thinner paper introduced in 1868 had not been used for the 90c value. Two characteristics of 90c F Grill stamps are poorly punched perforations and generally bad centering. This stamp is a remarkable exception. The perfs are much better formed than usual (although they show the genuine characteristics) and the centering is far superior to the average. In this stamp there is also the added feature of a striking Sawtooth Circle fancy cancel.
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Choice margins and centering, typical rough perfs, large cork cancel, trivial corner perf creases bottom left, otherwise Extremely Fine
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Wide margins to just touched at left, neat crossroads cancel, bright color, couple shortish perfs, Fine