Sale 1057 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 November, 2013
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. H Grill (Scott 134-144)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Original gum, brilliant color on crisp paper, clearly-defined grill points, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 ONE-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Zoellner, Gorham and Liberman. With 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually clearly-impressed late state H Grill with full dimensions easily visible, bright color, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 2-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. OUTSTANDING IN EVERY RESPECT -- GRILL IMPRESSION, GUM, COLOR, CENTERING AND SIZE OF MARGINS. A FABULOUS STAMP.
With 1988 and 2005 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
3c Green, H. Grill (136). Unused (no gum), bright color and clear grill points, wide margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1990 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Original gum, several grill points visible, vivid color, diagonal crease, Fine appearance, with 1995 and 2013 P.F. certificates
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Disturbed original gum, rich color, three balanced margins, just in or touching at right, clear grill pointsFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
There exist only a handful of original-gum examples of this issue. As a testimonial to its rarity, outside of this sale we have offered only two other examples in the last 11 years -- a disturbed part original-gum stamp from our 2002 Rarities sale and the unique Mint N.H. stamp from our 2009 Whitman sale.
With 1999 and 2013 P.F. certificates
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Large part original gum, wide margins to touched at left, small gum stain on Clay's neckFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
There exist only a handful of original-gum examples of this issue. As a testimonial to its rarity, outside of this sale we have offered only two other examples in the last 11 years -- a disturbed part original-gum stamp from our 2002 Rarities sale and the unique Mint N.H. stamp from our 2009 Whitman sale.
With 1963 and 2013 P.F. certificates
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Original gum, clear grill points across Webster's forehead, vivid color, wide and well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
The 15c Grilled Issue is one of the most difficult of all National Bank Note Company issues to find in well-centered, original-gum condition. This stamp is one of the finest original-gum examples extant.
With 1993 P.S.E. and 2002 P.F. certificates
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Unused (no gum), clear grill points, vivid color, attractive margins and centering, Very Fine, with 1991 and 2013 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75)
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Part original gum which covers approximately half the stamp, clearly visible grill on Hamilton's head, well-centered, intense shade and impression, couple perfs with minor gum soaksEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. 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 original-gum examples, which are rare in any condition, only a few sound examples would grade Very Fine or better -- our computerized records contain five others with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through 60 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 lists only two stamps in the "OG" category, one graded 90 and the other graded 70, both offered in this sale (this stamp listed in the "POG" category). The finest original gum example we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9).
Ex Cole. With 1988 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (POG, F-VF 75; SMQ $13,800.00 as original gum -- the slight gum soaked perfs kept this from grading much higher). Scott Retail as original gum
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Original gum, h.r., several faint but noticeable grill points, intense shade, attractive centeringFINE. THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 2003 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, F 70; SMQ $9,000.00)
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Original gum, lightly hinged, many discernible grill points, deep charcoal shade and sharp proof-like impression, we detect a small expert repair at bottom center which is only visible in fluid or under high magnification, accompanying certificates diverge on this with the P.F. agreeing and P.S.E. not noting any flawEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE BEST-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE EXTANT.
With 2003 P.F. certificate noting repair. With clear 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 80, SMQ $19,200.00 as 80). This is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report. Only one other full original-gum Scott 143 has even been graded (Fine 70, offered in lot 713)
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Unused (no gum), clear grill, deep shade, tiny tear at top, Very Fine appearance, a scarce used stamp in any condition, with 1996 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.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Unused (no gum), clearly visible grill, bright color and well-centered, tiny thin spot in Perry's head not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine appearance, a scarce stamp in unused condition, with 1998 P.F. certificate