Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue, A, C, D, Z Grills (Scott 79-85E)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Unused (no gum), radiant color, clear grill, Very Fine and choice for this difficult issue, due to the nature of the all-over grill on this issue, many examples are quite defective, this is far better than those typically seen, with 1987 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). With part imprint selvage at top, attractive color and margins, typical rough perfs for this issue, small circular segmented cork cancel, Very Fine, a striking 3c A Grill with the part imprint, with 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, brilliant color on bright paper, well-centered with well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.
The 3c is the only denomination that comes with the distinctive C Grill, with the grill points facing up instead of down. The few high-grade original-gum examples owe their existence to the division of blocks of four.
With 1986 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $9,950.00)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Unused (regummed) described on certificate as original gum, rich color, clearly-defined grill, horizontal crease at top, few perfs creased at top, Very Fine appearance, with 1984 P.F. certificate, Scott value as no gum
2c Black, D. Grill (84). With bottom sheet margin, original gum, clear and sharp grill points with second impression of grill in selvage, centered to rightVERY GOOD. A RARE AND PRESENTABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
As a thorough search of past auction catalogues shows, the 2c D Grill in original-gum condition is conspicuously absent from most important collections. The finest examples are contained in the intact block of four, ex Caspary, Lilly and Klein. We have offered perhaps four or five sound copies with centering we would consider Very Fine. The example offered here, with selvage containing an additional imprint of the grill, is highly desirable.
Ex Hoffman. With 1993 and 2000 P.F. certificates
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Slightly disturbed original gum, h.r., intense shade, centered to top right, small inclusion in Jackson's forehead, Very Good, a scarce stamp with original gum, Scott value $16,000.00
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Choice centering for this difficult issue with wide and balanced margins, intense shade and impression, brownish-black handstamp cancelsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION.
The 2c D Grill is the rarest of the regular-production 1867-68 Grilled Issues (excluding the 1867 trials and rarest Z Grills), followed in order of scarcity by the 3c Z Grill, the 3c D Grill and the 12c Z Grill. It is our theory that two grilling machines were used simultaneously, and that one of the machines was converted from the D to E Grill in early 1868, after a small number of 2c sheets were run through the D-equipped machine. This was the first time the Black Jack received a grill.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $10,000.00).
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Intense shade, light strike of unusual small circular segmented cork cancel, diagonal crease at lower left, Fine appearing example of this scarce stamp, with 1980 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Unused (no gum), brilliant color on bright paper, clear grill, fresh and Very Fine, with 1993 and 2008 P.F. certificates
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Original gum, narrow h.r. and pencil notation on gum, faint diagonal crease is nearly invisible, otherwise Fine, Scott value $8,000.00
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Well-centered, pastel color, clear grill, lightly cancelled, fresh and Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Well-defined grill, rich color, neat strike of circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Clear grill, bright color complemented by blue segmented cork cancel, perfs scissors-separated but complete, Fine, with 2008 Weiss certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), detailed impression, clearly-defined grill, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL.
This is one of the most difficult grilled issues to obtain with decent centering. For example, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five OG stamps -- graded 10 (two), 20, 30 and 50. The example offered here, with superior centering, is a condition rarity.
With 1987 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), intense shade, centered to bottom right, single slightly short perf at bottom not mentioned on certificate, Fine and scarce unused example of the 2c Black Jack Z grill, with 1994 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Almost perfectly centered, deep color and sharp impression, light strike of target cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Hilmer, with 1993 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clearly-defined grill, unobtrusive cancel, Fine, ex "Gannymede"
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Intense shade, Small Star in Circle fancy cancel, tiny corner crease at bottom left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, still about Fine, scarce with a fancy cancel, ex Choban, with 1960 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Intense shade, neat strike of circle of wedges cancel frames Jackson's face, single pulled perf at upper right and short perf at bottom right, appears Very Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clearly-defined grill, crisp impression, red New York Foreign Mail geometric cancel, tear at right, reperfed at left, Fine appearance, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, clear grill points, deep rich color, horizontal crease at bottomFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
Excluding the supremely rare grills -- 5c and 30c A Grill, 3c B Grill, 1c, 10c and 15c Z Grills -- the 3c Z Grill is the second rarest of the regularly-produced grilled issues. Examples of the 3c Z Grill are usually far off-center and frequently faulty.
Ex Hoffman. With 2000 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Attractive color and margins, bold rosette cancel, tiny corner perf tip crease at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, appears Very Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, attractively centered, intense color, short perf at left, covered thin spot at top left, some toned perfs at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN UNUSED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1971 and 2008 P.F. certificates, the latter not noting short perf
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade characteristic of the Z Grill, proof-like impression and clearly-defined grill, well-centered, faintly cancelledVERY FINE AND LIGHTLY CANCELLED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Three extra wide margins, intense shade of the 12c Z Grill, circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate