Sale 1240 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 20-21 July, 2021
Category — 1870-73 Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 134-166)
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Original gum, h.r., clear grill, detailed impressionVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH GRILL.
With 1988 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Block of four, disturbed original gum, clear grills, rich color, left stamps with a light vertical crease, bottom right stamp tiny nick in the right margin, few minor perf separationsFINE APPEARING AND VERY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Two blocks of six are known (one ex Klein, other barely shows grill points), as are a very small number of blocks of four. We have offered only one other block since before 1993.
With 2019 P.F. certificate. Scott value $24,000.00
7c Vermilion, H. Grill, Double Grill, One Split (138 var). Showing part of the grill in all four corners, radiant color, light face-free "spokes" corner cancel (probably New York Foreign Mail), Very Fine and choice, a rare grill variety, this is the only example we have offered since keeping computerized records, ex "Lake Shore", with 2005 P.F. certificate as quadruple split grill and 2020 P.S.E. certificate as double grill one split (VF 80; the variety unpriced in SMQ), Scott value as plain double grill with no premium for the split
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Wide margins and well-centered, clear grill, cork cancel and trace of red cancel at bottom, Very Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Rich color, noticeable grill points, wide margins, cork cancelVERY FINE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1975 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Attractive centering and margins, unusual geometric cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Several clear grill points, bold strike of quartered cork cancel, Very Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Clear grill points, bold strike of circle of wedges cork cancel, particularly rich color for this issue, light corner crease at top rightVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE, SCOTT 142.
This issue is not known in unused condition.
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Choice centering for this difficult issue, deep shade on bright paper, several clear grill points, red cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE, CANCELLED IN RED.
The 30c National Bank Note Co. Grilled Issue is normally seen with small margins, or is off-center. If one finds a centered copy, it more often than not turns out to have a flaw. The stamp offered here is a notable exception to the rule and is particularly desirable cancelled in red.
Ex Dr. Morris and Lessin. With 1996 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Brilliant color, clear and easily identifiable grill, outstanding centering with balanced margins, bold cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SOUND CONDITION WITH CHOICE CENTERING.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
3c Green (147). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins and choice centering, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.S.E. and 2021 P.F. certificates
12c Dull Violet (151). Slightly disturbed original gum (not noted as such on certificate), deep rich color and proof-like impression, fresh and Very Fine, ex Hoffman, with 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Block of six, nearly full original gum with some small adherences, attractive pastel color, small tear at left of bottom left stampFINE APPEARANCE. A BLOCK OF SIX IS THE LARGEST RECORDED UNUSED MULTIPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
From our 1984 and 1989 Rarities sales. Scott value $16,600.00 as a block of four and a pair
6c Dull Pink (159). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, Very Fine, with 1984 and 2011 P.F. certificates
30c Gray Black (165). Well-centered, intense shade nicely contrasted by red cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate as Scott No. 154, with 2021 P.F. certificate as Scott No. 165
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, well centered but reperfed at right, Very Fine and choice appearance, with 2021 P.F. certificate
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, vibrant color, wide and balanced margins, short perf at right, appears Extremely Fine
15c Bright Orange, Special Printing (174). Without gum as issued, vibrant color, perfs scissors-separated as usual but appear intact all around, well-balanced margins, partly reperfed at rightEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 174 contains 40 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 39 available to collectors. Of these, an overwhelming majority have the perforations scissors-separated on at least one side. Only five or six have intact perforations, and of those perhaps half are faulty.
Census no. 174-UNC-07. Ex West. Signed in pencil by E. Stern. With 1957 and 2021 P.F. certificates, only the latter mentioning the part reperfing.