Sale 953 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 25-28 March, 2008
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Grilled Issue (Scott 134-144)
1c Ultramarine, Grill (134). H. Grill, well-centered, bright color, circular datestamp and target cancel, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
2c Red Brown, Grill (135). I. Grill, clearly-defined grill points, radiant color, unobtrusive cancel, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $200.00 as 90, $540.00 as 95)
2c Red Brown, Grill (135). I. Grill, wide margins and very attractive centering, strong color and light target cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, Grill (137). H. Grill, well-centered, cork cancel and red credit datestamp, Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
6c Carmine, Grill (137). I. Grill, wide margins, large blue grid cancel, Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, Grill (137). H. Grill, rich color, unusual small unframed grid cancel., couple trivial perf flaws, otherwise Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate that does not mention perf flaws
7c Vermilion, Grill (138). H. Grill with clear grill points at bottom left, brilliant color, Jumbo margins, unobtrusive quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,150.00 as 90, $2,950.00 as 95)
7c Vermilion, Grill (138). I. Grill, wonderfully well-centered with deep rich color, nearly face-free small blue target cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1978 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, Grill (138). H. Grill, vivid color, bold unusual circle of small wedges cancel, Very Fine and attractive, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
10c Brown, Grill (139). H. Grill, original gum, exceptionally wide margins and unusually well-centered, marvelous color with an easily discernible grill at lower rightEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 10-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE.
This stamp is found more frequently with small margins and very few visible grill points. The original-gum example offered here, with extra wide margins and a well-defined grill, is a condition rarity and ranks among the finest known.
Signed Weill and with 1987 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, Grill (139). H. Grill, slightly disturbed original gum, magnificent depth of colorVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate
10c Brown, Grill (139). H. Grill, well-centered and with rich color, light cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, Grill (140). H. Grill with several discernible grill points, deep rich color, neat cancel, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1997 P.S.E. and 1998 P.F. certificates
12c Dull Violet, Grill (140). H. Grill, pleasing centering and stronger color than typically seen for this issue, light two stroke violet ms. cancel and red numeral accountancy handstamp, Very Fine, with 1969 and 1998 P.F. certificates
15c Orange, Grill (141). H. Grill, original gum, bright color, horizontal creases at top, otherwise Fine, a rare original-gum example of the 15c 1870 Grill, with 1989 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, I. Grill (141 var). Well-defined I Grill points from the early state of the grilling device, brilliant color, neat strike of segmented cork cancel, tiny corner perf crease at bottom rightFINE. THIS STAMP IS THE DISCOVERY COPY OF THE 15-CENT I GRILL, WHICH IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TEN USED AND TWO UNUSED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS RARITY DESERVES MAJOR CATALOGUE LISTING STATUS.
At least two sizes of grills were used by the National Bank Note Company for the 1870 Issue. The I Grill measures from 9-11 points wide by 10-13 points tall. The I Grill is currently recorded on all values except the 12c, 24c and 30c (there are unconfirmed reports of the I Grill on the 12c and 24c). The 1c thru 7c values make up most of the population of I Grill stamps. The 10c, 15c and 90c I Grills are extremely rare, and it is only in recent years that their existence was reported by Ronald Burns.
With 1955 and 2008 P.F. certificates and accompanied by 1953 note from Stanley Gibbons where purchased by the current owner. Small backstamp.
15c Orange, Grill (141). H. Grill, exceptionally wide margins, magnificent intensity of color seldom seen on the 15c Bank Note Grilled stamp, bold green fancy rosette cancel with the rim of the matching circular datestamp at left, small margin flaw at right along with a partly nibbed perf, still Extremely Fine, green cancels are very rarely found on high-value Bank Note stamps, quite possibly unique on the 15c Grill (Scott premium of $300.00 is long out of date)
24c Purple, Grill (142). H. Grill, nicely centered, characteristic pale shade of the Grill Issue, scarce blue waffle grid fancy cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE, AS THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT HAVE FANCY CANCELLATIONS.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
24c Purple, Grill (142). H. Grill, extraordinarily well-centered, typical pale shade, bold red New York Foreign Mail crossroads cancel, couple really trivial perf flawsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A MARVELOUS SUPERBLY-CENTERED 24-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE WITH VIVID RED CANCEL.
With 1993 P.S.E. certificate
30c Black, Grill (143). H. Grill, three extra wide margins, intense shade on fresh paper, vivid red New York Foreign Mail Star cancelVERY FINE. A GORGEOUS 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE WITH VIVID RED NEW YORK FOREIGN MAIL CANCEL.
With 1986 and 1999 P.F. and 2002 P.S.E. certificates
30c Black, Grill (143). H. Grill, exceptionally well-centered, intense color on bright paper, light red cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERBLY-CENTERED 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE WITH RED CANCEL.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine, Grill (144). H. Grill, well-centered, magnificent strong color, essentially face-free cancelEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY WELL-CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE WITH A FACE-FREE CANCEL.
With 1978 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine, Grill (144). H. Grill, exceptional margins and attractive centering, rich color, large bars cancel, trivial corner perf crease at top right not mentioned on certificate, still Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate