Sale 976 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 29 September-2 October, 2009
Category — 1867 Experimental Grills (A-Z, Scott 79-85E)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Bright color, clear grill but with mostly intact perfs, light strike of target cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A MARVELOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL. A RARE STAMP IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The experimental A Grill covered the entire stamp. On most examples this caused the perforations to virtually disintegrate when the stamps were separated. When the unsatisfactory effects of the grilling process were observed during this experimental stage, the grill was reduced to a smaller area within the borders of each stamp. Examples of the 3c A Grill with perforations all around, such as this stamp from the Senchuk collection, are true condition rarities.
With 1980 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Bright shade, clearly-defined grill, bold strike of cork cancel, choice centering and wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.
Ex Kantor. With 1972 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Rich color and detailed impression, clearly-defined grill, well-struck segmented cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1988 P.F. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Unused (no gum), exceptionally well-centered, clear impression, few short or nibbed perfsVERY FINE CENTERING AND SOUND. A VERY RARE GRILLED ISSUE IN UNUSED CONDITION.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Perfectly centered, deep shade, lightly cancelled by blue cork, full clear grill impression with the requisite 15 columns of pointsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. APART FROM THE A AND Z GRILL RARITIES, THE 2-CENT 1868 D GRILL IS THE RAREST OF ALL GRILLED ISSUES. PROBABLY FEWER THAN TEN COPIES EXIST IN THIS SUPERB 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.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for Fine centering
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Beautifully centered with wide margins, light cancel which leaves the entire design clearly visibleVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL
This challenging issue is rarely encountered centered and in sound condition.
Ex Collier. With 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Brilliant color, clear grill, neat quartered cork and circular datestamp cancels, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, single nibbed perf at upper leftEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT D GRILL. A BEAUTIFUL AND REMARKABLY FRESH STAMP.
With 1993 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $3,000.00). The P.S.E. grade factors in the tiny nibbed perf, yet this stamp still graded 90.
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Rich color, prominent grill which is clearly visible from front due to cork cancel, Very Fine, a pretty stamp
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Well-centered, beautiful sharp grill points clearly showing the horizontal ridges unique to the Z grill, cancelled by neat red New York City "Post Office" datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WELL-CENTERED. ESPECIALLY RARE WITH A RED DATESTAMP CANCELLATION.
The plates used to print the Black Jacks did not provide enough space between subjects for the large 12-gauge perf holes. Consequently, most Black Jack stamps have perfs touching the design on one or two sides. This scarcity of four-margined copies multiplies exponentially when the Z Grill is factored into the equation. Only a small quantity of 2c sheets were grilled during the period when the Z device was active -- after the D Grill, the Z is the rarest of Black Jack grilled stamps.
Ex Puliafito. With 1995 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Magnificent margins and centering for this difficult grill issue, face-free corner cancel at bottom left, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Intense shade and impression, well-defined grill, neat cork cancel, reperfed at right, otherwise Very Fine
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Cork cancel, small horizontal crease bottom left, otherwise Very Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Very lightly cancelled, horizontal crease and tear at bottom right, otherwise Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Circle of wedges cancel, strong color, centered just in at top, Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Perfectly centered with unusually wide margins all around, intense impression gives the stamp a remarkable depth of shade, clearly-defined grill points, neat target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 1867 12-CENT Z GRILL.
The 12c Z Grill stamps are often quite off-center. The example offered here a true condition rarity. With 2000 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Choice centering with well-balanced margins, intense shade, bold cork cancel, clear grill, reperfed at left, otherwise Extremely Fine
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Classic intense shade of the 12c "Z" Grill, bold rosette cancel, Fine and attractive, with 2003 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Very light cancel, appears unused at a glance, close at top, Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate