Sale 1107 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 28-29 July, 2015
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 134-155)
1c-30c 1870-71, National Bank Note Co. Issue, Plate Proofs on India (145P3-146P3, 148P3, 151P3, 152P3, 154P3). Blocks of four of 1c, 2c, 15c and 30c, block of 9 of 6c, imprint block of eight of 12c, large margins, rich colors, few small flaws associated with this fragile paper, Very Fine group, ex Long
2c Red Brown, 6c Carmine, Plate Proofs on India (146P3, 148P3). Imprint and plate no. block of 12 of first and imprint and plate no. strip of 10 of second, bright colors, last mounted on original card, first with few flaws in selvage, otherwise Very Fine
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Original gum, easily discernible grill points, pretty shade, fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 1994 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill points, rich color, trivial natural inclusion not mentioned on any of three certificatesVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE H GRILL.
With 1990 P.S.E., 1995 and 2015 P.F. certificates
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Unused (no gum), bright color, lightly soiled and with small scuff at top left, otherwise Very Fine, with 1989 and 2014 P.F. certificates, only the latter mentioning the small scuff
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137 var). End roller grill at right, bright color, neat target cancel, Extremely Fine, wonderful quality, with 2014 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ)
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Wide margins, bright shade, neat crossroads cancel, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1988 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Some grill points clearly visible at top of Jefferson's head, deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, bold strike of quartered cork cancel, most recent certificate states reperfed at right, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Natalee Grace, with 1996 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $4,600.00 as 95, $11,500.00 as 98) and 2014 P.F. certificate, we leave it to bidders to decide who is correct
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Deep rich color, several rows of easily discernible grill points, bold cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Characteristic shade of the genuine 12c Grilled Bank Note, oval grid cancel, minor corner creasing, Fine appearance, with 1960 P.F. certificate as "faint partial grill" (doesn't mention corner crease)
3c Green, I. Grill (136A). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, clearly-defined grill points, light cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.A.G. and P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $135.00 as 85, $325.00 as 90)
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Bright color, NYFM cancel, two trivial perf creases, otherwise Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, I. Grill (139A). Natural s.e. at right, original gum, h.r., bright color, well-defined I Grill with the dimensions measurableVERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE REPORTED EXAMPLES OF AN ORIGINAL-GUM 10-CENT I GRILL. A PHENOMENAL RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
Starting with the 2013 Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, the I Grills have been elevated to major catalogue number status. Collectors will now have to acquire these I Grills in their quest for completeness. We anticipate that collector demand will be difficult to satisfy based on populations we have seen.
Ronald Burns, the foremost authority on the Bank Note grills, records ten used examples of the 10c I Grill, plus an additional two used on the same cover. This copy is one of only three reported unused examples. It was found by us in a collection formed before World War II
1c Ultramarine (145). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown (146). Original gum, wide margins, rich color, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion (149). Original gum, single hinge mark, vibrant color, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Morris and "Laila". With 1985, 1994 and 2005 P.F. certificates
24c Purple (153). Original gum, lovely bright color, Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Beautiful margins and centering, bright red New York Foreign Mail Star cancel (Weiss Ty. ST-8P1), Extremely Fine, ex "Golden Oak", with 1989 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $450.00)
90c Carmine (155). Original gum, h.r. and slight disturbance, bright color, tiny thin spot, Very Fine appearance