Sale 1040 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 26-28 March, 2013
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 83-101)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, brilliant color and paper, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND 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.
With 1989, 1994, 2004 and 2008 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, remarkably clear grill points, better centering than normally seenFRESH AND FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL. THIS ISSUE IS NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH FRESH CONDITION.
A thorough search of past auction catalogues reveals that 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. Most original-gum examples tend to be either faulty or strongly off-center in two directions, with perforations well into the design. The stamp offered here is the exception, and should be considered a condition rarity.
Ex Hetherington in a block of four. With 1954 and 2006 P.F. certificates, the former as a block.
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Bright shade and crisp impression, neat strike of target cancelVERY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
With 1958 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Unused (no gum), bright shade, clearly-defined grill, Very Fine and choice, with 1979, 1994 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Extraordinarily well-centered with perfs well clear design of all around, fresh color, bold fancy segmented cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A TRULY OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL.
With 1994 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Incredibly well-centered for this scarce grill, bright color, bold large unframed grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Bright shade, clear grill, bold strike of grid cancel and circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $1,100.00)
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Brilliant color, clear grill, face-free cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Bright shade, clearly-defined grill which is easily visible on the front of the stamp, bold target cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1998 and 2011 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clear grill, unobtrusive cancel, Very Fine, with 1985 and 2010 P.F. certificates
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Exceptionally well-centered and wide margins, sharp impression, lightly cancelled, minute corner crease at top right, otherwise Extremely Fine, the 2c Z Grill is rarely seen this well-centered, with 2012 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Intense shade and impression, clear grill points, bold strike of circle of V's cancel, Very Fine, with 1991 A.P.S. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and impression, unobtrusive cancel, thin spot at top, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance, with 2011 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, bright colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL IS FAR SCARCER THAN ITS F-GRILL COUNTERPART, PARTICULARLY IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Some time ago we observed that the 1c E Grill appeared at auction very infrequently, in any form. After analyzing the early 1868 regular-production grills (Z, D, E and F), we concluded that grilling of the 1c 1861 issue with the E (and Z) Grill must have been short-lived, occurring sometime around February 28, 1868. Later grilling of 1c stamps was probably done with the F Grill. Relatively little of the 1c E Grill supply appears to have reached the philatelic market, as evidenced by the stamp's scarcity.
With 1999 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, F-VF 75; SMQ $3,000.00)
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, rich color, few small perf flaws not mentioned on accompanying certificate, otherwise Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, h.r., clearly-defined grill, brilliant color and paper, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Rich color, proof-like impression, clearly-defined grill, unobtrusive strike of Mass. double-circle datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00. Only four have graded higher and only three others share this grade.
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Unused (no gum), crisp impression, few shortish perfs at bottom, otherwise Very Fine
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, clearly-defined grill, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Block of four, original gum, top stamps h.r., bright color, clearly-defined grills, Fine, scarce block
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-defined grill, bright colorEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, clearly-defined grill easily visible on the front of the stamp, bold strike of circle of V's cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, bright shadeVERY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.
As an indication of rarity of 15c E Grill stamps with original gum, the Scott Catalogue values original-gum condition at almost three times the value of unused without gum.
With 2005 P.F. certificate.
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Well-centered, intense shade on bright paper, bold circle of wedge cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Attractive margins and centering, bold cork cancel, Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, clearly-defined grill, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 ONE-CENT F GRILL.
With 1989 and 2006 P.F. certificates.
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, clear grill, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, bright color and crisp impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 5-CENT F GRILL.
With 1989 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Dark Brown, F. Grill (95 var). Rich color approaching the Black Brown shade, nicely complemented by blue cork cancel and also red transit cancel at bottom, better centering than normally seen on this issue, Very Fine and choice example of this sub-shade which is difficult to find, with 2009 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Original gum, h.r., clear grill, rich color on bright paper, small flaw at right, Very Fine appearance
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Unused (no gum), intense shade and proof-like impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine, a superb unused stamp, with 2004 P.S.E. and 2005 P.F. certificates.
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Bright shade and crisp impression, clearly-defined grill, bold strike of crossroads cancel, wonderful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2009 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $9,000.00). Only two have graded higher (at 98J) and one other shares this grade.
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Unused (no gum), detailed impression, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Wide margins with straddle-pane margin at left capturing full centerline, circle of wedges cancel, part of red transit and blue French transit cancels, clearly-defined grill, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, scarce with the blue French transit cancel, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Detailed impression on bright paper, quartered cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill which is centered to left, radiant color, detailed impressionFRESH AND FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
With 2001 P.F. certificate.
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Unused (no gum), extraordinary wide margins, vibrant color, clear grill, tiny thin speck at upper right, Extremely Fine appearance
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Unused (no gum), clearly-defined grill, rich color, tiny thin in grill, Fine appearance, scarce in unused condition, with 2007 P.F. certificate