Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. H & I Grilled Issue (Scott 134-144)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Bottom sheet margin block of six with virtually entire National Bank Note Co. imprint, original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grills, radiant color and exceptionally freshVERY FINE. A PHENOMENALLY RARE IMPRINT BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1870 ONE-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. THIS IS THE LARGEST MULTIPLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
A Power Search review shows we have offered only two original-gum blocks of four of Scott 134 since keeping computerized records.
Ex Sinkler. With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as block of four and pair with no premium for the better position.
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Original gum, clear grill, bright color, Very Fine, an attractive stamp, with 1976 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, top right stamp vertically split grill, others normal grills but shifted to upper right cornersVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1870 2-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE, WITH ONE STAMP SHOWING THE SPLIT GRILL VARIETY.
This is a surprisingly difficult block to obtain, especially with such choice centering.
With 2004 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as normal block of four
3c Green, H. Grill Imperforate (136b). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large margins to full, clear grills, Very Fine
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Unused (regummed), rich color, natural inclusion at left center, very faint grill, tiny perf tear at bottom center, otherwise Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate mentioning everything but the perf tear, Scott Retail as no gum
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Block of four, original gum, few small hinge slivers where minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, clear grills on all four stampsFINE-VERY FINE. THIS IS BY FAR THE FINEST OF THE THREE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE BLOCKS WE RECORD, AND THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. A REMARKABLE LINCOLN-THEMED MULTIPLE.
After searching for multiples of the 6c 1870 Grill (Scott 137 and 137A), we were surprised that blocks are so rare. None were offered in Caspary, Eno or other major block collections. A review of all 28 Colonel Green sales also failed to find one. Two others were offered in the Walter C. Klein sale (one ex Close and Ainsworth, the other ex Sinkler), but both have perfs impinging on the design. The Brookman book notes one was offered in the 1933 Hind sale, which is described in the sale catalogue as well-centered, but not illustrated -- we assume that block is the one offered here.
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Original gum, lightly hinged, prominent grill, vivid colorFRESH AND VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Block of four, original gum, radiant color, clearly-defined grills, tiny thin speck in top right stamp from hinge removalVERY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL AND 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. A Power Search review did not find any in our auctions from 1994 onwards, and the first occurrence is the block offered here, from our 1969 Rarities sale.
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Original gum, deep rich color, well-centered, showing several grill points in the area of Jefferson's hairEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1870 10-CENT NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ALL BANK NOTE ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN THIS REMARKABLY CHOICE QUALITY, ESPECIALLY WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
Ex McKinney. With 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Rich color, easily discernible grill points, neat small grid cancel, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 10-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Perfectly centered, lovely pastel shade nicely complemented by red cancel, several discernible grill points at rightEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE AND ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH A RED CANCEL.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Original gum, vibrant color, choice centering for this difficult issue, several clear rows of grill points show thru on front behind Webster's ear, short perf at bottom has been skillfully extended (4th perf from left), not noted on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Brilliant color, unusually clear grill, bold cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1994 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Almost perfectly centered, bright yet distinctive 24c 1870 Grill shade, clear grill, neat strike of circle of wedges cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
The 24c National Bank Note Company Grilled Issue is not known unused.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Redistributed original gum, h.r., intense shade and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTETING AND IN SOUND CONDITION.
The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among original-gum examples, which are rare in any condition, only a few sound examples would grade Very Fine or better -- our computerized records contain five others with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through 60 years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. In fact, even among the collections famed for quality Bank Note issues -- Caspary, Lilly, Henry, Ambassador, Braus, Floyd, Whitman et al -- we could not find any original-gum examples that would grade Very Fine or better. Further demonstrating just how rare Scott 143 is in this condition, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only two stamps in the "OG" category, one graded 90 and the other graded 70, both offered in our recent Curtis sale. The finest original-gum example we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9).
With 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Intense shade and impression, bold cork cancel, several rows of clear grill points, reperfed at right, deceptively so and not noted on accompanying certificate, Very Fine appearance, with 2004 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Original gum, small area of missing gum from hinge removal, beautiful rich color and proof-like impression, very well-centered with wide margins all around, remarkably freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Considering original-gum examples of the H Grill stamps only, after the extremely rare 12c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue. This magnificent stamp has been widely respected as one of the finest in existence since the time of the Caspary sale.
Ex Caspary, Hetherington, Klein and Zoellner (where acquired by Mr. Hall). With 1957 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Brilliant color, several noticeable grill points on Perry's forehead, light strike of cork cancel and part of red crayon at upper leftEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Original gum, several clear rows of grill points, brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1974 P.F. certificate
3c Green, I. Grill (136A). Mint N.H., with bottom sheet selvage, choice centering, clearly-defined grillEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 3-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY I GRILL.
We have only offered an intact block of 25 and one other single of the 3c I Grill in Mint N.H. condition. Scott Retail as hinged