Sale 1120 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 17-18 March, 2016
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. I Grilled Issue (Scott 134A-139A)
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Original gum, single hinge mark, clearly-defined grill, radiant color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful original-gum example of the 2c I Grill, with 2011 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Radiant color and detailed impression, nicely complemented by blue quartered cork cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful example of the 2c National Bank Note Co. issue with the I Grill and a colored cancel, with 1996 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00).
10c Brown, I. Grill (139A). Well-defined outline of I Grill points, spectacular centering with Jumbo margins, neat red circular datestamp which only adds to this eye-appealing example, strong impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT I GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TWELVE USED AND THREE UNUSED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN.
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. Three unused examples are also known.
Ex Engel, "Connoisseur", Renne and Floyd. With 1962 P.F. certificate (not specifying the grill type) and 2002 P.F. certificate as an I Grill