Sale 1032 — The Nick Kirke Collection of Gem-Quality Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 23-24 October, 2012
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Issue, H and I Grills (Scott 134-144, 135A-141A)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Perfect centering with wide margins, beautiful bright color, face-free cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. THIS BEAUTIFUL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Bright shade and balanced margins, cancelled by neat strike of red town datestamp, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $390.00)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill and Ungrilled (134, 145). Horizontal pair, right stamp with clear H. Grill, left stamp with no trace of grill points, choice centering, bright color, bold negative "A" cancels, Extremely Fine, a desirable pair with one grilled and one ungrilled stamp, probably fed into the grilling machine out of register, resulting in missing grill points on the left stamp, with 2002 P.S.E. and 2010 P.F. certificates
3c Green, H. Grill (136). Huge Jumbo margins and choice centering, rich color, neat segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, unlike some of the other 3c issues, the grilled National Issue is difficult to find with such enormous margins, with 2010 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $425.00 as 95, unpriced in higher grade), only one has graded higher (at 98) and this is the only example to achieve this grade
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Outstanding centering with wide margins, fresh color, clear grill points, bold cork cancel clear of Lincoln's faceEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2010 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded, and only six others share this grade
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Rich color and well-centered, bold strike of red segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2000, 2005 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85), with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $650.00)
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Jumbo margins and wonderfully well-centered, brilliant color, clear grill points, New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING AND HUGE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 1994 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,700.00 as 95, $10,750.00 as 98). Only two have graded higher (both at 98), including the I Grill offered in lot 3229. This is the only example to achieve this grade
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Clearly defined grill, beautifully balanced margins, rich color on fresh paper, light cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 10-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 1999 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,800.00). Only two have graded higher (at 98) and this is the only example to achieve this grade.
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Clear grill points, choice centering with well-balanced margins, incredibly rich color for this issue, light strike of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
The 12c National Bank Note Company Grilled Issue is an exceedingly difficult stamp to obtain with wide margins and choice centering.
With 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $4,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. and it is shared by only one other
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Fresh color for this often faded stamp, essentially perfect centering, clear grill, perfectly struck segmented cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND WITH SUCH OUTSTANDING CENTERING.
The 24c National Bank Note Company Grilled Issue is not known unused. Brookman estimates that only 2,000 were issued.
With 1990 and two 2005 P.F. certificates (the latter XF-Superb 95)
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Clearly identifiable grill points, bright shade, nicely centered for this difficult issue with perfs clear all around, neat strike of red cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL, WHICH IS ONLY KNOWN IN USED CONDITION.
With 2010 P.F., 1995 and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $7,000.00)
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Several easily visible rows of grill points, crisp impression, segmented cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL H GRILL.
The 30c National Bank Note Company Grilled Issue is normally seen with small margins, or is off-center, and often has an indistinct cork cancel. If one sees a centered copy, it more often than not turns out to have a small flaw. The stamp offered here, with nice centering and an attractive defined cancel, is an exception to the rule.
With 1987 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75; SMQ $2,300.00)
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Rich color, easily recognizable grill points, well-balanced margins for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
Ex Engel and Hansen. With 1957, 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,100.00)
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Clearly-defined grill, perfectly centered with huge Jumbo margins, radiant color on crisp paper, cancel leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY I GRILL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS HUGE STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The I Grills have been elevated to major catalogue numbers starting with the 2013 Scott Specialized Catalogue.
With 1986 and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,450.00 as 98 graded H Grill). This is the highest grade awarded and no other examples have achieved this grade, so there is no need to speculate how the P.S.E. graded population breaks down between grill types at this grade. However, the I Grill is scarcer than the H Grill, so we would expect the I Grill SMQ values to be separately reported and adjusted upward to reflect the new Scott listings. Scott Catalogue value is based on 2012 listing which does not distinguish between the grill types
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Clearly-defined grill, wonderfully well-centered with balanced margins, deep rich color, neat grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY I GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The I Grills have been elevated to major catalogue numbers starting with the 2013 Scott Specialized Catalogue.
With 2010 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,450.00 as H Grill). Only the stamp in the previous lot has graded higher and only three others share this grade. We are not aware of how the P.S.E. graded population breaks down between grill types at the 98 grade. However, the I Grill is scarcer than the H Grill, so we would expect the I Grill SMQ values to be separately reported and adjusted upward to reflect the new Scott listings. Scott Catalogue value is based on 2012 listing which does not distinguish between the grill types
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Brilliant color, cancelled by bold strike of fancy New York Foreign Mail Geometric, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY I GRILL. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED FOR EITHER 7-CENT GRILL TYPE.
Ex "Beverly Hills." With 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $10,750.00 as H. Grill). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade. SMQ and the Population Report do not yet differentiate between the two grill types, but the other example to achieve this grade is an H Grill. Since the I Grill is scarcer than the H Grill, we would expect the I Grill SMQ values to be separately reported and adjusted upward to reflect the new Scott listings. Scott Catalogue value is based on 2012 listing which does not distinguish between the grill types
15c Orange, I. Grill (141A). Well-defined grill easily visible from the front of the stamp, Jumbo margins, vivid color on fresh paper, neat quartered cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL I GRILL IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE CONDITION. THIS BEAUTIFUL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. ONLY NINE USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED. THE I GRILLS HAVE JUST BEEN ELEVATED TO MAJOR CATALOGUE NUMBERS, CONFIRMING THAT THIS IS A MAJOR GRILL RARITY.
Ronald A. Burns, the foremost authority on the Bank Note grills, records nine used examples of the 15c I Grill, plus an additional two on separate covers. He also records three unused examples.
With 2010 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $6,300.00 as a 95 graded H Grill). This is the highest grade awarded and no other examples have achieved this grade, so there is no need to speculate how the P.S.E. graded population breaks down between grill types at this grade. However, the I Grill is scarcer than the H Grill, so we would expect the I Grill SMQ values to be separately reported and adjusted upward to reflect the new Scott listings. Scott Catalogue value is based on 2012 listing which does not distinguish between the grill types