Sale 1024 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used Stamps of the United States, Part One: 1847-1868 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 June, 2012
Category — 2c-12c 1868 Z Grill (Scott 85B-85E)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clearly-defined grill, crisp impression and attractive shade, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of rimless grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL. THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The plates used to print the Black Jacks did not provide enough space between subjects for the large 12-gauge perf holes. Consequently, most Black Jack stamps have perfs touching the design on one or two sides. This scarcity of four-margined copies multiplies exponentially when the Z Grill is factored into the equation. Only a small quantity of 2c sheets were grilled during the period when the Z device was active -- after the D Grill (Scott 84), the Z is the rarest of Black Jack grilled stamps.
With 1985 and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $11,750.00). Only two have graded higher to date (both 98) and only four others share this grade. Amazingly, this is the first graded example of this issue in any grade we have ever offered at auction.
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Radiant color, crisp impression, bright paper, clearly-defined grill, bold strike of rosette cancel, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE USED CONDITION.
The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples.
With 1987 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
10c Green, Z. Grill (85D). Well-centered, bold quartered cork cancel, deep shade, strong grill impression, small thin spot and trivial corner margin creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1868 10-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY FOUR OR POSSIBLY FIVE EXAMPLES ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND ONE OF THE KEYS TO A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Our census of the 10c Z Grill is shown on the opposite page and is also available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/85D/85D.pdf
The great Z Grill rarities are probably the products of a short-lived chance encounter between sheets of 1c, 10c and 15c stamps and the Z Grill roller on one of the grilling machines before the device was refitted with another grill type. The craftsmen at the National Bank Note Company could never have foreseen a future in which these embossed stamps would represent the keys to completing a United States stamp collection.
We record just six examples of Scott 85D, including one stamp contained in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library (85D-CAN-06) and another stamp (85D-CAN-01) which has not been seen since it last appeared in a Laurence & Stryker auction in November 1958. Until the status of 85D-CAN-01 can be verified, it is possible that only four examples of the 10c Z Grill remain available to collectors.
Ex Herzog and Zoellner. With 1973, 1986, 1998 and 2009 P.F. certificates.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and proof-like impression on crisp paper, clearly-defined grill, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around, lightly cancelled at upper rightEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL, WITH PHENOMENAL IMPRESSION AND SHADE, BEAUTIFUL MARGINS AND PERFORATIONS AND A CLEAR GRILL. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The 12c Z Grill stamps are often quite off-center. The example offered here is a true condition rarity.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)