Sale 993 — The Wagshal Collection, Part 1: 1845-69 Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday, 29 September, 2010
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (A thru D Grills)
1c Blue, C. Grill Essay with Points Down (79-E15i). With 11 x 16mm male grill impressed points down on face of stamp, unused (no gum), reperfed at top, few perf flaws at leftTHE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT WITH C GRILL POINTS DOWN ESSAY. THE CORRESPONDING ESSAY WITH POINTS UP IS BELIEVED TO EXIST.
This 1c C Grill Points Down essay originated in the Charles F. Steel archive and was part of the Earl of Crawford and George Worthington collections. The grill is made up of tiny "X" pyramidal points impressed into the face, points down. This male grill differs from the issued C Grill, which was made by a female grill surface of embossed depressions. When applied to the sheet, facing toward the depressions, the female C Grill created raised bosses on the face of each stamp.
The various experimental grilled stamps were acquired by the Earl of Crawford from the archive of papers and stamps retained by Charles F. Steel, who patented the grilling device. This 1c appeared in the Worthington sale. The 3c, 5c, 10c, 12c and 30c values with C Grill Points Up and Down were sold in the Col. E. H. R. Green sale (Part XXV, Costales sale, Feb. 18-21, 1946, lots 204-213) and are currently owned by a midwest collector. For more information about the origins of the experimental A and C grills, please refer to Chronicle 134 and to our October 1998 catalogue of the Zoellner collection (also available on our website).
Illustrated in the Evans 1c 1861-68 book (p. 46). Ex Steel, Earl of Crawford, Worthington and Weill Stock. With 1969 P.F. certificate and 1971 letter from Lester G. Brookman. Scott Retail $4,000.00
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Clear grill, bold strike of Blue Bird fancy cancel of Rockville Ill., also showing partial grill erasure at right, light corner creases, appears Fine, scarce cancel and with the partial erasure, with 1987 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill, Points Down (83 var). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, bright color, horizontal crease at bottom, Very Fine appearance, the variety was caused when the sheet was fed into the grilling machine with the gummed side facing the female grill, with 1991 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill, Double Grill (83 var). Lightly cancelled at top right, second grill mostly overlapping but causing it to look extra tall, short perf at top, light diagonal crease at left, otherwise Fine, scarce variety
3c Rose, C. Grill, Double Grill (83 var). Choice centering, second grill at left mostly overlaps with first, neat strike of quartered cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL, WITH A DOUBLE GRILL.
With 1974 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Block of six, s.e. at right, bold strikes of cork cancel and also circular datestamps, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, some toning on back shows thru, top right stamp tiny tears in marginFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS REPUTED TO BE THE LARGEST RECORDED USED MULTIPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.
This multiple was originally part of a block of eight on a cover (the other two stamps were at top left). Ex Ishikawa. Unpriced in Scott as a block of four. Scott Retail as three pairs.
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Rich color, choice centering, tied by circle of wedges, "New-York Nov. 25" circular datestamp on yellow cover to New Haven Conn., 1867 docketing at left, missing part of top flap, Extremely Fine, very early use, the earliest documented use is November 16, ex Haas, signed by Brookman
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Tied by quartered cork, "New-York Nov. 18" circular datestamp on cover to Nichols N.Y., Very Fine, very early usage, the earliest documented usage is two days earlier on November 16
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Tied by large open grid and by "New-York Dec. 9" circular datestamp on cover to Salem N.Y., slightly reduced at right, few minor age spots, Very Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Tied by cork, "Phil'a Pa. Jan. 22" circular datestamp on orange cover to Mocksville N.C., wholesale clothier's corner card, top flap mostly reattached, stamp lifted (presumably to confirm identification) and put back, still Very Fine
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Horizontal pair, rich color, tied by circle of small wedges and by light strike of "Brooklyn N.Y. Dec. 2" circular datestamp, second clear strike at left, on orange cover to Mattituck N.Y., reduced at left, Fine, scarce usage of a pair on cover, Scott Retail as off cover pair
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Original gum, lacking gum along most of left side, clearly-defined grill, centered to top right, tiny corner perf crease at bottom left, a scarce issue with original gum
2c Black, D. Grill, Double Transfer (84 var). Double transfer shows at right, unobtrusive strike of target cancel, detailed impression, light corner creases at top left and bottom left, Very Fine appearance, a rare variety, with 1984 P.F. certificate, the variety is listed but unpriced in Scott, Scott Retail as normal
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Intense shade, well-defined grill points, cork cancel, Fine example of this scarce issue
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Tied by target and by "Station A, Philada. Feb. 19 1st" circular datestamp on watermarked cover to Germantown Pa., 1868 docketing on back, Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Clearly-defined grill, used with 1c Blue, E. Grill (86) and tied by quartered corks, "Minneapolis Min. Sep. 7" circular datestamp on cover to Howellsville N.Y., the 2c with few pulled perfs at right, otherwise Fine, a rare combination, note on back of cover reads "this is the only recorded cover with Scott Nos. 84 + 86", we have no way of verifying this, ex Gibson, with 1992 P.F. certificate, the 2c alone on cover catalogues $5,000.00
2c Black, 3c Rose, D. Grill (84, 85). Two of 2c and five 3c, clear grills, defective but few appear Fine
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Clear grill points, bright shade, neat strike of "New-York Feb. 29" circular datestamp, Fine, unusual leap year date
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Tied by bold cork cancel, "Charleston S.C. May 2" circular datestamp on orange cover to Darlington C.H. S.C., fresh and Very Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Tied by bold strike of target, "South Shaftsbury Vt." circular datestamp on orange cover to Arlington Vt., missing top flap, single unpunched perf at right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Tied by quartered cork, red "Charlestown Mass. Apr. 9, 1868" double-circle datestamp on cover to Boston, stamp lifted to confirm identification and hinged in place, stamp with tiny perf flaw at left, Very Fine appearance