Sale 993 — The Wagshal Collection, Part 1: 1845-69 Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday, 29 September, 2010
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Z Grill)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Horizontal strip of five, original gum, barely hinged (if at all), clearly-defined grills, few natural gum bends, few perf separations especially between left two stamps, left stamp with additional printing at top (probably from a plate that was not fully wiped), centered to bottomA RARE ORIGINAL-GUM HORIZONTAL STRIP OF FIVE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL. MULTIPLES OF THIS ISSUE ARE EXTREMELY RARE IN ANY FORM -- THIS MAY WELL BE THE LARGEST IN EXISTENCE.
As an indicator of rarity, the only block contained in our computerized records was offered was in our 1970 Rarities sale. Zoellner had an unused block of the 3c, but only had a used strip of three of the 2c.
With 1988 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $82,500.00 as two pairs and a single
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), clearly-defined grill, small natural pre-printing paper creases at bottom, Very Good, with 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Detailed impression nicely complemented by blue Geometric cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Face-free strike of blue circular datestamp, well-balanced margins, a few nibbed perfs, otherwise Very Fine
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clear strike of negative Star Geometric cancel, toned and short perfs at right, otherwise Very Fine
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Bright shade, clear grill, neat strike of blue target cancel, light diagonal crease, Very Fine appearance
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Crisp impression, unobtrusive strike of blue cancel, fresh and Fine
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Detailed impression on bright paper, clear grill points, well-struck blue Star in Diamond fancy cancel, few perfs trimmed at lower left, still a choice strike of this unusual fancy cancel
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Cancelled by bold "control" cancel, s.e. at left, piece out at bottom right, some soiling, otherwise Fine, unusual with the control cancel
2c Black, Z. Grill, Triple Transfer (85B var). Noticeable triple transfer at top left in oval around "2" with oval itself printed extra thick and additional line of design above, intense shade and impression, cork cancel, Very Good, a rare variety, unlisted in Scott, Scott Retail as double transfer
2c Black, Z. Grill, Mark Thru Left "2" (85B var). Clearly showing this variety, well-defined grill, light strike of cork cancel, centered to top right, single toned spot at top center, unusual variety, Scott Retail as normal
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Horizontal strip of three, unobtrusive cancels, right stamp with slight creases, perfs naturally misaligned, a rare multiple of the 2c Z Grill, with 1988 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as a pair and a single
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Cancelled by cork and tied by "St. Paul Minn. Aug. 19" circular datestamp on locally used orange cover, with North West Union Packet Co. return address, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Easily discernible grill, cancelled by cork on orange cover to Watkins N.Y., Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill, Double Transfer (85B var). Horizontal pair, both stamps with double transfer, cancelled by targets, "Port Tobacco Md. May 4" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Baltimore, fresh and Fine, scarce usage of a pair of the 2c Z Grill on a cover, probably paying double the 2c circular rate, with 1989 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as normal pair off cover $3,400.00
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, brilliant color on crisp paper, well-balanced margins for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
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, especially in sound, original-gum condition. Our review of past auctions, including Power Search, found precious few sound copies with Very Fine centering. The editors of Stamp Market Quarterly have had no basis to value a stamp graded better than 85 -- the highest grade awarded to date is to the stamp offered here, and only two others share this grade.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF 80; SMQ $29,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others share this grade.
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Bright color, bold strike of open grid cancel, well-defined grill, fresh and Fine, blue backstamp
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Horizontal pair, each stamp with different size grill, left stamp 14 x 18 points, right stamp 13 x 18 points, bright color, well-struck Star fancy cancelsFINE. A RARE PAIR OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL. ONE OF THE MULTIPLES USED BY JERRY WAGSHAL TO DEMONSTRATE THE TWO SIZES OF Z GRILLS.
Scott Catalogue notes that the Z Grill is identified as having 13-14 points across by 18 points high. This rare pair demonstrates the two different grill sizes.
With 1986 P.F. certificate. Unpriced in Scott as a pair. Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the grill variation.
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Tied by bold strike of target and by "Clear Spring Md. May 22" circular datestamp on small cover to the Navy Yard in N.Y., with original 1868-dated contents, stamp lifted and hinged in placeVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL ON COVER.
With 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Tied by target, "Cottonwood Springs Neb. Apr. 17" circular datestamp on orange cover to Greenfield Mass.VERY FINE. THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IS RARELY FOUND ON COVER.
With 1978 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Detailed impression, clear grill, unusual segmented cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, bold strike of cork cancel, light corner crease at bottom right, Very Fine appearance
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Detailed impression, light strike of blue cancel, thinned, tiny perf tear at top left, still Fine, Scott Catalogue does not list this with a blue cancel, Scott Retail as with normal cancel
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Clearly-defined grill, detailed impression, neat strike of grid cancel, few shortish perfs at top, Fine
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Horizontal strip of three, intense shade and impression, clear grills, side stamps with grills 13 points across and center stamp with grill 14 points across, target cancels, right stamp natural inclusion, each stamp with small corner creaseFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE STRIP OF THREE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL. ONE OF THE KEY MULTIPLES USED BY JERRY WAGSHAL TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE Z GRILL COMES IN TWO SIZES.
Scott Catalogue notes that the Z Grill is identified as having 13-14 points across by 18 points high. This strip demonstrates the two different grill sizes.
With 1986 P.F. certificate. Unpriced in Scott as even a pair. Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the grill variation
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade, centered strongly to left, cancelled by hollow Star fancy cancel, matching "Newburgh N.Y. Jun. 9" circular datestamp on cover to Brighton, England, red New York and 1869 London transits, receiving backstamp, Fine, a scarce fancy cancel on the 12c Z Grill, Scott Retail as on cover with normal cancel
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Deep shade, tied by small cork cancel and "Worcester Mass. Jan. 13" circular datestamp on cover to London, England, red "New York Paid All Jun. 16" transit, some slight edgewear, stamp lifted to confirm identification and hinged in place, Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate