Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Grilled Issue (Scott 134-144)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, faint grill along the bottom of the bust, red wide-spaced grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous stamp, with 2008 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Bright shade, several noticeable grill points, blue cork cancel, wide margins, Extremely Fine, ex Floyd, with 1988 and 2001 P.F. certificates
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Leaf cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1998 and 2005 P.F. certificates
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Clearly defined grill, radiant color, well-struck target cancel, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2005 and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
2c Red Brown, H. Grill, Split Grill (135 var). Strong grill points -- we count four rows at left and nine rows at right, unusual Rosette cancel, Extremely Fine, an unusual item, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Pretty shade, clear grill, wide margins, red "(PAI)D ALL" handstamp, Very Fine and choice, a huge stamp, with 2005 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Bright shade, clear grill, face-free strike of red cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1983 and 2004 P.F. certificates
3c Green, H. Grill (136). Jumbo margins, deep rich color, clear grill points, purple target cancel, Extremely Fine, unlike the later Continental and American printings, the National printing is almost never seen with such Jumbo margins, with 2007 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Bright shade, several noticeable rows of grill points, Jumbo margins, neat strike of target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR JUMBO-MARGINED AND LIGHTLY CANCELLED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1870 GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
With 1984 and 2019 P.F. certificates
6c Carmine, Grill (137). Easily identified grill points, choice centering, bold strike of New York Foreign Mail Clothespins cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1988, 2002 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Rich color, clear grill points visible on the front of the stamp, red cork cancel, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1999 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Clear grill points, rich color nicely complemented by blue negative "A" in Circle cancel, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.S.E. and 1999 P.F. certificates
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Bright shade, wide margins, clear grill, clear strike of "(ST. JO)HN NB/(SHIP L)ETTER" two-line handstamp, Very Fine and choice, a very unusual cancel, with 2004 P.F. certificate, Scott value with no premium for the cancel
7c Vermilion, Grill (138). Choice centering on fresh paper with long full perforations all around, bold Propeller fancy cancel, boldly struck grill, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Rich color nicely complemented by blue Maltese Cross cancel of Chicago, Very Fine and choice, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 2002 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, H. Grill, Double Grill (138 var). Brilliant color, clear grill points that are slightly overlapping, part of the grill is visible on the front of the stamp, cork cancel, Very Fine and choice example of this grill variety, with 1989 and 2002 P.F. certificates
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Rich color, several rows of noticeable grill points, red cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1991 and 2003 P.F. certificates
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Crisp impression, several easily discernible grill points, blue grid of squares cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, this is the closest we have seen to a fancy colored cancel on the 10c National Bank Note Co. grilled issue, with 1999 and 2005 P.F. certificates
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Bright shade, clear grill points, face-free blue cork and circular datestamp cancels, Very Fine and choice, scarce with a blue cancel, with 1999 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Gorgeous color and discernible grill points, unusually wide margins for this difficult issue, light cancel at right leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
For some reason, the 12c National Bank Note Co. grilled issue is an exceedingly difficult stamp to obtain with wide margins.
Ex Drs. Dauer. With 2004 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Unusually choice centering with wide margins, rich color in beautiful pastel shade, lightly struck cork cancel and part of red German transit marking, many grill points showing clearlyEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. VERY FEW ARE CANCELLED IN RED.
Ex Kantor, Dr. Morris and Senchuk. With 1951 A.P.S., 1967, 1992 and 2009 P.F. certificates
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Rich color, several easily noticeable grill points, bold strike of Letter "C" in Cogwheel fancy cancelVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE, WITH A FANCY CANCEL.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Almost perfectly centered with well-balanced margins, vibrant color, Masonic negative Square and Compass cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED BANK NOTE ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
The 15c 1870 Grilled Issue is extremely rare in choice sound condition. This example, with a Masonic fancy cancel, is without question one of the finest extant.
With 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,500.00). Only two grade higher (at 95J) and none share this grade.
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Exceptionally wide margins, magnificent intensity of color seldom seen on the 15c Bank Note Grilled stamp, bold green fancy Rosette cancel with the rim of the matching circular datestamp at left, small margin flaw at right along with a partly nibbed perf not mentioned on certificatesEXTREMELY FINE. GREEN COLORED CANCELS ARE VERY RARELY FOUND ON HIGH-DENOMINATION BANK NOTE STAMPS, AND THIS MAY WELL BE UNIQUE ON THE 15-CENT GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1990 and 2008 P.F. certificates. Scott premium of $600.00 is far too low.
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Pretty shade, several noticeable grill points, bold cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Scott 142 is not known in unused condition. Therefore, anyone wishing to complete this set must obtain this stamp in used condition.
With 1996 A.P.S. and 2001 P.F. certificates
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Perfectly centered with even margins, light cancel, sharp impressionEXTREMELY FINE. AN UNUSUALLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
This is a difficult issue to obtain in sound condition with decent centering. The highest grade awarded by P.S.E is a 90 (three at that grade). With 1995 and 2005 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Brilliant color, few noticeable grill points, unusually wide and balanced margins, large quartered cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
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 IS GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Kirke. With 1986 and 2004 P.F. certificates not specifying the grill type. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,500.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and no other examples have achieved this grade. The I Grill is scarcer than the H Grill, so we would expect the I Grill SMQ value at this grade to be significantly higher than the $3,175.00 98J value as an H Grill.
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Intense shade and impression, clearly defined grill, bold strike of blue quartered cork cancel, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 2004 P.F. certificates not specifying the grill type
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Vibrant color, clear grill points which are visible on the front of the stamp at top, well-balanced margins, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE SOUND AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY I GRILL.
With 2013 P.F. certificate (XF 90). By way of comparison, only one in the P.S.E. Population Report is graded higher and four others share this grade. P.F. has not graded any higher and only one shares this grade.