Sale 1108 — The Robert Bowman Collection of Superb U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 29 September, 2015
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 83-101)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Attractive centering and color, clearly-defined grill which is easily visible from the front of the stamp, cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1994 P.F. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Clearly-defined grill, intense shade and impression, cork cancelVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 2-CENT D GRILL.
This is a surprisingly difficult issue to obtain in sound and centered condition. With 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Radiant color, well-defined grill, balanced margins, bold quartered cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 1994 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Beautifully centered with unusually wide margins, full and clearly-defined grill showing all of the points, lightly cancelled by corkEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
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 1994, 1999 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,000.00). Only two have graded higher (at 98).
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Rich color and detailed impression, clearly-defined grill points, bold rosette and New York circular datestamp cancels, unusually wide margins for this issueEXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL USED 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. Our review of past auctions, including Power Search, found precious few sound copies with Extremely Fine centering.
Ex Floyd. Signed Brookman. With 1993 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and impression, faint cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Gorgeous "swimming pool" blue shade and proof-like impression seen among a relatively small number of 1868 1c E Grill stamps, bright paper, light strike of grid cancel, extra wide and well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, a difficult issue to obtain in higher grades, ex Floyd, with 1983 and 2001 P.F. certificates
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Wide and even margins, blue circle of V's geometric cancel, most recent certificate nitpicks a "shorter" perf at bottom right, still Extremely Fine and a fantastic stamp, ex Dr. Morris, with 1988 and 1995 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,000.00), only three have graded higher and we are sure this would have, too, if not for the arbitrary mention of the infinitesimally "shorter" perf
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Rich color on brilliant paper, clear grill, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $800.00), only one has graded higher (at 95J) and four others share this grade -- we carefully measured this stamp, and although the sides are very slightly wider than the top and bottom margins, they are perfectly balanced and, considering the margin width, qualify this as a Superb 98 (the smart money will buy this stamp and try for an upgrade)
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Rich color on bright paper, unusually wide margins, neat blue cork cancel, Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal, ex Koppersmith, with 1986 P.F. certificate
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Bright shade and crisp impression, clear grill which is easily visible from the front of the stamp, cork cancel, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 1995 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,100.00)
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Jumbo margins, detailed impression, bold circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent example of the 15c E Grill and rare with such wide margins, with 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Pale Blue, F. Grill (92a). Distinctive pale shade nicely complemented by light blue cork cancel, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice example of this distinctive sub-shade, with 1992 P.F. certificate as normal Blue shade
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, detailed impression, neat rosette cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2--CENT F GRILL.
With 1996 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,000.00). Only five have graded higher.
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Easily discernible grill points, warm shade nicely complemented by blue rosette cancel struck at top, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, purple backstamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Unusually wide margins, intense shade and impression, bold cork cancel, Very Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Crisp impression, unobtrusive cancel, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1991 P.F. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (98 var). Near perfect centering within extraordinarily wide margins, lightly cancelledEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL ON VERY THIN PAPER.
With 1997 and 2000 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ as thin paper variety, SMQ $3,250.00 as on normal paper)
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Clearly-defined grill, rich color, bold cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
With 1992 P.F. certificate
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Remarkable centering and wide margins, strong grill and rich color, neat and unusual cogwheel cancel (not the San Francisco type)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 30-CENT 1868 F GRILL IS EXTREMELY RARE WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS. A PHENOMENAL STAMP.
The 30c 1861-68 Issue stamps -- Scott 71 (to a lesser extent) and Scott 100 -- rank as two of the most difficult classic U.S. stamps to find in such pristine condition. Due to narrow spacing of the plate, the 30c 1861-68's are usually found with tight margins, especially at sides. Brookman notes "Superb copies are almost non-existent".
Ex Haas and Dr. Morris. With 1982 and 1992 P.F. certificates
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Unusually choice centering with wide margins, deep rich color on bright paper, nicely complemented by red cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL WITH A RED CANCEL.
The 90c stamps used to make grilled issues were printed on a thick stock of paper. It is likely that sheets remaining from the pre-grill period were used and that the thinner paper introduced in 1868 had not been used for the 90c value. Two characteristics of 90c F Grill stamps are poorly punched perforations and generally poor centering.
Ex. Dr. Morris. With 1958, 1994 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $5,000.00). In our opinion this stamp deserves a 95 grade based on eye appeal and margin width, but the slightly wider top margin and non-rectangular overall conformation kept the current graders at P.S.E. from reaching the same conclusion. Regardless of the numerical grade, this is one of the most beautiful 90c F Grill stamps in existence.