Sale 951 — The Tahoe Collection of Superb Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 27 February, 2008
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issues
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Brilliant color on bright paper, clear grill points, wide and balanced margins, neat strikes of circular datestamp and also rosette cancel, slightly choppy perfs typical of this early grilled issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGINFICENTLY-CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL. SCARCE WITH SUCH BRIGHT COLOR AND SUPERB CENTERING.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Perfectly centered with wide and well-balanced margins, brilliant color on bright paper, light cancel leaves design clearly visible, strong grill impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS OF THE SERIES TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING AND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE -- THE P.S.E. AGREES AND HAS AWARDED THIS STAMP THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE, AND THIS STAMP IS THE ONLY ONE TO ACHIEVE IT.
We have encountered only two others which compare favorably to the example offered here. They are: 1) blue circle of wedges cancel, ex Puliafito, Siegel Sale 818, lot 75, realized $5,750 hammer in 1999; and 2) blue grid cancel, ex Scarsdale, Siegel Sale 943, lot 2050, realized $7,500 hammer. P.S.E. has also graded two stamps Superb 95 Jumbo.
With 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $7,800.00)
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Remarkably well-centered with Jumbo margins all around, strong grill impression on fresh paper, cork cancel and also circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WITH SUCH HUGE MARGINS AND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. AN EXTRAORDINARY STAMP WHICH MAY WELL BE THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE -- IT HAS JUST RECEIVED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $3,400.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and the stamp offered here is the only example to achieve Superb 98J.
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Brilliant color, gorgeous centering with huge margins all around, clearly-defined grill which is easily discernible from the front of the stamp, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1989 and 2003 P.F. certificates
3c Rose, E. Grill, Very Thin Paper (88 var). Horizontal pair, perfectly centered, remarkably bright and fresh color with clear grill points, beautiful strike of "Albany Ga. Aug. 20" circular datestamp with rosette cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent pair and surely the finest in existence, with 2000 A.P.S. and 2002 P.F. certificates
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Brilliant color with clearly-defined grill, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, unobtrusive cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING JUMBO-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Near perfect centering with Jumbo margins, clear grill points, bright color on fresh paper, neat circle of wedges cancel and with circular datestamp at bottom leftEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE LARGEST-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT F GRILL WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. A MAGNIFICENT STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 1984 and 2003 P.F. certificates
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Wide even margins all around, clear grill points, light cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine Gem, a difficult stamp to find with such choice centering, with 2002 P.F. certificate for pair
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Rich color and clear grill, phenomenally huge margins all around incl. captured part of adjoining stamp at left, neat penstrokes cancel which cleverly frames Jefferson's eyeEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY THE LARGEST EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL IN EXISTENCE. A STUNNING STAMP OF MAMMOTH PROPORTIONS.
Ex Lyons. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Choice centering with exceptionally wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive cancel at leaves entire design clearly visible, characteristic plate bruises in left marginEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Block of four, intact perfs at top with large part of adjoining pair, neat segmented cork cancels, sharp impression on bright paper, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. UNDOUBTEDLY THE FINEST USED BLOCK OF THE 1868 15-CENT LINCOLN WITH F GRILL.
As an indication of rarity, the Twigg-Smith collection of used blocks lacked a block of Scott 98. Considering the centering of this block and the fact it is sound, we have no hesitation describing this as the finest used block extant.
With 2002 P.F. certificate. In our opinion, Scott Catalogue value does not adequately reflect the rarity of this block.
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Perfectly centered, gorgeous intense blue shade and impression, blue and red cancels, grid in blue and part of red foreign transit in red, clear grill points, very freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STAMP IS BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL -- A COMBINATION OF PERFECT CENTERING AND FLAWLESS CONDITION, THE STRIKING PORTRAIT OF A YOUTHFUL GENERAL WASHINGTON AND COLORFUL CANCELLATIONS -- UNLIKE ANY OTHER 90-CENT F GRILL WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
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 bad centering. This stamp is a remarkable exception. The perfs are much better formed than usual (although they show the genuine characteristics) and the centering is mathematically precise. In this stamp there is the added feature of color. Red cancellations are sometimes seen on the 90c, applied at New York City to supplementary mail, but blue is an extremely unusual color.
With 1992 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates and with 2004 P.F. certificate.