Sale 1234 — The Gary Petersen Collection of Important United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 29-30 April, 2021
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue and 1875 Re-Issue of 1861-66 Issue (Scott 81-111)
30c Orange, A. Grill (81). Perforations complete on all four sides, bright shade, bold quartered cork cancel and trace of circular datestamp at left, small (and utterly insignificant) stain at bottom, essentially soundVERY FINE. ONE OF EIGHT RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1867 ALL-OVER GRILL, OF WHICH ONLY SEVEN ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS AND ONLY TWO ARE SOUND. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY OF CLASSIC UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
There are eight 30c A Grill stamps recorded in our census, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/81 . All are centered to upper right and cancelled by a quartered cork (at least two types). One of the eight is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. It was stolen and recovered, but those responsible for finding a buyer for the stolen stamp added ink to the face to change its appearance. Excluding the NYPL copy, there are seven 30c A Grill stamps available to collectors. Five of the available stamps have missing or pulled perforations and/or margin defects. The small stain at bottom of the stamp offered here is very minor and should not be considered a "fault" in the technical sense of the term. This stamp is for all purposes sound and thus of even greater rarity and value.
Census no. 81-CAN-02. Ex Schilling and from our 1975 and 2015 Rarities of the World sales (one owner between 1975 and 2015). With 1969 and 2015 P.F. certificates. The footnote in Scott Catalogue notes that "All are more or less faulty and/or off center. Values are for off-center examples with small perforation faults".
3c Rose, B. Grill (82). Rich color in shade of 1868 printings, centered to upper left as are all four known examples, fancy cork cancel of Mason Tex. and part of red cancel at bottom, clearly defined grill easily visible from the front of the stampVERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FOUR 3-CENT B GRILL STAMPS DISCOVERED TOGETHER ON A COVER IN 1969, WHICH REMAIN THE ONLY EXAMPLES KNOWN TO PHILATELY. ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS IN THE WORLD AND A KEY TO A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF UNITED STATES POSTAGE STAMPS.
The distinguishing characteristics of the true B Grill are its size--22 points wide by 18 points high (18 x 15 mm)--and the points-up orientation of the grill, which shows as a pyramidal (male) grill impression on the back. The four recorded 3c B Grill stamps were discovered in 1969 on a cover mailed in February 1869 from Mason, Texas, to Germany. A photograph of the complete cover as discovered is shown here. Our census data can be found at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/82 .
The shade and thinner paper of the 3c B Grill stamps are more typical of the mid-1868 printings and quite different from the paler Rose shades and thick paper of the 1867 and early 1868 3c grilled issues (A, C, D, Z and some E production). The shade and paper indicate that the B Grill was implemented after the 1867 experimental period and after the first two months of regular 1868 grill production. Perhaps the B Grill was created during the process of making a replacement grilling device for one of the two machines. The grilling surface must have worn during production of many thousands of sheets, and it seems likely that replacement grills would become necessary in mid-1868. Through miscalculation or possibly deliberate experimentation, the grill size per stamp on this new B Grill device was twice the width of the F Grill. Based on the small number of surviving copies, this wider grill must have been quickly modified or discarded. Sheets with the B Grill made their way into the regular supply and, in the case of the discovery examples, were used in early 1869.
This stamp was the first example of the 3c B Grill (Scott 82) ever offered at auction when it appeared in our sale of the Dr. Drew B. Meilstrup collection on May 2, 1973 (lot 148). It was acquired by a private collector in that sale for $23,000 hammer. By comparison, just two years later the 1c Z Grill (Scott 85A) was offered in our 1975 Rarities sale and realized $42,500.
Census no. 82-CAN-02. Ex Drew B. Meilstrup (Siegel Sale 431, May 2, 1973) and from our 2015 Rarities of the World sale (one owner between 1973 and 2015). With photocopy of 1969 P.F. certificate for the cover and with 2015 P.F. certificate as this single.
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, clearly defined grill, brilliant color, centered to bottom rightFRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.
The 3c is the only denomination that was regularly issued with the distinctive C Grill, with the grill points facing up instead of down.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Clear grill, bold strike of blue segmented circle cancel, just the faintest hint of a corner crease at bottom right, appears Fine, a Power Search review of Scott No. 84 with blue cancels reveals that this is the most distinctively cancelled stamp we have offered, with clear 1968 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Unused (no gum), clear grill, centered to top right, small gum soak at top, appears Fine
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Part original gum covers most of the back, clearly defined grill including additional grill impression in selvage at right, intense shade and impression, tiny extraneous ink mark at top of headVERY FINE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL. PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE WITH THE GRILLED SELVAGE.
This stamp is one of the pieces of evidence supporting our theory that the Z and F Grills were used in succession on the same machine, while the D and E Grills were used in succession on another machine. Additional grills on Z/F Grill selvage always occurs at the sides, while additional grills on D/E Grills always occur at the top or bottom.
From our 2006 Rarities sale. 1955 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2006 P.F. certificate. Scott value without gum is $6,750.00. Scott value as original gum
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, clearly defined grill, characteristic 3c Z Grill shade, three wide margins and perforations well clear of design at leftVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
Excluding the supremely rare grills -- 5c and 30c A Grill, 3c B Grill, 1c, 10c and 15c Z Grills -- the 3c Z Grill is the rarest of the regularly produced grilled issues. Examples of the 3c Z Grill are usually far off-center and faulty. This stamp is one of the few sound original-gum examples of the 3c Z Grill with Very Fine centering.
Ex "Laila". With 1993 P.S.E. and 2001 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, barest trace of hinging -- appears Mint N.H. at a glance and was part of a block certified as such -- rich color, attractive centering and marginsFRESH AND VERY FINE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL.
With 1983 P.F. certificate for a block of four ("Unused OG", which at the time meant Mint N.H.) and 2006 P.F. certificate for this single
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Original gum, clearly defined grill, well-centered with nicely balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT E GRILL.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Block of four with bottom sheet selvage, original gum, couple small h.r., brilliant color and clearly defined grillsFRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM SHEET-MARGIN BLOCK OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL.
With 2004 A.P.S. certificate
10c Green, E. Grill, "TAG" Variety (89 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, three wide margins and design well clear of perfs at leftVERY FINE. A LOVELY ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL WITH THE "TAG" TRANSFER VARIETY.
With 1977, 1990 and 2006 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Original gum, bright color, well-centered, couple slightly short perfs at lower left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, appears Very Fine, with clear 2004 P.F. certificate
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Complete left pane of 100, imprint selvage at top and left, imprint and plate no. 30 at bottom, original gum with many Mint N.H., some disturbed and a few outer stamps short gum, mix of centering as expected, but with many well-centered stamps, the gutter margin at right impinges slightly into the lower three stamps, creases affect three horizontal rows, some hinge-reinforced separations and crimped perfs along center, couple tiny nicks in lower right margin, these flaws are insignificant in a pane of this vintage and rarityFINE-VERY FINE. THIS IS THE UNIQUE PANE OF THE 1868 2-CENT BLACK JACK F GRILL AND THE ONLY KNOWN COMPLETE PANE OR SHEET OF ANY BLACK JACK STAMP.
The 2c stamp of 1863-68 depicting President Andrew Jackson has long been a favorite of stamp collectors and has been the inspiration for a number of famous named collections and exhibits, including those of Allen, Rorke, Metzger, Burrows, Fosdyke-Ray and Faust. The Jackson portrait, based on an 1842 painting by John Wood Dodge, takes up nearly the entire design, making the 2c Black Jack one of the most striking 19th century stamps.
A complete pane or sheet of any classic stamp is the ultimate display piece for a specialized collection. This 2c F Grill pane is the only one in existence and is, in fact, the only full pane of any Black Jack issued (Scott 73, 84, 85B, 87, 93 or 103).
From our 1984 Rarities sale and ex Metzger and Fosdyke-Ray. Scott lists but does not price a plate block of this issue. Scott value as a plate number strip of four and 96 hinged singles is $49,700.00
5c Dark Brown, Double F. Grill (95 var). Disturbed original gum from hinge removal described as "part o.g." on accompanying certificate, clear double grill with second grill impression overlapping the first, Fine and scarce, with 1983 P.F. certificate as Scott No. 95a "Dark Brown with Double Grill" -- today's Scott Catalogue uses 95a for the Black Brown shade so this is offered as Dark Brown No. 95 variety -- the double grill is listed but unpriced, Scott value for No. 95 Dark Brown with original gum is $3,500.00
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Original gum, deep rich color, beautifully balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.
With 1995 and 2001 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Block of four, original gum, top left and bottom right stamps appear Mint N.H., but given the vagaries of some expertizing opinions on classic Mint N.H. gum we cannot guarantee it, top right stamp barely hinged, bottom left h.r., rich color and strong grill impressions, bottom right stamp two diagonal creasesFINE AND EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL, WITH POTENTIALLY MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
Scott value $26,000.00 as hinged block
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Redistributed original gum, detailed impression, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT BLACK F GRILL.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Block of four, original gum, bottom pair h.r. straddling the two stamps, clear grills, intense shade and impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL WITH EXTRAORDINARILY PRECISE CENTERING. VERY FEW BLOCKS OF THIS QUALITY REMAIN INTACT TODAY.
Our records contain around a dozen original-gum blocks of the 12c F Grill. Some of these have probably been broken to feed collector demand for singles, and therefore the number of surviving multiples may be smaller. Blocks of four are the largest surviving multiples, since the Caspary block of eight has been broken.
Ex Whitman. With 1983 and 2006 P.F. certificates. Scott value $40,000.00
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, clear grill impression, attractive centering and marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Block of four, original gum, small h.r. on each to reinforce some perf separations, bottom pair horizontal crease, top left stamp pulled perfFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
Scott value $45,000.00
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, clearly defined grill, attractive margins and centering, deep rich colorVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Block of four, original gum, bright shade, clearly defined grillsFRESH AND FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN AND THIS SOUND EXAMPLE IS PARTICULARLY DESIRABLE.
Our records contain fewer than ten unduplicated blocks of four of Scott 99, plus the two iconic ex-Gross blocks -- the block of fifteen (Sale 1200, lot 92) and the imprint and plate number block of eight (Sale 1188, lot 85). Several blocks have faults, and a few might have been broken since their last appearances in auctions decades ago.
Ex Whitman. With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott value $45,000.00
1c-90c 1861-66 Re-Issue (102-111). Complete set, original gum on 3c, 12c, 15c (slightly toned), others unused (no gum), rich colors and overall fresh, 2c, 5c, 10c, 12c, 15c and 24c are exceptionally choice, 30c thin spot, 90c tiny pinholeFINE-VERY FINE. A DESIRABLE SET OF THE 1861-66 RE-ISSUES IN CHOICE QUALITY.
All except 1c with P.F. or P.S.E. certificates
