Sale 1278 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 21-23 March, 2023
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue and 1861 Re-Issue (Scott 79-111)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Original gum, h.r. at top, clear grill which covers the entire stamp and with most perforations intact, rich colorFINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT ALL-OVER GRILL.
The August 1867 3c experimental A Grill was the first grilled issue. It was soon learned that the all-over grill weakened the paper and interfered with perforating and separating, resulting in rough perforations and pieces torn out of the margins when split apart. Within two months of A Grill production the apparatus was modified by dividing the embossed area into small rectangular units within each stamp (C Grill).
Ex "Laila". With 1975, 1988 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Deep rich color, clearly defined grill, light cancel, fresh and Fine, with 2009 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill (83 var). Wide margins, bright color, light strike of large grid cancel, clearly defined grill showing partial erasure of continuous grill at right, Very Fine and scarce, in a few areas of the C Grill (Positions 99-100R, 89-90R, 79-80R, 68-69R and 1-2L, 11-12L, 21-22L and 31-32L), the points between grills were insufficiently planed away or erased when the all-over A Grill was converted to the smaller C Grill, this is a particularly choice example, from our 2002 Rarities sale, with 1986 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill (83 var). Bright color, bold rosette cancel, clearly defined grill showing partial erasure of continuous grill at left, small corner crease at top right, Fine appearance and scarce, in a few areas of the C Grill (Positions 99-100R, 89-90R, 79-80R, 68-69R and 1-2L, 11-12L, 21-22L and 31-32L), the points between grills were insufficiently planed away or erased when the all-over A Grill was converted to the smaller C Grill, with 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill (83 var). Bright color, light cancel, clearly defined grill showing partial erasure of continuous grill at left, well-centered but we believe reperfed at left (not mentioned on P.S.E. certificate), Very Fine appearance and scarce, in a few areas of the C Grill (Positions 99-100R, 89-90R, 79-80R, 68-69R and 1-2L, 11-12L, 21-22L and 31-32L), the points between grills were insufficiently planed away or erased when the all-over A Grill was converted to the smaller C Grill, with clear 1993 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill, Points Down (83 var). Bright color, clear points-down grill, grid cancel, Very Fine, a rare example of this variety which was caused when the sheet was laid down with the gummed side facing the depressions in the grill, interestingly every example of this grill variety listed in Power Search is for an unused stamp, this is the first used example we have offered in at least 30 years, ex Floyd, with 1993 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Intense shade, beautifully centered, perfectly clear grill, circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine and choice, a particularly attractive example of this scarce grill, with 1996 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Bright color, segmented cork cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2022 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, bright shade and crisp impression, almost impossible centering for this issue with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL AND EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM STAMP. THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-PRODUCED GRILLED ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CENTERED, ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF 90 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
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 at least Very Fine centering.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. to an original gum Scott 85C (shared by one other). By way of comparison, the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. is VF 80 (two examples).
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, clear grill, fresh and Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, h.r., clear grill, rich color, reperfed, Very Fine appearance
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Deep rich color, choice centering and margins, beautifully defined circle of V's cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2001 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,100.00)
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Brilliant color, well-centered, perfect strike of rosette cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Glazed original gum, h.r., rich color, clear grill, Fine
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Deep dark color, well-centered and clear grill, bold cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2009 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Choice centering and proof-like impression, light cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Hansen, with 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $750.00)
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill impression, well-centered with nicely balanced marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
With 2022 P.S.E. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Well-centered, wide margins, light target cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF 90)
30c Orange, F. Grill, Double Grill (100 var). Showing clear double grill which is mostly overlapping, bright color, circle of wedges cancel, small creases at right, Very Fine appearance, with 2021 Crowe certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Rich color, clearly-defined grill, circle of wedges cancel, small thin spot in grill, Very Fine appearance
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Clearly-defined grill points, rich color, cork cancel, small repairs, Fine appearance
1c Blue, Re-Issue (102). Unused (no gum), bright color and well-centered, Very Fine and choice