Sale 1290 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 June, 2023
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Large part original gum, h.r., clear grill, bright color, Fine, scarce with original gum, with 2017 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Radiant color, clearly-defined grill, circular datestamp and rosette cancelsVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT C GRILL.
With 1991 and 2006 P.F. certificates.
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Original gum, h.r., clear grill, intense shade, centered to rightVERY GOOD. A RARE SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
The 2c D Grill is very difficult to find in sound original-gum condition. It is essentially non-existent in centered and sound condition, so collectors who demand stamps without faults must compromise on centering.
With 2019 P.F. certificate. Scott value $16,000.00
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Original gum which is slightly disturbed at top, intense shade, perfs in at bottom and right, Very Good, a scarce stamp with original gum, with 1988 P.F. certificate, Scott value $16,000.00
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, h.r., clear grill, intense shade and impression, few perf flaws at topVERY GOOD APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 2-CENT Z GRILL.
This is one of the most difficult grilled issues to obtain with decent centering. For example, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five OG stamps, graded 10 (two), 20, 30 and 50.
With 2019 P.F. certificate. Scott value $17,500.00
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), intense shade, decently balanced margins on three sides, slightly in at left, small repaired hole at right and tiny thin spots, otherwise Fine, a scarce stamp in unused condition, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, clear grill, intense shade and impression, light creases and small tear at right not noted on certificateFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT Z GRILL.
We have offered only approximately a dozen examples with original gum in the past fifteen years.
With 1978 P.F. certificate. Scott value $25,000.00.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, intense shade, reperfed at left and single pulled perf at upper rightFINE APPEARANCE. THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN UNUSED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott value $25,000.00
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Detailed impression nicely complemented by blue circular datestamp and rosette cancels, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $700.00)
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful deep Rose shade characteristic of early regular-issue 3c grilled stamps, strong grill impression, choice centering on fresh paper with long full perfs all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A WONDERFUL COPY OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL. AN ELUSIVE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Ex Field. With 1983, 2002 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85). This stamp has always brought more than its grade would indicate -- it realized $2,200 hammer in 2003, $2,800 hammer in 2015 and $1,800 hammer in 2022.
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, deep rich color, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Either small part disturbed original gum or poorly regummed, straight edge at left, rich color, Very Fine and would benefit from soaking, Scott value without gum
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Rich color, wide and balanced margins, large grid cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $575.00)
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, strong grill, deep shade and sharp impression, very freshVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
Ex Hoffman and Przybyl. With 1991 P.S.E. and 1990 and 2022 P.F. certificates.
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Disturbed original gum, nibbed perf at right, appears about Fine
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Intense shade on bright paper, well-balanced margins, circle of V's cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. and 2000 P.S.E. certificates
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, bright color, fresh and Fine
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 1980 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $525.00)
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Bright shade, clear grill, target cancel, beautiful centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 P.F. and 2002 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $750.00), only three grade higher (two at 98, one at 98J) and two others share this grade
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Outstanding centering with balanced margins, bright shade nicely complemented by perfect strike of blue Mummer's Fez fancy cancel of Philadelphia, Extremely Fine stamp and strike of this rare fancy cancel, with 2021 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, bright shade, faint scoring line on gum at lower right not noted on certificate, Fine, small blue backstamp, with 1984 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Unused (no gum), rich color, choice centering, fresh and Very Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $1,350.00)
10c Green, F. Grill (96 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on crisp paper, well-centered and strong grillVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.
Ex "Silver Lake" and Hansen. With 1995 and 2004 P.F. certificates (the former as Yellow Green). With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, F-VF 75; SMQ $2,300.00). We feel this is undergraded
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Deep rich color, choice centering with wide margins, bold cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE GRADES HIGHER.
With 1986, 2003 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,600.00). Only one grades higher (at 95J) and three others share this grade.
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Unusually choice centering with wide margins, crisp impression, target cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,300.00), only five grade higher
12c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (97 var). Intense shade and impression nicely complemented by red circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine and attractive example of this paper variety, with 1987 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $750.00 as normal with no premium for the paper variety)
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Mint N.H., clear grill, intense shade and impression, two horizontal creases, small toned spot at top of Lincoln's head is hardly noticeableVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT F GRILL. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
Most blocks of the grilled issues with sound and centered stamps have been broken to feed collector demand for singles. Despite this fact, we have encountered only two other Mint N.H. singles of the 15c F Grill since keeping computerized records almost 30 years ago. One is ex Odeneal (Sale 941, lot 1054). The other is the bottom right stamp in the block which originally contained the stamp offered here.
With copy of 2016 P.S.E. certificate for block. With 2022 P.F. certificate. Scott value as hinged
15c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (98 var). Near perfect centering with wide margins, unobtrusive cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL ON VERY THIN PAPER.
Ex Bowman. With 1997, 2000 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ as thin paper variety, SMQ $3,250.00 as normal paper)
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Unused (no gum), radiant color, clear grillFRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 30-CENT F GRILL.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate.
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Strong color, cork cancel, Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate