Sale 920 — United States Rarities
Sale Date — Tuesday, 17 October, 2006
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Clearly-defined grill, intense shade, bold cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
With 1989 and 2003 P.F. certificates
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.
With 1993 P.S.E. and 2001 P.F. certificates
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Choice centering with unusually wide margins all around, clearly-defined grill, clear strike of rosette cancel, radiant colorEXTREMELY FINE. A JUMBO USED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT Z GRILL. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $6,400.00 as 85, $10,100.00 as 90)
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Choice centering, strong grill impression, circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Mint N.H. block of four, sharp proof-like impressionVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL. THE RIGHT PAIR IS TRULY SUPERB IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Block of four, unused (no gum), deep shade and proof-like impression, choice centering with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND RARE UNUSED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
As an indication of rarity, the Scott Catalogue value for four singles with gum is $13,000, versus $23,500 for the block. This is only the fourth block we have sold in the past ten years. Only two of the others had original gum (one ex Zoellner, which was subsequently broken, and one from our Sale 836).
With 2004 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as block of four with gum.
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Block of four, bright color and detailed impression, each stamp has sharp grill points, color is nicely complemented by red cork cancels, reperfed at leftFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USED BLOCK OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
Approximately six used blocks are known.
90c Blue, Re-Issue (111). Unused (no gum), well-balanced margins, deep rich color on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE.
Only 317 issued. With 2004 P.F. certificate