Sale 1247 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 14-15 December, 2021
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-85E)
3c Rose, All-Over Grill Essay, Points Up, Imperforate (79-E15c). Horizontal pair, original gum, large margins to full, Extremely Fine
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Clear grill points and with far more intact perforations than normally seen, brilliant color, neat strike of rosette cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT A 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 smaller rectangular units within each stamp (C Grill).
With 1997 P.S.E. and 2009 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue notes "Values for No. 79 are for Fine-Very Fine examples with minor perf faults. Examples with complete or virtually complete perforations sell for much more."
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Mostly complete perforations all around, bright color, clear strike of windmill-shaped fancy cancel of Macon Ga., tiny tear at left, appears Very Fine, a scarce stamp with a fancy cancel, with 2017 P.F. certificate calling the cancel a "segmented cross", Scott values this issue with minor perf faults
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Clear grill, neat strike of rosette fancy cancel, choice centering with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine and striking, with 1993, 2007 and 2014 P.F. certificates
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Crisp impression, clearly-defined grill, unobtrusive strike of cork cancel highlights the grill, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.A.G. certificate (90 used)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Clearly-defined grill, bright color, neat strike of segmented cork cancel, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Attractive margins and centering, bright color and clear grill, light and unobtrusive cancel, Very Fine, with copy of 2000 P.F. certificate for a pair, with 2016 P.F. certificate as this single
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Intense shade and impression, attractive centering for this difficult issue, neat 4-ring target cancel is centered right between Jackson's eyesVERY FINE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
The device equipped with the D Grill was refitted with the E Grill on or about February 9, 1868. Based on the earliest known uses of the 2c D Grill (2/15/68) and 3c E Grill (2/12/68), it is our theory that the conversion from the D to E Grill took place only a day or so after sheets of 2c stamps were first run through the D-equipped machine. The great rarity of 2c D Grills, relative to all other regular-production grills, bears out this theory.
With 2013 P.S.E. (ungraded) and 2018 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75)
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Double transfer at top, attractive margins and centering for this notoriously difficult issue, quartered cork cancelFRESH AND FINE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
With 1993 P.S.E. certificate noting the double transfer, which is listed but unpriced in Scott. Scott value as normal.
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Crisp impression, clear grill points, unusual circle of small wedges cancelFINE. A SCARCE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
With 1988 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Mint N.H., with top selvage with end roller grill at top, clearly-defined grills, centered to top left, faint horizontal wrinkle in grill, Very Good, the 3c D Grill is one of the rarest issues to obtain with original gum, we have offered only one other (with similar centering) since 2015, with 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Wide margins and choice centering, bright color contrasted by bold strike of rosette cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Wide margins and well-centered, deep rich color with sharp impression, well-struck geometric cancel frequently found on the 3c D Grill, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Clearly-defined grill, bold strike of cork cancel and part of circular datestamp at left, reperfed at right, otherwise Extremely Fine, with clear 1985 P.F. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clearly-defined grill, crisp impression and attractive shade, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of rimless grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL. THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH OUTSTANDING CONDITION.
The plates used to print the Black Jacks did not provide enough space between subjects for the large 12-gauge perf holes. Consequently, most Black Jack stamps have perfs touching the design on one or two sides. This scarcity of four-margin copies multiplies exponentially when the Z Grill is factored into the equation. Only a small quantity of 2c sheets were grilled during the period when the Z device was active -- after the D Grill (Scott 84), the Z is the rarest of Black Jack grilled stamps.
Ex "Natalee Grace". With 1985, 2004 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,000.00). Only two grade higher (at 98).
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Detailed impression nicely complemented by blue Geometric cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, ex Wagshal, with 2010 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Minor double transfer at bottom, intense shade and impression, clear grill points, bold strike of circle of V's cancel, Very Fine and choice, ex "Natalee Grace", with 1991 A.P.S. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $1,350.00 for normal)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Wide margins and intense shade, clearly-defined grill, face-free cork cancel, fresh and Very Fine example of the 2c Z Grill, with 2002 and 2020 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Radiant color on bright paper, clearly-defined grill, wide margins and choice centering, segmented cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $3,750.00)
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Radiant color, clearly-defined grill, neat strike of circle of wedges cancel and part of circular datestamp at lower leftVERY FINE. A PRETTY USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $3,750.00)
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Attractive color and margins, clearly-defined grill, bold rosette cancel, tiny corner perf tip crease at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, appears Very Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IS SELDOM SEEN IN SUCH CHOICE USED CONDITION.
With 2006 and 2010 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade on bright paper, well-defined grill, cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 2016 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Detailed impression, clear grill, unusual segmented cork cancel, tiny corner perf crease at top right, Very Fine appearance, a pretty stamp, ex Wagshal, with 2010 P.F. certificate