Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Large part original gum, intense shade and impression, lighter than usual grill impression which leaves perforations on all sides completely intact, faint horizontal creaseFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE PERFORATIONS INTACT.
Due to the nature of the grilling machine and the overall grill, most examples of this issue have missing or ragged perfs. The example offered here, with intact perfs all around, is a condition rarity.
Ex Geisler and Curtis. With 1986, 1990 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Unused (no gum), well-centered for this issue, only a few minor short perfs, Very Fine, in far better condition than most unused examples, with 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Strong grill, segmented cancel, typical perf flaws associated with this stamp, diagonal crease ending in a small tear, otherwise Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Nicely balanced wide margins, deep rich color on fresh paper, bold cork cancel, Extremely Fine, a choice used example of the scarce 3c C Grill, ex Kirke, with 1983 P.F. certificate as on cover, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,850.00), only four examples have been graded higher and this is one of only four to achieve this grade
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and impression, bold strike of negative Star of David cancel, minor soiling on back not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, wonderfully rich color and crisp detailed impression, uncharacteristically well-centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A HIGHLY DESIRABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 ONE-CENT E. GRILL.
Ex Hewitt. With 1984 and 2012 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill points, expertly reperfed at left, Very Fine appearance and scarce original gum example, with 2000 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates, the P.F. certificate not mentioning the reperfing
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Original gum, prominent grill, attractive centering, couple short perfs at upper left, Extremely Fine appearance, an exceedingly difficult stamp to find with original gum and decent centering, ex Curtis, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, F 70; SMQ $1,000.00), we are sure this would have graded much higher if not for the short perf
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 1983 and 2006 P.F. certificates
10c Green, E. Grill, Very Thin Paper (89 var). Unused (no gum), strong rich color, a Very Fine example of this paper variety, with 1981 P.F. certificate
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade and detailed impression, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
As collectors who have been searching for a superb original-gum copy of the 12c E Grill can attest, it is rarely seen in choice condition. One reason is that there have been far fewer multiples of the 12c E Grill than other grilled issues, and, therefore, fewer singles from broken blocks. No blocks were offered in sales of great classic collections, such as Crocker, Caspary, Eno, Lilly, Moody, West or Ishikawa. The Zoellner block was broken into Fine-Very Fine singles. The singles in most of the important U.S. collections offered during the past 25 years have been unsatisfactory in one way or another.
Ex Curtis. With 1999 P.S.E. certificate and 2014 P.F. certificate (F-VF 75)
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Unused (regummed), strong impression, Fine, with 1977 and 2014 P.F. certificates
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Jumbo margins on bright paper, detailed impression, bold cork cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $650.00 as 85, $1,100.00 as 90)
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Unused (no gum), crisp impression, Very Fine, a scarce unused stamp, with 1984 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, well-centered, fresh and Very Fine, with 1998 P.F., 1998 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph VF 80; SMQ $3,5000.
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Redistributed original gum, rich color, Very Fine, a scarce original-gum stamp, with 1993 P.F. certificate
5c Dark Brown, F. Grill (95). Target cancel, deep color in the Dark Brown shade, well-centered, Very Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Deep rich color, showing an overall kiss print, especially evident at top in lettering of "U.S. Postage", choice centering with well-balanced margins, unobtrusive strike of cork cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, Very Fine and choice, a rare variety on this issue and the only one we have encountered, the 5c F Grill is not known with a true double impression, the example offered here shows some doubling but one of the impressions lacks the clear lines of the engraving, which is a requirement of a true double impression, ex Natalee Grace, with 1996, 2001 and 2012 P.F. certificates, the latter two confirming the kiss print.
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh color, Fine, with 1991 and 2014 P.F. certificates
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Unused (no gum), deep shade, strong impression, recent certificate notes a light crease at top left, otherwise Very Fine, with 2007 A.P.S. certificate (as the Very Thin Paper variety) and 2014 P.F. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Wide margins and wonderfully centered, neat large circle of wedges cancel, clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00), only five have graded higher
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade and clearly-defined grill, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
The ungrilled version of this issue was released in 1866, about one year after President Lincoln was assassinated. It is regarded by many to be America's first commemorative issue, memorializing the martyred president as the nation started to heal from the wounds of the Civil War. In 1868 it was issued with two grill types, the E Grill (Scott 91) and F Grill (Scott 98). 15c usually paid the registration fee on domestic mail or the U.S.-French treaty rate.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh shade, Fine, a scarce stamp with original gum, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, rich color and crisp impressionVERY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
With 2005 and 2012 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Large part original gum, attractive color, gum soiling in the grill area, otherwise Fine, a scarce original-gum stamp, with 2014 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Unused (no gum), clearly-defined grill, rich color, tiny thin in grill, Fine appearance, scarce in unused condition, with 2007 and 2013 P.F. certificates
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Rich color, well-centered, wide margins, clear grill, light horizontal crease, Very Fine appearance