Sale 1244 — The Arthur S. Przybyl Collection of United States, Confederate States and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 November, 2021
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Original gum, lightly hinged, typical perfs for this difficult issue, small thin spot and gum stains at top, otherwise Fine, scarce in original-gum condition, ex Henson
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Typical irregular perfs, cancelled by windmill-shaped fancy cancel with "Macon Ga. Aug. 28" circular datestamp on small buff piece, appears Very Fine, with 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Unused (no gum), fresh color and paper, Fine, an attractive unused 3c C Grill, ex Wingate, with copy of 1988 P.F. certificate for a block of four (top right stamp)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Scissors-separated at bottom right slightly blunting two perfs, clear grill, lightly struck large grid cancel, Fine, with clear 2002 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Block of four with "NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. NEW YORK" imprint at top, original gum, beautiful rich color in the distinctive Rose shade, exceptionally fresh, remarkably choice centering, especially for this grilled issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM IMPRINT BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL. BREATHTAKING QUALITY AND AN IMPORTANT EXHIBITION ITEM OF THE EARLY GRILLED ISSUES.
Multiples of the 3c C Grill, Scott 83, are extremely rare. There is only one other imprint block of the 3c C Grill, a left sheet-margin block of four that was part of the Lozier and Sinkler collections, then reappeared in our 2012 sale of the Frelinghuysen collection (Sale 1021, lot 240). The block offered here is the better centered of the two.
This block has a notation indicating the possibility it was owned or handled by John K. Tiffany, which would date its discovery to sometime prior to his death in 1897. Its earliest auction appearance was in the 1956 Caspary sale, where it sold to the Weills, on behalf of their closely guarded client, Benjamin D. Phillips. After the Weills purchased the Phillips collection in 1968 for $4.07 million, they sold the block to another major client, Stephen D. Bechtel, in 1970. The Bechtel collection was sold privately in 1993, and the block was purchased by Robert Zoellner. The block was then acquired by William H. Gross in the 1998 Zoellner sale.
Ex Caspary, Phillips, Bechtel, Zoellner (exhibited at 1996 Anphilex show) and Gross. With 1969 P.F. certificate
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Unused (no gum), centered to bottom left but perfs clear, wide at top and right, clear impressionFINE. THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL IS A GREAT RARITY IN SOUND UNUSED CONDITION.
Ex "Hampshire." With 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (F 70; SMQ $5,000.00). The Scott Catalogue states the value for No. 84 is for a stamp in the grade of Fine
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Unused (no gum), clear grill, strong color, fresh and Fine, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), extra wide margins and outstanding centering, intense shade, strong grillEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL--ONE OF THE SCARCER REGULAR-ISSUE GRILLS AND VERY RARE IN UNUSED CONDITION IN THIS QUALITY.
Ex Dr. Rorke, Golin and Wingate. With 1976 and 1994 P.F. certificates
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, with top part imprint selvage, clearly defined grill which has a tiny hole just to the left of Washington's foreheadFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PART-IMPRINT EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
This is the upper left stamp from the block of four offered in our 1992 Rarities sale and sale of the Curtis collection. With copy of 1994 P.F. certificate for the block
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Bright shade, clear grill, bold rosette cancel, much better centering than typically seen on this issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $5,750.00). Only six grade higher
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Unused (no gum), attractively centered, intense shade characteristic of this Z Grill denominationVERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $8,000.00). Only one stamp grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (at 90) and no others share this grade
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, lightly hinged, vivid color, attractive centering and marginsVERY FINE LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL.
With 1988 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Block of four, original gum, h.r., clear grills, bottom left stamp light crease at left, Fine and rare original-gum block, ex Drews
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Unused (no gum), wide margins and attractive centering, Very Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Block of four, original gum, clearly defined grills, attractive charcoal shade, some rejoined perf separations at topFINE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1868 2-CENT E GRILL.
Ex Wingate.
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, brilliant color on crisp paper, clearly defined grill, wide margins, Extremely Fine, ex "Scarsdale", with 1979 (copy), 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering with extraordinarily wide margins, sharp grill impression, light vertical pre-printing paper folds, Extremely Fine, ex Fox and Wingate, with 1993 P.F. certificate
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. With 1990 P.F. and 1991 P.S.E. certificates
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly defined grill, intense shade, attractive centering and marginsFRESH AND VERY FINE. THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION WITH DECENT CENTERING. THIS IS A PREMIUM LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE.
With 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificates
1c Pale Blue, F. Grill (92a). Unused (no gum), pastel shade, nicely centered, Very Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Block of four, unused (no gum), bright color, clear grills, few perf separations at top, short perf at lower right, otherwise Fine-Very Fine and attractive block, ex Drews, Scott value as original-gum block is $16,000.00
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Original gum, well-centered, slightly short perf at left not mentioned on certificate, appears Very Fine, with clear 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Block of six, original gum with slight brownish spots mostly in top row, quite well-centered for a 2c F Grill, a few faint toned spots in perfs and on bottom stamps are inconsequential, Very Fine and scarce centered block of this issue, ex Faust, Scott value as a block and a pair
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually well-centered, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, ex Wingate, with 1999 P.F. certificate
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Block of 20 with selvage at right, top stamps Mint N.H., rich color, Fine and scarce block, ex Frelinghuysen as a block of 20, with copy of 2012 P.F. certificate for block of 20, Scott value for hinged block
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Unused (no gum), rich color, fresh and Fine, ex Wingate, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, top left stamp with small corner crease at top left, right pair with vertical pre-printing paper foldFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE BLOCK OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Block of four, original gum, small h.r., rich color, strong grill impression, bottom stamps with light gum staining at bottomFINE-VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.
Almost every 10c F Grill block with Very Fine or better centering has been broken to satisfy demand for singles.
Ex Drews. With 1994 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Deep rich color, choice centering and margins, cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $700.00)
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Unused (no gum), almost perfectly centered with wide and well-proportioned margins, crisp impression, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, sharp proof-like impression, few sensibly and expertly reinforced perf separations at bottom (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)VERY FINE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL--A BLOCK OF FOUR IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE.
Almost every original-gum block containing Very Fine or Extremely Fine stamps has been broken to meet collector demand for choice singles. Our records contain around a dozen original-gum blocks of the 12c F Grill. Some of these have may have been broken since we last offered them, and therefore the number of surviving multiples may be smaller. Blocks of four are the largest surviving multiples, since the Caspary block of eight has been broken.
Ex Wingate. With 2001 P.F. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, clear grill impression, well-centered with nicely balanced marginsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Block of four, unused (no gum), intense shade and impression on bright paper, expertly rejoined perf separations, bottom right stamp small tearFINE-VERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
The largest recorded original-gum multiples are a reconstructed block of 20 and a block of 16. Both are significantly off center with perfs cutting far into the stamp designs.
Ex Ishikawa and Drews. Scott value as original-gum block is $35,000.00
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, wide margins, brilliant color on crisp paper, clearly defined grillFINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.
With 1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill, Split Grills (99 var). Positions 81-82/91-92R, block of four with bottom sheet selvage and straddle-pane margin at left with full vertical guideline, grills shifted towards bottom and showing part of the grill in the selvage, top right stamp does not show any trace of the grill at top, original gum, h.r. at left where few perf separations sensibly reinforcedFRESH AND FINE. A REMARKABLE POSITION BLOCK OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL, SHOWING SPLIT GRILLS.
Our records contain fewer than ten blocks of four, plus the iconic ex Gross pieces--a plate block of eight (Sale 1188, lot 85) and a block of 15 (Sale 1200, lot 92). These blocks come from the complete pane in the de Coppet collection sold in 1893.
Ex De Coppet, Colonel Green and Drews. Scott value as normal block of four
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Original gum, rich color, wide top and bottom margins, some slight soiling in strongly impressed grill pointsFINE APPEARING AND SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT F GRILL.
This stamp is infrequently found with original gum and a Power Search review of examples we have sold reveals that when one is found, more often than not it has faults, poor centering or both.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Slightly disturbed original gum, bright color, clearly defined grill, accompanying certificate notes a repaired perf at top right which is difficult to detectFINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Attractive margins and centering, rich color, Leaf cancel, small corner crease top right, appears Very Fine, with 1994 P.S.E. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Block of four, original gum, hinge marks, beautiful deep shade, faint horizontal crease in bottom pair (noted on certificate), minor reinforced perf separations (not noted)FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCKS OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF 19TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
There are approximately ten original-gum blocks of the 90c 1861 without grill (Scott 72), but only two unused F Grill (Scott 101) blocks have been documented. Both have original gum, identical centering and shade, and undoubtedly originated from the same area of the same sheet. The other block was offered in our sale of the Richard Drews collection (Sale 1195, lot 406), The ownership history of the two blocks has been confused by the absence of photographs in the 1917 Worthington and 1933 Hind auction catalogues, and by the similar appearance and condition of the blocks. We have concluded that the block offered in this sale, which was definitely Caspary's, probably came from the Worthington collection.
Ex Worthington (probably), Caspary, Lilly, Ishikawa and Gross. With 1993 P.F. certificate.