Sale 951 — The Tahoe Collection of Superb Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 27 February, 2008
Category — 1870-93 Bank Note Issues
2c Red Brown, Grill (135). H. Grill, perfectly centered with enormous even margins all around, clearly-defined grill, fresh color, bold strike of cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1999 A.P.S. and 2001 P.F. certificates
6c Carmine, Grill (137). H. Grill, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins all around, radiant color, discernible grill points, neat strike of crossroads cancel, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION, AND EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,050.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only four others share this grade.
15c Orange, I Grill (141 var). Well-defined I Grill points visible on both sides of the stamp, choice centering for this difficult issue, bright color, neat strike of circle of wedges cancel and part of red transit cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1870 15-CENT I GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TEN USED AND TWO UNUSED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS RARITY DESERVES MAJOR CATALOGUE LISTING STATUS.
At least two sizes of grills were used by the National Bank Note Company for the 1870 Issue. The I Grill measures from 9-11 points wide by 10-13 points tall. The I Grill is currently recorded on all values except the 12c, 24c and 30c (there are unconfirmed reports of the I Grill on the 12c and 24c). The 1c thru 7c values make up most of the population of I Grill stamps. The 10c, 15c and 90c I Grills are extremely rare, and it is only in recent years that their existence was reported by Ronald Burns.
Ex Chapin and Lake Shore. With 2003 P.F. certificate.
15c Orange, Double Grill (141 var). H. Grill, well-centered, bright shade with lightly struck cork cancel, clear impressions of two distinct grills at topEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE DOUBLE GRILL VARIETY.
This is the only example contained in our computerized records (which now contains all of our Rarities sales from 1964 to date plus 12 years of auctions).
Ex Morris and Lake Shore. With 1997 and 2005 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue value is loosely based on the realization of this stamp in our 1995 Lake Shore auction ($4,000 hammer).
24c Purple, Grill (142). H. Grill, perfectly centered with wide even margins, unusually fine impression in typical light pastel shade of the 24c Grill, crisp centrally-struck small circle of squares cancel and part of blue town circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLES OF THIS BANK NOTE RARITY, AND POSSIBLY THE FINEST IN TERMS OF COLOR AND CANCELLATION.
Ex Morris. With 1993 P.S.E. and 1997 P.F. certificates.
90c Carmine, Grill (144). Rich color, unusually wide and even margins, clearly discernible grill points at top, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND IN SOUND CONDITION. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
For no apparent reason, most examples of this issue with wide margins tend to have small flaws. We have encountered perhaps a dozen copies which are sound and also have wide margins. the example offered here is easily one of the finest.
With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $12,600.00 as 95, $25,500.00 as 98, a grade which is not shown in P.S.E. Population Report). This is the only example to achieve this lofty grade, which is the highest awarded to date.
7c Vermilion (149). Brilliant color, wide and balanced margins all around, neat strike of New York Foreign Mail "Clothespins" cancel in brown (Weiss Ty. TR-C7), long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS CANCEL IS ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN NEW YORK FOREIGN MAIL TYPES STRUCK IN BROWN.
With 1995 P.S.E. and 1995 and 2003 P.F. certificates. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,500.00). Only one has graded higher to date, and only one other shares this grade.
15c Bright Orange (152). Bright shade, wide balanced margins with long and full perforations all around, bold target cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Floyd, with 1993 P.F. certificate
30c Black (154). Intense shade and proof-like impression on crisp paper, unusually well-balanced margins for this difficult issue, unobtrusive cancel with trace of red transit at bottom right, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (155). Brilliant color, wide balanced margins, bold cork cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, a surprisingly difficult stamp to obtain with choice centering, only four have graded higher than a 90 on the P.S.E.'s Population Report, with 1993 P.F. certificate
3c Green (158). Perfectly centered with massive Jumbo margins, neat face-free cork cancel, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp in every respect and without question one of the finest in existence, with 2003 P.F. certificate
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Choice centering with unusually wide margins, cancelled by well-struck New York Foreign Mail Star in Circle cancel (Ty. ST-8P5), bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp of tremendous visual appeal, with 1985 and 2007 P.F. certificates
90c Rose Carmine (166). Radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, neat strike of cork cancel at bottom right leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. THIS GORGEOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,050.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only four others share this grade
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Enormous margins all around, radiant color, light strike of target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a massive stamp and easily one of the largest we have ever encountered, with 2002 P.F. certificate
3c Green (184). Perfectly centered with massive even margins, light strike of target cancel, deep rich shade, Extremely Fine Gem, a fantastic example of this issue, with 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $390.00 as 98). This is the only Scott 184 to achieve the ultimate P.S.E. grade of Gem 100 Jumbo.
5c Blue (185). Jumbo margins and attractively centered, beautiful intense color, neat numeral grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp, with 2005 P.F. certificate
15c Red Orange, Double Transfer (189 var). Clear double transfer in "ENTS" of "CENTS", deep rich color, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent example of this variety, ex Floyd, with 2001 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail with no premium for the double transfer (which is unpriced in Scott as used and unlisted as unused)
30c Full Black (190). Almost perfect centering with wide and well-balanced margins, crisp impression on bright paper, neat cancel, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2001 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (191). Almost perfectly centered with well-balanced margins, brilliant color, neat strike of New York oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN THIS SUPERB AND SOUND CONDITION.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (209). Rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, bold strikes of duplex and circular datestamp cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2000 A.P.S. and 2003 P.F. certificates
90c Purple (218). Deep rich color, two neat strikes of circular datestamp, wide and well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1888 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 2004 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only six others share this grade. A note from master grader William Litle explains that the strength of the cancel kept this from being graded Superb 98.
2c Carmine (220). Perfectly centered with enormous margins all around, brilliant color, long and full perforations all around, bold strike of grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a spectacular used example of this issue, with 2003 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates and with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade in SMQ, SMQ $315.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this exalted grade.
10c Green (226). Deep rich color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive target cancel, Extremely Fine, surprisingly difficult to obtain in such choice used condition
90c Orange (229). Well-centered with Jumbo margins all around, vivid color on brilliant paper, neat strike of San Francisco registry oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1890 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E..
With 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $920.00 as 95, $2,200.00 as 98). This is the only used 90c 1890 to achieve this 95 Jumbo grade, and only two better (both 98) are reported in the P.S.E. Population Report.