Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1867 Experimental Grilled Issue (C Grill, Scott 83 and varieties)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill which is easily visible from the front of the stamp, radiant color on post-office fresh paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE. A STAMP OF GREAT BEAUTY.
The 3c is the only denomination that comes with the distinctive C Grill, with the grill points facing up instead of down. The few high-grade original-gum examples owe their existence to the division of blocks of four in recent years.
With 1989 and 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others share this grade.
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grills, bright color and proof-like impressionFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL. VERY FEW REMAIN INTACT.
Ex Lilly and Ishikawa. With 1994 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill (83 var). Positions 1-2L showing grills from Positions 99-100R, upper left corner sheet margin pair, original gum, rich color and very freshVERY FINE. THE FAMOUS AND UNIQUE PAIR SHOWING PARTIAL ERASURE OF GRILL POINTS BETWEEN TWO C GRILLS. THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE GRILL VARIETY.
In a few areas of the C Grill (Positions 99-100R, 89-90R, 79-80R, 68-69R and 1-2L, 11-12L, 21-22L and 31-32L), the points between grills were insufficiently planed away or erased when the A Grill was converted to the smaller C Grill. As a result, some of the stamps from the C Grill have grills measuring approximately 18 mm wide. These so-called Partially Erased C Grill stamps are very rare, and the pair offered here is the only recorded multiple with original gum showing a pronounced partial erasure.
Illustrated and discussed in Chronicle 105. Ex Zoellner (where a more in-depth discussion appears; see catalogue or our website Encyclopedia at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/1867.htm ). With 1976 and 2002 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as singles
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill (83 var). Original gum, clear grill, bright color on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE. POSSIBLY THE FINEST SINGLE EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL WITH PARTIAL ERASURE.
With 1993 P.S.E. and 1994 P.F. certificates