24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color on bright paper, clearly-defined grill which is also present on selvage at right, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 24-CENT F GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. ARGUABLY THE FINEST SINGLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THIS STAMP EXTANT.

The higher-denomination F Grills were produced in limited quantities and seem to have caused National Bank Note Co. difficulty in applying perforations. They are typically off center with very choppy perfs This stamp has uncharacteristically precise centering and well-formed perforations. The attached sheet selvage also shows an impression of the grill, which appears only in the side selvage on Z and F Grills. Conversely, the extra grill impression appears in the top and bottom selvage of D and E Grills, which indicates a difference in how the D/E and F/Z Grills were applied.

With 1991 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $39,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade.

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