90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Outstanding centering with wide well-balanced margins, rich color, fancy Sawtooth Circle fancy cancel almost encircling Washington's face

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL WITH AN UNUSUAL FANCY CANCELLATION.

The 90c stamps used to make grilled issues were printed on a thick stock of paper. It is likely that sheets remaining from the pre-grill period were used and that the thinner paper introduced in 1868 had not been used for the 90c value. Two characteristics of 90c F Grill stamps are poorly punched perforations and generally bad centering. This stamp is a remarkable exception. The perfs are much better formed than usual (although they show the genuine characteristics) and the centering is far superior to the average. In this stamp there is also the added feature of a striking Sawtooth Circle fancy cancel.

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