30c Black, H. Grill (143). Original gum, h.r. near top, noticeable grill points along Hamilton's forehead, intense shade and impression

VERY FINE. THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among original-gum examples, which are rare in any condition, only a few sound examples would grade Very Fine or better -- our computerized records contain five others with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through 60 years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. In fact, even among the collections famed for quality Bank Note issues -- Caspary, Lilly, Henry, Ambassador, Braus, Floyd, Whitman et al -- we could not find any original-gum examples that would grade Very Fine or better. Further demonstrating just how rare Scott 143 is in this condition, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only one stamp in the "OG" category, which is graded Fine 70. The finest example we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9).

Small pencil "Grill J.M. Bartels" signature on back. With 1999 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables