Sale 1115 — A European Connoisseur's Collection of U.S. Classic Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 15 December, 2015
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 90-100)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
2247
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Block of four, original gum, deep shade on crisp paper, clearly-defined grills, choice centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND ALMOST PERFECTLY-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. VERY FEW BLOCKS EXIST IN ANY CONDITION, AND THIS IS PERHAPS THE FINEST.
Our records contain only six original-gum blocks of the 12c F Grill. Some of these have probably been broken to feed collector demand for singles, and therefore the number of surviving multiples may be smaller. Blocks of four are the largest surviving multiples, since the Caspary block of eight has been broken.
Ex Caspary, where in 1956 it realized $650 against its then-current Scott Catalogue value of $250. With 2015 P.F. certificate
50,000
26,000