2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, detailed impression, well-balanced margins

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT GRILLED ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN SOUND, CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

To form our assessment of this 2c Z Grill, we conducted a survey of approximately 100 auction catalogues for major United States collections sold over the past 60 years. The majority of these collections contained only used or very poor unused examples of 85B. In general, many accomplished collectors, such as Sheriff, Klein and Seymour, evidently were unable to acquire a well-centered, original-gum 2c Z Grill. Power Search produced only a very few, along with some near-misses -- the most common flaw being faint creases. A Power Search review turned up perhaps 2-3 sound copies, but the centering was off side-to-side, as on the Whitman copy and one in our 2010 Rarities sale. Finally, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five OG stamps, graded 10 (two), 20, 30 and 50.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate

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