90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Block of four, original gum, hinge marks, beautiful deep shade, faint horizontal crease in bottom pair (noted on certificate), minor reinforced perf separations (not noted)

FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCKS OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF 19TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

There are approximately ten original-gum blocks of the 90c 1861 without grill (Scott 72), but only two unused F Grill (Scott 101) blocks have been documented. Both have original gum, identical centering and shade, and undoubtedly originated from the same area of the same sheet. The other block was offered in our sale of the Richard Drews collection (Sale 1195, lot 406), The ownership history of the two blocks has been confused by the absence of photographs in the 1917 Worthington and 1933 Hind auction catalogues, and by the similar appearance and condition of the blocks. We have concluded that the block offered in this sale, which was definitely Caspary's, probably came from the Worthington collection.

Ex Worthington (probably), Caspary, Lilly, Ishikawa and Gross. With 1993 P.F. certificate.

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