Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue, A, C, D, Z Grills (Scott 79-85E)
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Clearly defined grill, choice centering with extraordinarily wide margins, intense shade on bright white paper nicely contrasted by blue segmented cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL CANCELLED IN BLUE. VERY FEW COPIES EXIST IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION, AND THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE STANDS OUT BY VIRTUE OF ITS COLORED CANCELLATION.
It is our theory that two grilling machines were used simultaneously, and that one of the machines was converted from the D to E Grill in early 1868, only a day or so after sheets of 2c stamps were first run through the D-equipped machine. The earliest documented usages of the 2c D Grill (2/15/68) and 3c E Grill (2/12/68) are very close, and the great rarity of 2c D Grills, relative to all other regular-production grills, bears out this theory.
The 2c D Grill is notorious for poor centering. In terms of surviving stamps, fewer than ten are sound, lightly cancelled and grade Extremely Fine. The stamp offered here has the added attraction of a colored cancel, which is rarely seen on a 2c D Grill.
With 1980 and 2005 P.F. certificates, the former for a pair.
