15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, clearly defined grill, detailed impression, unusually choice centering

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT F GRILL, GRADED XF 90 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE P.F.-- EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

The ungrilled version of this issue was released in 1866, about one year after President Lincoln was assassinated. It is regarded by many to be America's first commemorative issue, memorializing the martyred president as the nation started to heal from the wounds of the Civil War. In 1868 it was issued with three grill types: the Z Grill (Scott 85F), E Grill (Scott 91) and F Grill (Scott 98). 15c usually paid the registration fee on domestic mail or the U.S.-French treaty rate.

This is a difficult issue to find in higher grades. The P.S.E. Population Report contains two higher: one at 95, which we have not offered, and one at 98, last offered in our 2009 Whitman sale. Two others share this grade, but we have never offered them.

With 1985, 1994, 1999 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $12,000.00). Only two grade higher and two others share this desirable grade.

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