2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill points, intense shade and detailed impression

VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL.

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. We noted the following: our 1975 Grunin sale had a well-centered 85B with nearly full original gum and small faults; remarkably, Caspary and Lilly had a few singles and multiples with original gum, but all of these had perfs cutting far into the design; the ex-Connoisseur and ex-Vernon Morris 85B is similarly well centered with original gum; Clifford C. Cole had a well-centered single with slightly disturbed original gum; our 1970 Rarities sale had an original gum block with the top pair creased, but the bottom pair was well-centered (probably still intact as a block); our 1971 Rarities sale had an off-center original gum pair; our 1981 Rarities sale had a right sheet-margin copy with original gum and choice centering; the Rorke specialized Black Jack collection had a superb 85B, but without gum; and, finally, our recent sale of the Golin collection had another superb no-gum copy. In general, many accomplished collectors, such as Sheriff, Klein and Seymour, evidently were unable to acquire a well-centered, original-gum 2c Z Grill.

In our September 1999 auction (Sale 814), a sound, Extremely Fine 2c Z Grill with full original gum realized $24,000 hammer.

With 1998 P.F. certificate

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