30c Black, Grill (143). H. Grill clearly showing several distinct grill points, original gum, lightly hinged, sharp impression, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. POSSIBLY THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A TRULY OUTSTANDING CONDITION RARITY.

The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among the original-gum examples, which are rare, only a few would grade Very Fine or better. Our computerized records contain four others in sound, original-gum condition with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through sixty years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. In fact, even among the collections famed for quality Bank Note issues -- Caspary, Lilly, Henry, Ambassador, Braus, Floyd et al -- we could not find any original-gum examples that would grade Very Fine or better. Further demonstrating just how rare Scott 143 is in this condition, the P.S.E. Population Report does not even show an "OG" category for this stamp in any grade (although the SMQ lists OG values up to VF 80).

With 2000 P.F. certificate

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