12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered with remarkably wide margins all around capturing the characteristic plate burrs of the 12c 1868 Grilled Issue, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grill

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. AN EXTRAORDINARY STAMP AND CERTAINLY AMONG THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE, ACHIEVED ONLY BY THE STAMP OFFERED HERE.

We acknowledge the past existence of original-gum 12c F Grill multiples, which in recent years have been broken to furnish choice singles. However, the quality of this particular stamp -- its centering and margins, shade and overall freshness -- qualify it as one of the three or four finest in existence.

With 2001 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $16,000.00). This is the only copy to achieve XF-Superb 95 from P.S.E. (followed by two 90’s)

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