90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Perfectly centered, gorgeous intense blue shade and impression, blue and red cancels, grid in blue and part of red foreign transit in red, clear grill points, very fresh

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STAMP IS BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL -- A COMBINATION OF PERFECT CENTERING AND FLAWLESS CONDITION, THE STRIKING PORTRAIT OF A YOUTHFUL GENERAL WASHINGTON AND COLORFUL CANCELLATIONS -- UNLIKE ANY OTHER 90-CENT F GRILL WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.

The 90c stamps used to make grilled issues were printed on a thick stock of paper. It is likely that sheets remaining from the pre-grill period were used and that the thinner paper introduced in 1868 had not been used for the 90c value. Two characteristics of 90c F Grill stamps are poorly punched perforations and generally bad centering. This stamp is a remarkable exception. The perfs are much better formed than usual (although they show the genuine characteristics) and the centering is mathematically precise. In this stamp there is the added feature of color. Red cancellations are sometimes seen on the 90c, applied at New York City to supplementary mail, but blue is an extremely unusual color.

With 1992 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates and with 2004 P.F. certificate.

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