Sale 951 — The Tahoe Collection of Superb Used U.S. Stamps

Sale Date — Wednesday, 27 February, 2008

Category — 1870-93 Bank Note Issues

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
55
 
Sale 951, Lot 55, 1870-93 Bank Note Issues15c Orange, I Grill (141 var). Well-defined I Grill points visible on both sides of the stamp, choice centering for this difficult issue, bright color, neat strike of circle of wedges cancel and part of red transit cancel

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1870 15-CENT I GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TEN USED AND TWO UNUSED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS RARITY DESERVES MAJOR CATALOGUE LISTING STATUS.

At least two sizes of grills were used by the National Bank Note Company for the 1870 Issue. The I Grill measures from 9-11 points wide by 10-13 points tall. The I Grill is currently recorded on all values except the 12c, 24c and 30c (there are unconfirmed reports of the I Grill on the 12c and 24c). The 1c thru 7c values make up most of the population of I Grill stamps. The 10c, 15c and 90c I Grills are extremely rare, and it is only in recent years that their existence was reported by Ronald Burns.

Ex Chapin and Lake Shore. With 2003 P.F. certificate.

E. 3,000-4,000
3,750