Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1867 Experimental Grilled Issue (C Grill, Scott 83 and varieties)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
102
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill which is easily visible from the front of the stamp, radiant color on post-office fresh paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE. A STAMP OF GREAT BEAUTY.
The 3c is the only denomination that comes with the distinctive C Grill, with the grill points facing up instead of down. The few high-grade original-gum examples owe their existence to the division of blocks of four in recent years.
With 1989 and 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others share this grade.
6,500
26,000