Sale 968 — The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 January, 2009
Category — 1868 Regular-Production Grilled Issue (F Grill, Scott 92-100)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
122
12c Black, F. Grill (97). With part imprint at top, original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and remarkably detailed impression which shows every nuance of the detailed engraving, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. THIS IS CERTAINLY AMONG THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE, AND IT IS WORTHY OF THE FINEST COLLECTION.
We acknowledge the past existence of original-gum 12c F Grill multiples, which in recent years have been broken to furnish choice singles (this came from a block). 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.
Ex Caspary and Moody as part of an imprint block and ex Morris as a single. With 1987 and 1994 P.F. certificates, the former as a block.
3,500
10,000