30c Black, Grill (143). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, several noticeable grill points, intense shade and impression

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among the original-gum examples, which are rare, only a few would grade Very Fine or better. Our computerized records contain four others in sound, original-gum condition with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through sixty years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. In fact, even among the collections famed for quality Bank Note issues -- Caspary, Lilly, Henry, Ambassador, Braus, Floyd, Whitman et al -- we could not find any original-gum examples that would grade Very Fine or better. Further demonstrating just how rare Scott 143 is in this condition, the P.S.E. Population Report does not even show an "OG" category for this stamp in any grade (although the SMQ lists OG values up to VF 80). The finest we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9).

Ex Argentum and Vineyard. With 1967, 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates

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