Sale 973 — 2009 Rarities of the World

Sale Date — Saturday, 13 June, 2009

Category — 1870-79 Bank Note Issues

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
132
 
Sale 973, Lot 132, 1870-79 Bank Note Issues10c Brown, Grill (139 var). I. Grill, early state with a well-defined grill impression, large, nearly balanced margins, rich color and fairly light cork cancel

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 10-CENT I GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. TO DATE, ONLY ELEVEN USED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS IS THE LISTING COPY. BY ALL RIGHTS, THIS GRILL SHOULD BE GIVEN A MAJOR CATALOGUE LISTING AND TREATED THE SAME AS ITS OTHER RARE GRILLED COUNTERPARTS FROM THE 1867-68 ISSUE.

At least two sizes of grills were used by the National Bank Note Company for the 1870 Issue. They are identified in the Scott Catalogue by a notation preceding Scott 134, which assigns them the letters H and I, but these have not been separately catalogued, as have the different grills used in 1867 and 1868 (A, B, C, D, Z, E and F). The I Grill measures from 9-11 points wide by 10-13 points tall. It 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.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,900.00 as ordinary H. grill)

800
4,250