1c Blue, E. Grill (86).
Original gum, barest trace of hinge, breathtaking bright shade and
proof-like impression on bright white paper, wide margins, full even perfs
all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM -- AS BEAUTIFUL AND FRESH AS THE DAY IT WAS PRINTED. THE ONE-CENT 1868 E GRILL IS FAR SCARCER THAN ITS F-GRILL COUNTERPART, ESPECIALLY IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Sometime ago we observed that the 1c E Grill appeared at auction very infrequently, in any form. After analyzing the early 1868 regular-production grills (Z, D, E and F), we concluded that grilling of 1c with the E (and Z) Grill must have been short-lived, occuring sometime around February 28, 1868. Later grilling of 1c stamps was probably done with the F Grill. Of the 1c E Grill supply, relatively little appears to have reached the philatelic market, as evidence by the stamp's scarcity.
At its last auction appearance in 1991 this stamp realized five times Scott value, which should be a useful guide to current bidders. With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Rose, E. Grill (88).
Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful bright shade in the Rose shade
characteristic of early regular-issue 3c grilled stamps, the paper and gum
are pristineEXTREMELY FINE GEM. DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE OF 3-CENT 1861-68 ISSUES, THIS E GRILL STAMP -- DISTINCTIVE IN COLOR AS WELL AS GRILL SIZE -- IS A RARITY BY VIRTUE OF ITS CONDITION.
With 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Green, E. Grill (89).
Unused (no gum), staggering margins stretching to the outer limits of the
surrounding stamps, fresh and brightEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR UNUSED 10-CENT E GRILL.
With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image)
12c Black, E. Grill (90).
Part original gum, well-centered, fine impression on bright paper, single
partly nibbed perf at topVERY FINE CENTERING AND UNUSUALLY ATTRACTIVE QUALITY FOR THE 12-CENT E GRILL, WHICH IS VERY SCARCE WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
With 1987 P.F. certificate (Image)
15c Black, E. Grill (91).
Original gum, lightly hinged, remarkably fresh and well-centered with
strong grill impressionEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE GRILLED ISSUES IN THIS WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)