United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT D GRILL. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN WITH ORIGINAL GUM.

The D Grill was refitted with the E Grill on or about February 9, 1868. Based on the earliest known usages of the 3c D Grill (2/2/68) and 3c E Grill (2/19/68), it is our theory that the conversion from the D to E Grill took place very soon after sheets of 3c stamps were first run through the D-equipped machine.

A large percentage of the used 3c D Grill stamps have similar or identical cancels, leading us to conclude that a correspondence from one post office (in Connecticut) provided many of the off-cover Scott 85's. In original-gum condition, the 3c D Grill is one of the rarest of all classic stamps.

To determine Scott 85's rarity, we surveyed a series of major United States collections. The results of our survey are as follows: Caspary--none, T. Charlton Henry--none, Concord (1994 Rarities)--unused (no gum), "Connoisseur" (Superior 1992)--choice o.g. stamp, Cole--unused (no gum), Grunin--unused (no gum), Ishikawa--unused (no gum), Klein-none, Lilly--off-center block (no gum), Seymour--none, Sinkler--Fine block (no gum), Weisman--unused (no gum), West-none, Zoellner--used only, and Rarities sales (blocks without gum and stamps accounted for elsewhere in this list). A total of eight sound original-gum stamps in Very Fine (5) or Extremely Fine (3) grades have been certified by the Philatelic Foundation. Therefore, although the Scott Catalogue values an original-gum example at $4,750, in real terms the rarity of a sound well-centered 3c D Grill with original gum puts it on a par with the major A and Z Grill rarities (2-8 recorded for each). The bidders will determine the ultimate price, but we foresee this stamp easily realizing a substantial five-figure sum.

With 1993 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLES AMONG THE FEW KNOWN ORIGINAL-GUM COPIES OF THE 2-CENT Z GRILL.

To form our assessment of this 2c Z Grill, we conducted a survey of approximately 100 auction catalogues for major United States collections sold over the past 60 years. The majority of these collections contained only used or very poor unused examples of 85B. We noted the following: our 1975 Grunin sale had a well-centered 85B with nearly full o.g. and small faults, remarkably, Caspary and Lilly had a few singles and multiples with o.g., but all of these had perfs cutting far into the design, the ex-Connoisseur and ex-Vernon Morris 85B is similarly well centered with o.g., Clifford C. Cole had a well-centered single with slightly disturbed o.g., our 1970 Rarities sale had an o.g. block with the top pair creased, but the bottom pair was well-centered (probably still intact as a block), our 1971 Rarities sale had an off-center o.g. pair, our 1981 Rarities sale had a right sheet-margin copy with o.g. and choice centering, the Rorke specialized Black Jack collection had a superb 85B, but without gum, and, finally, our recent sale of the Golin collection had another superb no-gum copy. In general, many accomplished collectors, such as Sheriff, Klein and Seymour, evidently were unable to acquire a well-centered, original-gum 2c Z Grill.

In our September auction (Sale 814), a sound, Extremely Fine 2c Z Grill with full original gum realized $24,000 hammer. This stamp is very nearly its equal in terms of centering.

With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AMONG THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL. AN OUTSTANDING STAMP.

A nearly identical copy sold in our September sale for $11,500 hammer, a formidable demonstration of the rarity and desirability of well-centered 2c Z Grills in this condition.

If one were to view this as an ungrilled 2c Black Jack, it would merit the highest rank among used examples. The plates used to print these stamps did not provide enough space between subjects for the large 12-gauge perf holes. Consequently, most Black Jack stamps have perfs touching the design on one or two sides. This scarcity of centered copies multiplies exponentially when the Z Grill is factored into the equation. Only a small quantity of 2c sheets were grilled during the period when the Z device was active -- after the D Grill, the Z is the rarest of Black Jack grilled stamps -- and discriminating collectors are well aware of the rarity of well-centered examples of 85B. This stamp is perfectly centered and has margin width that goes far beyond the standard of the issue.

With 1995 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A VERY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK Z GRILL.

Black Jacks usually are seen with perforations touching the design on one or two sides. Stamps with perforations clear of the design are scarce, and those with the Z Grill are rare. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 3-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-ISSUED GRILLS. WELL-CENTERED SOUND EXAMPLES SUCH AS THIS ARE EXTREMELY RARE.

With 1979 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A HANDSOME WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 12-CENT Z GRILL.

With 1978 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A VERY CHOICE AND RARE 12-CENT Z GRILL.

The 12c Z Grill stamps are often quite off center. The centering of this stamp is virtually exact. (Image)