2c Black, D. Grill (84).
Clearly-defined grill, intense shade on bright white paper, choice
centering with remarkably wide even margins rarely seen among examples of
the 2c D Grill, absolutely perfect strike of target cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT D GRILL, ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE 1868 REGULAR-PRODUCTION GRILLS.
Excluding the supremely rare 5c and 30c A Grill, 3c B Grill, and 1c, 10c and 15c Z Grill stamps, the 2c D Grill and 3c Z Grill are the rarest of the 1867-68 Grills (the 3c is slightly rarer). Our ongoing studies continue to reinforce our theory that two grilling machines were used in January 1868, one fitted with the D Grill, and the other with the Z Grill. The machine equipped with the D Grill was probably refitted with the E Grill on or about February 9, 1868. Based on the earliest known usages of the 2c D Grill (2/15/68) and 3c E Grill (2/19/68), it is our theory that the conversion from the D to E Grill took place only a day or so after sheets of 2c stamps were first run through the D-equipped machine. The great rarity of 2c D Grills, relative to all other regular-production grills, bears out this theory.
With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B).
Perfectly centered with enormous balanced margins, sharp and
clearly-defined grill, intense shade and detailed impression, cork
cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL. IT IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND THIS ISSUE WITH THE WIDE MARGINS AND SUPERB CENTERING EVIDENT IN THIS STAMP.
Ex Renne. Small backstamp. With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B).
Wide margins, choice centering and crisp impression, clearly-defined grill
points, perfectly struck target cancelEXTREMELY FINE. AMONG THE 1863-68 BLACK JACK ISSUES, THE Z GRILL IS SECOND IN RARITY ONLY TO ITS D GRILL COUNTERPART, AND VERY FEW EXIST WITH THE MARGINS AND CENTERING OF THIS SUPERB STAMP.
With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C).
Original gum, clearly-defined grill, characteristic 3c Z Grill shade, three
wide margins and perforations well clear of design at leftVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
Excluding the supremely rare grills -- 5c and 30c A Grill, 3c B Grill, 1c, 10c and 15c Z Grills -- the 3c Z Grill is the rarest of the regularly-produced grilled issues. Examples of the 3c Z Grill are usually far off-center and faulty. This stamp is one of the few sound original-gum examples of the 3c Z Grill with Very Fine centering.
With 1993 P.S.E. certificate (Image)
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E).
Original gum, lightly hinged, remarkably choice centering and margins,
intense jet-black shade typical of the 12c Z Grill, bright and fresh paper
with well-defined grillEXTREMELY FINE. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IN EXISTENCE. ONLY TWO OTHERS KNOWN TO US CAN BE FAVORABLY COMPARED WITH THE CENTERING OF THE STAMP OFFERED HERE, BUT THE INTENSITY OF SHADE AND OVERALL CONDITION OF THIS STAMP SURPASS ANY WE HAVE SEEN.
After a full hour combing through our library of auction catalogs, including famous name sales and every Siegel Rarities sale, we located only two potential rivals to the extraordinary stamp offered here. One is described as having full original gum, and the other large part original gum. Only one block of the 12c Z Grill is recorded, which was reduced from a block of nine to a block of four, but all of the stamps from the original block are centered strongly to top and cannot be considered equals to the stamp offered here.
Although the supremely rare Z Grills have attracted more attention over the years, the rarity of original-gum examples of the 2c, 3c and 12c Z Grill has been well-known to collectors who demand Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering and original gum. Unlike the 2c Z Grill, no well-centered blocks of the 3c or 12c have been available to furnish singles. On this occasion, when one of the few superb original-gum 12c Z Grill stamps in existence is offered, we anticipate record-level bidding.
With 1971 and 1994 P.F. certificates (Image)
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E).
Enormous margins all around and nearly perfect centering, intense shade,
cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E).
Perfectly centered, deep shade and sharp impression,, circle of wedges
cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE USED 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1995 P.F. certificate (Image)