1c Blue, E. Grill (86).
Original gum, bright blue color and proof-like impression on fresh paper,
bold grill pointsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL IS FAR SCARCER THAN ITS F-GRILL COUNTERPART, PARTICULARLY IN ORIGINAL GUM CONDITION.
Some time 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, occurring 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 evidenced by the stamp's scarcity.
With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Rose, E. Grill (88).
Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful deep Rose shade characteristic of
early regular-issue 3c grilled stamps, strong grill impression, choice
centering on fresh paper with long full perfs all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A WONDERFUL COPY OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL. AN ELUSIVE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1983 and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image)
10c Green, E. Grill (89).
Original gum, well-centered with extraordinarily wide margins, clearly
defined grill, beautiful dark shade and brilliant freshnessEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL WITH REMARKABLE COLOR AND IMPRESSION.
Our previous comments about the relative rarity of E and F Grills in choice original-gum condition apply to the 10c, and perhaps even more so. While blocks of the 10c F Grill have been broken in recent years, yielding some choice single stamps, the 10c E Grill blocks are extremely rare and always have been. Caspary's block of 18 was broken years ago, but many of the stamps had faults or disturbed gum. Few other blocks have become available to furnish singles. This stamp is certainly among the finest extant.
With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Green, E. Grill (89).
Original gum, unusually choice centering, easily identifiable grill
pointsEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL WITH REMARKABLE CENTERING -- RARE IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.
The centering and soundness of this 10c E Grill place it high on the condition census.
With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)
12c Black, E. Grill (90).
Original gum, strong grill, sharp impression, very freshVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
With 1985 and 1997 P.F. certificates (Image)
12c Black, E. Grill (90).
Block of six, clear grills, crisp impression, neat strikes of "leaf" fancy
cancel, slight wrinkling at top of top right and top center
stampsFINE-VERY FINE AND RARE. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED USED BLOCKS OF SIX, THE LARGEST RECORDED USED MULTIPLES OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
Ex Herzog and Hanschen. The other recorded block realized $4,000 hammer in our Twigg-Smith auction (Sale 835, lot 183). Scott Retail as a block of four and pair. (Image)
15c Black, E. Grill (91).
Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, crisp impression on
fresh paperVERY FINE AND FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.
With 1980 (copy for block of four) and 1992 P.F. and 2002 P.S.E. certificates (Image)