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3c Rose, B. Grill
(Scott No. 82) |
SPECIAL NOTE: There are many United States stamps that look similar to the rarities listed below. Some of the differences between expensive rarities and common stamps can be subtle, including differences in perforation, shade and size. These stamps should have certificates from a recognized expertizing committee, such as The Philatelic Foundation or P.S.E.
The distinguishing characteristics of the true B
Grill are its size--22 points wide by 18 points high (18 x 15 mm)--and the points-up
orientation of the grill, which shows as a pyramidal (male) grill impression on the back.
For years there was confusion over what constituted a B Grill, with Elliott Perry arguing
that the partially-erased female C Grill was the true B Grill. However, the four stamps
discovered in 1969 on a cover to Germany, postmarked at Mason, Texas, in February 1869,
disproved Perry's theory. These stamps are irrefutable evidence that an 18 x 15 millimeter
male grill was used on stamps issued to the public. A photograph of the complete cover as
discovered is shown below.
The deep reddish shade and thinner paper of the 3c B Grill stamps are more typical of the
mid-1868 printings and quite different from the paler Rose shades and thick paper of the
1867 and early 1868 3c grilled issues (A, C, D, Z and some E production). The shade and
paper indicate that the B Grill was implemented after the 1867 experimental period and
after the first two months of regular 1868 grill production (see timeline). Perhaps the B Grill was created during the
process of making a replacement grilling device for one of the two machines. The grilling
surface must have worn during production of many thousands of sheets, and it seems likely
that replacement grills would become necessary in mid-1868. Through miscalculation or
possibly deliberate experimentation, the grill size per stamp on this new B Grill device
was twice the width of the F Grill. Based on the small number of surviving copies, this
wider grill must have been quickly modified or discarded. Sheets with the B Grill made
their way into the regular supply and, in the case of the discovery examples, were used in
early 1869.
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No. History: PFC: |
82-CAN-01 Isleham Coll. - RAS 5/1986 Zoellner Coll. - RAS Sale 804, 10/8/1998, Lot 217 -$155,000 30086 for cover |
82-CAN-02 |
82-CAN-03 Schilling Coll. Ishikawa Coll. - Christie's 9/1993, Lot 503 - $85,000 3006 for cover |
82-CAN-04 30086 for cover |
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The 3c B Grill Discovery Cover. The four recorded examples of Scott 82 originated on this Feb. 1869 cover from Mason, Texas to Germany. The stamps were lifted and photographed together. The grill shadows left on the cover are identical to the 18 x 15mm size of the grills. |
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