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 left

VERY 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.

Ex "Laila". With 1993 P.S.E. and 2001 P.F. certificates

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, clear grill points, deep rich color, horizontal crease at bottom

FINE APPEARANCE. A 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 second rarest of the regularly-produced grilled issues. Examples of the 3c Z Grill are usually far off-center and frequently faulty.

Ex Hoffman. With 2000 P.S.E. certificate

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, lightly hinged, fairly well-centered for this difficult grilled issue, attractive color, clearly-defined grill, light horizontal crease at top

FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT Z GRILL.

The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples. The stamp offered here is far better centered than most and has only a faint crease.

With 2007 P.F. certificate

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Bottom sheet selvage pair with "The National Bank Note Company City o(f New Y-York)" portion of imprint and "No. 35 Plate", original gum, clear grills, bright color, sensibly strengthened along heavy diagonal crease, few short perfs at left not mentioned on accompanying certificate which also does not mention light natural pre-printing paperfolds mostly in selvage (the diagonal crease may in fact be a pre-printing paperfold)

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS REPORTED TO BE THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT Z GRILL WITH PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE. A PHENOMENAL GRILLED ISSUE RARITY.

The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed through the Z Grill device. A block of four is known with a small part of the imprint at top, but the stamps have holes and thins, and one is repaired. For all 3c stamps (Scott 65, 88, 94 etc.) the full imprint and plate number are found only at the bottom of the sheet. The pair offered here, with the full plate number and a significant portion of the imprint, is a remarkable artifact.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. Durland lists this pair with a value of $100,000.00. Scott Retail as two singles with no premium for the imprint and plate number is $50,000.00

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Unused (no gum), bright color, clear grill

FINE AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.

With 1996 P.S.E. certificate

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Part original gum, lovely bright color, certificate notes tiny thin spot and minute 1mm perf hole tear

FINE CENTERING. AN AFFORDABLE AND PRESENTABLE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL WITH LARGE PART ORIGINAL GUM.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (POG, FR-G 20)

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, clearly-defined grill, choice centering for this difficult issue

EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, GRILL, COLOR, CENTERING AND OVERALL FRESHNESS.

The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples, especially in sound, original-gum condition. Our review of past auctions, including Power Search, found precious few sound copies with Very Fine centering.

With 2005 P.F. certificate

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, disturbance from hinge removal, clear grill points and bright Rose color, small sealed tear at lower right, horizontal crease at bottom

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.

The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples, especially in original-gum condition.

Ex Argentum. With 1971 P.F. certificate

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3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, slightly disturbed from hinge removal, fresh color and attractive centering for this rare grill issue, light horizontal crease

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.

The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples, especially in original-gum condition.

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