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
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
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
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
EXTREMELY FINE FOR THIS IMPOSSIBLE ORIGINAL-GUM STAMP. THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-PRODUCED GRILLED ISSUES. THE RARITY OF THIS STAMP IN SUCH PRISTINE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION CANNOT POSSIBLY BE OVERSTATED.
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 2006 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $30,000.00). This is one of only two original-gum 3c Z Grill stamps to be graded VF 80, with none higher
FINE AND RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1996 P.S.E. certificate
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)
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
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
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.