9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
22 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 3
General/Issue
Date
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, attractively centered, intense color, short perf at left, covered thin spot at top left, some toned perfs at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN UNUSED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1971 and 2008 P.F. certificates, the latter not noting short perf
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, lightly hinged, remarkably choice centering and margins for this difficult issue, intense jet-black shade typical of the 12c Z Grill, bright and fresh paper with well-defined grillVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS GORGEOUS STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES 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.
Although the supremely rare Z Grills (Scott 85A, 85D and 85F) 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.
A review using Power Search found only one other sound and reasonably well-centered copy, offered in our 2009 Alan Whitman sale.
With 1971 and 1994 P.F. certificates
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Large part original gum, nicely centered with characteristic intense shade, small corner crease at top rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
We have offered only approximately ten examples with original gum in the past fifteen years.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, intense shade and impression, light creases, few shortish perfs at bottomFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL.
Ex Max Simon. With copy of 1962 P.F. certificate for strip of three
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Disturbed original gum, intense shade, some toned spots and slight creasingFINE CENTERING. A VERY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
We have offered only approximately ten examples with original gum in the past fifteen years.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Large part original gum, nicely centered with characteristic intense shade, small and trivial corner crease top rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
We have offered only approximately ten examples with original gum in the past fifteen years.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, intense shade and proof-like impression, light diagonal creases and slightly blunted perfs at leftFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
Unlike the 2c Z Grill, no well-centered blocks of the 3c or 12c have been available to furnish singles. We have offered only approximately ten examples with original gum in the past fifteen years.
Ex Geisler. With 1978 and 2007 P.F. certificates
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, intense shade and impression, beautiful centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM COPIES OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IN EXISTENCE. IT IS THE FIRST SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM COPY WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE 2001, AND THE CENTERING ON THE STAMP OFFERED HERE SURPASSES THAT OF THE OTHER COPY. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
Although the supremely rare Z Grills (1c, 10c and 15c) 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.
A review using Power Search found only one other sound and reasonably well-centered copy, which sold for $50,000 hammer in our 2001 Rarities sale versus $9,000 catalogue value. We also spent time looking through our library of older auction catalogues, and found only one other potential rival, which was described as having large part original gum. The editors of SMQ apparently agree with us -- they do not price Scott 85E as an OG stamp above the grade of 70 (they have never graded an OG copy).
Ex Morris. With 1978 and 1991 P.F. certificate. Offered to the market for the first time since 1996.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, attractively centered, intense color, short perf at left, thin spot at top left and minor gum stainVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN UNUSED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1971 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, intense shade and proof-like impression, light diagonal crease and short perfs at left not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
Unlike the 2c Z Grill, no well-centered blocks of the 3c or 12c have been available to furnish singles. We have offered perhaps five or six examples with original gum in the past thirteen years.
With 1978 P.F. certificate
22 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 3
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