Sale 913 — 2006 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 13 May, 2006
Category — 1870-88 Bank Note Issues (Scott 135 thru 144)
1c Ultramarine, Grill (134). H. Grill, original gum, clear grill points, brilliant color on bright paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN UNUSUALLY WIDE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM ONE-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE WITH REMARKABLY FRESH GUM, PAPER AND COLOR.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine, Grill (134). H. Grill, original gum, fairly lightly hinged, bright color and well-centeredVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 ONE-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134). Original gum, clearly-defined grill, brilliant color on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 ONE-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE I GRILL.
Several years ago we started to distinguish in our catalogue descriptions and research between the H Grill and the I Grill, in an effort to try and establish relative populations. It is our opinion that Scott Catalogue should list the H and I Grills separately, as they do for the A, B, C, D, Z, E and F Grills of the 1867-68 Issue. According to Scott Catalogue, the H Grill is found on all values, and the I Grill is found only on the 1c, 2c, 3c, 7c, 10c and 15c. Certified copies of the 6c are also known, and the 24c and 90c are reported to exist as well. We have only offered one other unused 1c I Grill since we started keeping our detailed records.
With 1990 P.S.E. certificate
2c Red Brown, Grill (135). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, easily discernible grill points, beautifully centered with wide and well-balanced margins, fresh color and crisp impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 2-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, Grill (135). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, radiant color, perfectly centered with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 2-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1984 and 2000 P.F. certificates
3c Green, Grill (136). H. Grill, original gum, faint trace of hinging, strong grill, perfectly centered and evenly proportioned margins, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1870 3-CENT NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE IS RARE IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 2000 P.F. certificate.
3c Green, Grill (136). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, noticeable grill points at bottom left, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 3-CENT NATIONAL GRIILLED ISSUE.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, Grill (137). H. Grill, original gum, easily discernible grill points, deep rich color on bright paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
6c Carmine, Grill (137). H. Grill, original gum, bright color, several noticeable vertical rows of grill points, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1998 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion, Grill (138). H. Grill with clear grill points at bottom visible from the front, original gum, radiant color, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate.
10c Brown, Grill (139). H. Grill, unusually well-defined grill, bright shade, light strike of "Steamship" circular datestamp, wide margins al aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 10-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. ESPECIALLY RARE CANCELLED BY THE STEAMSHIP DATESTAMP.
With 1988 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, Grill (140). H. Grill, unused (no gum), deep rich color on fresh crisp paper, several rows of noticeable grill points at leftVERY FINE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATION OF THE SET TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION.
Aside from the 24c, which does not exist unused, the 12c is the most difficult to obtain unused, in any condition. Probably less than ten exist with original gum, and many of these have faults. The stamp here, with clear grill points, rich color, choice centering and in sound condition, is one of the finest extant.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, Grill (140). H. Grill, rich color, several rows of noticeable grill points, neat cork cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE WITH A LIGHT CORK CANCEL.
With 1988 P.S.E. and 1989 P.F. certificates
15c Orange, Grill (141). H. Grill, original gum, brilliant color and impression, grill shows clearly at bottom rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE -- ONE OF THE MOST ELUSIVE OF THE BANK NOTE ISSUES IN SOUND AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1975 and 1989 P.F. certificates
24c Purple, Grill (142). H. Grill, unusually deep rich color, several easily noticeable rows of grill points, bold strike of crossroads cancel, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST, IF NOT THE FINEST, EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. ONE OF THE KEYS TO A SUPERB SET OF THIS ISSUE.
Scott 142 is not known in unused condition. Therefore, anyone wishing to complete this set must obtain this stamp in used condition. The example offered here, with rich color, clear grill, superb centering and bold cancel, is a truly stunning example of this rarity in the finest condition attainable.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
30c Black, Grill (143). H. Grill, choice centering for this difficult issue, intense shade and impression, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
This is one of the most difficult values to obtain in such choice condition.
Ex Engel. With 1957 and 1988 P.F. certificates.
90c Carmine, Grill (144). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill points easily visible at left on face of stamp, intense shade and impressionEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. THE 90-CENT IS THE THIRD MOST DIFFICULT OF THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Considering original-gum examples only, after the extremely rare 12c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue.
Ex Grunin. With 1972 and 1990 P.F. certificates.