9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 1120 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 17-18 March, 2016
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Clear grill points, pale shade, neat circular datestamp and grid cancels, couple minute tears, otherwise Very Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Part original gum, lovely bright color, certificate notes tiny thin spot and minute 1mm perf hole tearFINE 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)
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Rich color, strong grill which is clearly visible from the front of the stamp, three enormous margins and well clear at top, light strike of cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL WITH UNUSUALLY WIDE MARGINS.
Ex "Vineyard" and Dauer. With 1992 P.S.E., 2000 and 2008 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85).
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color and proof-like impression on fresh paper, clear grill pointsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL IS FAR SCARCER THAN ITS F GRILL COUNTERPART, PARTICULARLY IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Some time ago we observed that the 1c E Grill appeared at auction very infrequently, in any form. After analyzing the early 1868 regular-production grills (Z, D, E and F), we concluded that grilling of the 1c 1861 issue with the E (and Z) Grill must have been short-lived, occurring sometime around February 28, 1868. Later grilling of 1c stamps was probably done with the F Grill. Relatively little of the 1c E Grill supply appears to have reached the philatelic market, as evidenced by the stamp's scarcity.
From our 2006 Rarities sale. With 1989, 1999 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $6,000.00). Only two original-gum examples have been graded higher (both at 90) and this is the only 85 grade in P.S.E.'s Population Report
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced margins, deep rich color on bright paper, bold strike of blue circle of wedges cancel, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT HESITATION WE REGARD THIS ONE-CENT E GRILL AS ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES EXTANT. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS OF THE SERIES TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING AND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. A MARVELOUS COMBINATION OF THE FOUR C's -- COLOR, CLARITY, CENTERING AND CANCELLATION.
Ex Dr. Puliafito and "Natalee Grace". With 1987, 2000 and 2012 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Wonderfully well-centered, unusually bright color, neat blue Leaf cancel which beautifully complements the color of the stamp, Very Fine and choice, a striking example
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Mint N.H., deep rich color, clearly-defined grill, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL.
We have offered only three other singles in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records (the last was in 2005). With 2010 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85). Scott Retail as hinged
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Rich color on brilliant paper, clear grill points, exceedingly choice centering and balanced margins, pretty cancel, Extremely Fine Gem
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Block of four, intact perfs at left and portions of adjoining stamps, bright color, clear grills, duplex cancels, fresh and Very Fine, despite its modest catalogue value used blocks of this issue are not often seen, Power Search located only two others from our sales and both realized multiples of Scott Retail value
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, clearly-defined grill points, deep shade and proof-like impressionVERY FINE. THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE GRILLED ISSUES WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
As an indication of the rarity of 15c E Grill stamps with original gum, the Scott Catalogue values Scott 91 at $4,500.00 without gum, and $12,500.00 with original gum.
Ex Geisler. With 1972 and 2007 P.F. certificates
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Perfect centering within particularly wide and balanced margins, intense shade, sharp impression on bright white paper, nicely contrasting vivid red cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE MOST EYE-ARRESTING EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL. UNQUESTIONABLY ONE OF FINEST EXAMPLES WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
Ex Dr. Morris and Dr. Hinrichs. With 2000 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Mint N.H. with top selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impressionVERY FINE. A REMARKABLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT F GRILL.
A Power Search review found one other Mint N.H. example, offered in one of our 2005 auctions, which had a straight edge at right and perfs in at left. Blocks of this issue are also very scarce, and none we have offered contained any Mint N.H. stamps. The online search at the Philatelic Foundation found only this and the straight edge copy, plus one other originally in a pair with the example offered here. This is the finest we have been able to locate.
Ex Hall. With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Lovely shade nicely complemented by light blue cork cancel, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 and 2015 P.F. certificates
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Block of four, original gum, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grills, choice centeringVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL, WITH WONDERFUL CENTERING AND OVERALL FRESHNESS, INCLUDING TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
We have offered only two singles and two other blocks of four with Mint N.H. stamps since 1995. One of the blocks has perfs touching at left and the other is scissors-separated at left. The last single we offered was in 2007.
With 2012 P.F. certificate for block of nine. Scott Retail as block with no premium for the two Mint N.H. stamps.
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Block of 20 with top right corner selvage with part imprint, original gum, eight stamps Mint N.H. and several more lightly hinged, some h.r. including where few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, vertical crease affects center rowFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF 20 OF THE 1868 3-CENT F GRILL.
Multiples larger than a block of four are rare. A pane of 100 is known, but this is the largest multiple contained in Power Search.
Ex Frelinghuysen. With 2012 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as four blocks of four and two pairs with no premium for the eight Mint N.H. stamps
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Essentially perfect centering with Jumbo margins, brilliant color nicely complemented by blue waffle grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp with tremendous visual appeal, with 2015 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful bright color, unusually sharp impression, remarkably freshEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT BROWN F GRILL WITH ORIGINAL GUM. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.
The 5c 1861-68 Issues are extremely difficult to find in sound, well-centered, original-gum condition. The narrow spacing between stamps on the plate and large 12-gauge perforations resulted in stamps that are frequently off center. This applies to Scott 67, 75, 76 and 95 alike. None of these is easy to locate in centered original-gum condition (to understate the matter), but the limited production of 5c F Grills leaves collectors with an even smaller supply. The stamp offered here is a wonderful condition rarity.
With 2015 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Attractive centering and margins, neat strike of blue rosette cancel, tiny tear at lower left, Very Fine appearance
5c Black Brown, F. Grill (95a). Deep rich color in this distinctive shade, remarkably detailed impression showing the subtle details of the lathework engraving, choice centering and balanced margins, neat central strike of cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL IN THE BLACK BROWN COLOR. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE SHADE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED AND CONFIRMED BY P.S.E. IN GRADING THIS STAMP XF-SUPERB 95, THE HIGHEST RECORDED.
The 5c F Grill is known in Brown, Dark Brown and Black Brown. The first two are in the same color family (listed as Scott 95). The Black Brown is distinctly darker and is given its own sub-letter designation, Scott 95a. The Dark Brown is sometimes mistaken by collectors for the Black Brown shade, but a side-by-side comparison illustrates the significant difference between the two. On the Black Brown the engraved lines are especially clear, it has a proof-like appearance, and is significantly scarcer than the other shades.
Ex Blocker. With 1993 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,000.00 as a 90, unpriced in any higher grade). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to receive this spectacular grade, with the next highest at XF 90 (ex Hansen and "Natalee Grace").
15c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (98 var). Particularly well-centered and balanced margins, black cork and red transit cancels, Extremely Fine, a choice used stamp, with 2001 A.P.S. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (98 var). Centrally struck target cancel, detailed impression, well-centered, Very Fine and choice example of this paper variety, ex "Golden Oak", with 1986 and 2007 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Attractive centering and margins, rich color, bold circle of wedges cancel, Very Fine and choice, the higher-denomination F Grills were produced in limited quantities and are often found either off center or with choppy perforations, this stamp is a notable exception, with 2015 P.F. certificate
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