Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 134-155)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Unused (no gum), several clear grill points, rich color, Very Fine
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Original gum, clear grill, deep rich color, wide margins at top and bottom and nicely centered, Very Fine and choice, ex Abramowitz, with 2004 and 2021 P.F. certificates
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Wide margins and almost perfect centering, quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Merlin and Morton, with 1989, 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), only eight grade higher
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Remarkably wide margins all around, bright color, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo)
7c Vermilion, H. Grill, Split Grill (138 var). Original gum, h.r., several rows of clear grill points, intense shade and impression, wide margins
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL WITH THE SPLIT GRILL VARIETY.
With 2024 P.F. certificate stating "horizontally split grill variety-late state".
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Unused (no gum), grill points noticeable at top center, small natural pre-printing paperfold at top right, reperfed at left, Very Fine appearance
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Radiant color, several rows of clear grill points, well-balanced margins, cork and circular datestamp cancels, Extremely Fine, ex Bowman, with 1985 and 1996 P.F. certificates
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Light strike of target cancel, vibrant color, clear grill points, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1986 A.P.S. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill points, deep rich color and detailed impression, exceptionally well-centered
VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE WITH ORIGINAL GUM AND UNUSUALLY CHOICE CENTERING.
Ex Wingate. With 2000 P.F. certificate.
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Choice centering and margins, lightly struck "Steamship" cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85), SCV $825
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill, End Roller Grill (140). Well-defined grill covering the entire right quarter of the stamp, rich color, neat target cancel, completely sound
fresh and fine. an extremely rare example of the 1870 12-cent national bank note company h. grill, with end roller grill.
We have offered only one other example of this rare grill variety since keeping computerized records. That stamp has faults and a removed cancel and is the listing example (Sale 983, lot 98). This may well be the only other example recorded.
With 1994 A.P.S. and 2014 P.F. certificates.
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Original gum, h.r., vibrant color, three wide margins
VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL.
With 2024 P.F. certificate.
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Clear grill, vivid color on bright paper, choice centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Unusually rich and deep color for this issue, easily discernible grill showing about a third of the points (which is characteristic of genuine grills on the 24c), well-centered, neat segmented cork cancel
VERY FINE. A fresh and beautiful EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED 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 and a clear grill is very desirable.
With 1994 A.P.S., 1995 and 2023 P.F. certificates.
2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Slightly glazed original gum, choice centering, unusually clear grill, Very Fine, a scarce original-gum example of the 2c I Grill
3c Green, I. Grill (136A). Clearly-defined grill, rich color, neat strike of target cancel, essentially perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example of the 3c I Grill, ex Morton, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), this is the highest grade awarded and is shared by no others
6c Carmine, I. Grill (137A). Bright color, clearly defined grill easily discernible from the front of the stamp, blue halved-circle cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH AN I GRILL, cancelled in A BLUE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
Ex Morton. With 2016 P.F. certificate (XF 90). By way of comparison, only three grade 90 in the P.S.E. Population Report which is the highest awarded. Scott Catalogue lists but does not price this issue with a blue cancel.
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Vibrant color, discernible grill, neat intersecting cancels, Extremely Fine example of the scarce 7c I Grill, with 2014 P.F. (VF-XF 85) and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85)—the 85 grade seems low in our opinion, SCV $800
15c Orange, I. Grill (141A). Original gum, somewhat disturbed although not described as such on new certificate, vivid color, reperfed at left, trivial picked out inclusion at top of head
FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT WITH I GRILL.
Starting with the 2013 Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, the I Grills were elevated to major catalogue number status. For the 15c I Grill, the footnote in the 2024 catalogue notes 7 unused singles and one unused block of four. This original-gum example is not included in this count.
With 2024 P.F. certificate. Scott value for unused is in the grade of Fine.
1c-90c 1870-71 National Bank Note Co., Plate Proofs on India (145P3-155P3). Complete set of blocks of four on original cards, large even margins all around, brilliant colors, free of the India paper flaws commonly seen, 15c with just some slight oxidation, Extremely Fine and desirable set from the Lilly sheets, ex Earl of Crawford, Ackerman and Lilly
2c Red Brown (146). Gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, crisp impression on bright paper nicely complemented by blue target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Hinrichs, with 2019 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98), only one grades higher
6c Carmine (148). Original gum, attractive margins and centering, lovely bright color, Very Fine, a scarce stamp in sound well-centered condition, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
7c Vermilion (149). Horizontal pair, original gum, lightly hinged, left stamp small thin spot at top left, Very Fine appearance
7c Vermilion (149). Pretty color, neat strike of "NSUFF" of "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID" and New York Foreign Mail "Clothes Pins" cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
12c Dull Violet (151). Unused (no gum), rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1959 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet (151). Bright shade nicely complemented by red cork cancel, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2004, 2010 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
15c Bright Orange (152). Bright color and well-centered, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
24c Purple (153). Outstanding centering, deep rich color, light strike of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2022 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95), SCV $225
30c Black (154). Part original gum covering the bottom half of the stamp, detailed impression
VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE.
Scott value as with gum.
30c Black (154). Intense shade and detailed impression, choice centering with Jumbo margins, unobtrusive strike of cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Ex Merlin and "Clipper City". With 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Only one grades higher (at 98, offered in our Kirke sale 1032) and two others share this grade.
90c Carmine (155). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, choice centering with wide margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND IN SOUND CONDITION.
The 1870 90c National Ungrilled Issue, Scott 155, is somewhat overshadowed by its grilled counterpart, Scott 144. Collectors are also misled by the availability of Scott 166, the 90c 1873 Continental. Although the difference in shades is distinct, collectors have a tendency to confuse the two and under-rate the 1870 National printing.
Ex "Vineyard". With 1995, 2004 and 2011 P.F. certificates.
90c Carmine (155). Choice centering, brilliant color on bright fresh paper, light cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Ex Kirke and "Clipper City". With 2010 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (latter XF-Superb 95). Only four grade higher (highest is 98).