Sale 1320 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Thursday, 22-25 April, 2024
Category — 1870-88 Bank Note Issues (Scott 135-155)
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Outstanding centering and margins, clear grill, neat circle of diamonds cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Unused (no gum), clear grill, vivid color, Very Fine
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Clear grill points visible on the front of the stamp, rich color, circular datestamp and red cancels, Very Fine and choice
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Several noticeable grill points, radiant color, blue Shield fancy cancel of Chicago, Very Fine strike
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Horizontal pair, each with strong grill, bright color, blue and red cancels, Very Fine and attractive multiple
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Disturbed original gum, h.r., rich color
FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 10-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL ISSUE.
With 2024 P.F. certificate.
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Choice centering, several clear grill points, red cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp, the 10c 1870 Grilled Issue is rarely seen with a red cancel
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Intense shade, easily discernible grill points, quartered cork cancel, unusually wide top margin (possibly from top row of sheet), small sealed tear at upper right which is expertly done and difficult to detect, Very Fine appearance, ex Curtis, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Unused (no gum), radiant color, one vertical row of grill points clearly visible, reperfed at right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Geisler, with clear 1973 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Wide margins, vivid color, several clear grill points, bold strike of target cancel, Very Fine
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Vibrant color, few clear rows of grill points at top, target cancel, three wide margins, Fine
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Clear grill points, some slight color oxidation, tied by two strikes of "N.York Steamship Sep. 23" circular datestamp on small piece, tiny adherence on face of one perf tip at bottom and some slight gum soaking on perfs, otherwise Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value without premium for cancel
24c Purple, H. Grill, Points Up (142 var). Clear grill points visible from the front of the stamp, well-struck segmented cork cancel
FRESH AND FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE WITH POINTS UP WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE.
The points-up variety is caused when the sheet of stamps is fed into the grilling machine upside down. It can also be caused by a foldover somewhere in the sheet, but that is likely not the case here due to the grill's orientation.
Ex "Lake Shore". With 1974, 1987 and 2005 P.F. certificates, the latter mentioning the points up variety. With 2023 P.S.E. certificate opining "fake grill" — we disagree with their opinion, not only on principle (overturning three P.F. certificates takes a certain amount of chutzpah), but there is no real physical or documentary evidence that the grill is anything but genuine. Listed in Scott but unpriced. Scott value as normal points down grill.
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Evident grill points, pastel color, crossroads cancel, small central thin spot, appears Fine
24c Purple, Double H. Grill (142 var). Horizontal pair, clear second grill partly struck over the first, typical pastel shade of the 24c grill, cork cancels, expertly reattached perf separations, some soiling and staining, few light creases not mentioned on accompanying certificate
FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Braus and "Lake Shore". With 1959 P.F. certificate issued to Robert A. Siegel and accompanied by a 1957 letter from Lester Brookman to Siegel confirming the authenticity of the grills and stating this is the only pair he has ever seen, as well as his belief that it is unique — which still holds true today. Listed in Scott as a pair with double grill but unpriced, with footnote stating this pair is unique. Scott value as two normal singles.
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Unused (regummed), showing several rows of clear grill points on Hamilton's neck, unusually choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL ISSUE.
This is one of the most challenging denominations of the 1870 Grilled Issue to obtain in sound and centered unused condition. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Few evident grill points, faults including reperfed, added perf, short perfs, etc., otherwise presentable appearance and a decent space filler for this scarce grill, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott value $4,000
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Rich color, several rows of grill points, brushstroke cancel, Fine
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Clear grill, circle of wedges cancels, shallow thin spots, appears Fine
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Horizontal pair, right stamp with several rows of clear grill points, left stamp not so much, bright color, cork cancels
VERY FINE. A SCARCE MULTIPLE OF THE 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL, SCOTT 144.
The last time we offered a pair was in 2003. There are probably four used blocks of four known. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Vertical pair, clear grill points on bottom stamp, quartered cork cancels, short or frayed perfs at top and bottom, otherwise Very Good, Scott value for pair $5,250
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Clearly defined grill, brilliant color, bold strike of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel, Very Fine and attractive
1c Ultramarine (145). Original gum, brilliant color, choice centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 2018 P.S.A.G. and 2019 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
6c Carmine (148). Original gum, h.r., detailed impression, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp
6c Carmine (148). Original gum, bright color, slightly short perf at top left, appears Very Fine
12c Dull Violet (151). Slightly disturbed original gum (not noted as such on certificate), deep rich color and proof-like impression, fresh and Very Fine, ex Hoffman, with 2001 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet (151). Slightly disturbed original gum with pencil notations, dark color, enhanced end of a perf tip at upper right, appears Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate stating "added perf tip" but describing the gum as "o.g., previously hinged"
12c Dull Violet (151). Unused (no gum), attractive centering and margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2023 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet (151). Unused (no gum), rich color, three Jumbo margins, Very Fine
12c Dull Violet (151). Unused (no gum), intense color, reperfed at right, Fine appearance
12c Dull Violet (151). Unused (no gum), sharp impression, short perf at left and corner perf crease at bottom right, appears Fine, with 2023 P.F. certificate
15c Bright Orange (152). Slightly glazed original gum, straight edge at right, small thin spot at bottom left, Very Fine appearance
15c Bright Orange (152). Unused (no gum), vibrant color, reperfed at top, Very Fine appearance
24c Purple (153). Original gum, rich color, extra wide margin at right, Very Fine, a beautiful and well-pedigreed stamp, ex Caspary, Lilly, "Vineyard" and Curtis, with copy of 1988 P.F. certificate for block and with 1990 and 2004 P.F. certificates
24c Purple (153). Unused (small traces of gum), pastel color, attractive centering, Very Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Two, first original gum, h.r., brilliant post office fresh color, "sine wave" manuscript obliteration, given the shade and cancellation, this is probably a type of printer's or salesman's sample, Very Fine and unusual, second unused (no gum), much lighter color than the first, single pen line slash cancel, Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate also stating "presentation copy"
24c Purple (153). Block of six, bright color, each with small manuscript "X" that has been erased — there are several blocks in the following lot plus a sheet-margin block of four known with the same "X" marks (Sale 857, lot 1424), but in this case a manipulator with deficient mental capacity and even more deficient skills decided to erase the manuscript — well-centered, perf separations hinge-reinforced, Very Fine, possibly from a sample presentation sheet, Scott value as block of four and two singles
24c Purple (153). Extensive collection of the 24c National Bank Note Co. issue, nearly all used including four blocks of four and one block of six, the blocks with pen cancels (one block cancels are removed to appear unused), also more than 110 stamps including a few in multiples and a couple unused, also a block of four plate proof on India paper, many of the individual stamps or small groups are on original old auction lot cards, wonderful range of cancels including lots of colored and loads of New York Foreign Mail, centering and condition are mixed with a range up to sound and Very Fine, for many of these stamps the collector paid a couple hundred dollars each, he was a true aficionado and never came across a No. 153 he didn't like, overall a wonderful collection, Scott value exceeds $40,000 without any premium for cancels
ADDENDA: WITHDRAWN
30c Black (154). Unused (no gum), intense shade and impression, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90), scarce in the higher grades, only one with gum has graded higher (at 95)
90c Carmine (155). Unused (no gum), deep rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Very Fine