Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 83-101)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Radiant color, clearly defined grill, circular datestamp and rosette cancels, Very Fine example of this issue, with 1991 and 2006 P.F. and 2023 P.S.E. certificates (Fine 70), SCV $1,150
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Clear grill, bold strike of Blue Bird fancy cancel of Rockville Ill., also showing partial grill erasure at right, light corner creases, appears Fine, scarce cancel and with the partial erasure, with 1987 P.F. certificate, accompanied by second example with clear double grill and face-free grid cancel, few faults Fine
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2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), centered to bottom left, Very Good, a collectible example of this scarce unused stamp, with 2024 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clear grill, wide margins to well clear at right, grid of squares cancel, fresh and Very Fine, 1987 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Centered to bottom, neat strike of red circle of diamond cancel, single short perf at bottom an tiny perf hole tear at right, appears Fine
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Original gum, clearly defined grill, few short perfs at right
FINE CENTERING. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.
This is the bottom right stamp from the block of four offered in our 1992 Rarities sale and sale of the Curtis collection. So great is the demand for original-gum singles, the Curtis block was decimated for the individual stamps. The other stamps in the block have small faults. The 2025 Scott Catalogue doubled the value of an original-gum single from $25,000 in 2024 (and prior years) to $50,000, but we have kept our estimate in line with previous Scott value.
Ex Curtis (as a block). With copy of 2014 P.S.E. certificate for this single. SCV $50,000.
(Image Magnifier)3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Radiant color on bright paper, clearly defined grill, wide margins and choice centering, segmented cork cancel, most recent certificate notes light diagonal corner crease at top left, still Very Fine and choice, 2013 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80) no longer accompanies, with 2022 P.F. certificate, SCV $3,750
1c, 2c, 3c, 12c 1868 E. Grills (86, 87, 88, 90). Each with exceptionally strong grill impression, original gum, rich color and deep shade, scissors-separated with straight edge(s)
THESE FOUR 1868 E GRILL STAMPS WERE FOUND TOGETHER AND DESCRIBED BY BRAZER AND FINKELBURG AS TRIALS FROM THE NEW E GRILL DEVICE.
Certain characteristics of these four stamps suggest that they were trial products grilled in early 1868 after the E Grill device was created. These distinguishing characteristics are 1) the uniform and very strong grill impressions; 2) the shades of the 3c and 12c; 3) scissors-separated perfs; and 4) the discovery of these four denominations together. This "set" is accompanied by Falk Finkelburg's original album page identifying these as "Trial Essayed...The Only Ones Known".
Scott value as normal stamps is $10,500.
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Block of four, original gum, bright color, bottom left natural pre-printing paper crease, Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate for a block of six, SCV $3,000
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Mint N.H., rich color, centered to top, diagonal crease, Fine appearance, scarce in Mint N.H. condition, with copy of 1988 P.F. certificate for a block of four, Scott value as hinged
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Unused (no gum), bright shade, centered to left but perfs well clear on other three sides, Fine, a very scarce issue in unused condition, SCV $4,500 ("for examples with small margins")
(Image Magnifier)90c Blue, F. Grill, Split Grill (101 var). Grill split vertically, perfectly centered with well-balanced margins, deep rich color, grill points easily recognizable from front of stamp, bold cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT F GRILL SHOWING THE SPLIT GRILL VARIETY.
The 90c F Grill is an extremely difficult stamp to find with such choice centering. This is one of the finest examples of the Split Grill variety in existence.
With 1985 P.F. and 2003 and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85). Only nine grade higher and four others share this grade, but an inquiry to P.S.E. indicates this is only at this grade or higher with a split grill. Scott value as split grill $2,800. SMQ value as normal grill
(Image Magnifier)2c Black, Re-Issue (103). Unused (no gum), deep shade and proof-like impression, thin spot and faint crease, Fine appearance, only 979 sold
(Image Magnifier)3c Brown Red, Re-Issue (104). Slightly disturbed original gum, rich color and proof-like impression, couple perf tips at top thinned, Fine appearance, only 465 sold
(Image Magnifier)3c Brown Red, Re-Issue (104). Original gum, sharp impression, central thin, Fine appearance
5c Brown, Re-Issue (105). Unused (no gum), deep shade and proof-like impression, fresh and Very Fine, only 672 sold
(Image Magnifier)5c Brown, Re-Issue (105). Original gum, h.r., deep color, thin at right, Fine appearance
(Image Magnifier)10c Green, Re-Issue (106). Unused (no gum), deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Extremely Fine, only 451 sold
(Image Magnifier)10c Green, Re-Issue (106). Unused (no gum), bright color, reperfed at top and trivial corner crease, Fine appearance, with 1986 P.F. certificate
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