Sale 1354 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 May, 2025
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue, 1875 Re-Issue of 1861-66 Issue
3c Rose, C. Grill, Points Down (83 var). Original gum, clearly defined grill, reperfed at right, Extremely Fine appearance and a scarce original-gum example of Scott 83 with points down, with clear 1964 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Clearly defined grill, bright color, bold strike of quartered cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.S.A.G. certificate (VF-XF 85)
3c Rose, C. Grill, Imperforate (83P5; formerly 83a). Pair, original gum, lightly hinged, large margins, bright color, clear grills, Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate as No. 83a
2c Black, D. Grill, Split Grill (84 var). With left sheet selvage, original gum, grill shifted top to bottom, bright shade, light diagonal crease
FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND DESIRABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL. THIS IS A RARE STAMP WITH ORIGINAL GUM AND IS EVEN MORE DESIRABLE SHOWING A SPLIT GRILL. THIS IS THE ONLY UNUSED EXAMPLE WITH SPLIT GRILL WE HAVE OFFERED IN AT LEAST 25 YEARS.
Our computerized records go back to 1994, plus our Rarities sales and select name sales back to 1966. During that time, we have offered only two used example of Scott 84 with split grill, plus a pair on cover in our recent auction of the Faust collection. The Metzger collection did not have any, and the Rorke collection had one used with perfs significantly in on two sides.
A Power Search review will also demonstrate how rare this is as an original-gum stamp, regardless of the variety. The example offered here, with full original gum, the sheet selvage, the split grill and a small fault, is very desirable.
Ex Drews. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Unpriced as unused in Scott. Scott value as normal.
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Original gum, h.r., crisp impression, clearly defined grill, centered to right
VERY GOOD. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.
The 2c D Grill is very difficult to find in sound original-gum condition. It is essentially non-existent in centered and sound condition, so collectors who demand stamps without faults must compromise on centering.
With 1988 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Mint N.H., with top selvage with end roller grill at top, clearly defined grills, centered to top left, faint horizontal wrinkle in grill, Very Good, the 3c D Grill is one of the rarest issues to obtain with original gum, this is the only example we have offered in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records, with 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate, Scott value as hinged
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, perfectly defined grill, detailed impression, centered to bottom left
FINE. A SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 2-CENT Z GRILL.
This is one of the most difficult grilled issues to obtain with decent centering. As further evidence of this stamp's rarity, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five original gum stamps in any grade, including graded 10 (two), 20, 30 and 50.
Ex Wingate. With 1996 P.F. certificate.
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Part original gum, clearly defined grill, reperfed at left
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1867 2-CENT Z GRILL IS SCARCE IN UNUSED CONDITION.
With 2018 P.S.A.G. certificate.
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Original gum, h.r., clearly defined grill, few short and few toned perfs, Fine appearance and rare, one of the most difficult grilled issues to obtain with original gum and any semblance of decent centering, Scott value $20,000
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), clear grill, light vertical crease at left and small thin spot, otherwise Very Good and scarce unused, Scott value $8,000
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clearly defined grill, bright shade, neat cork cancel, small corner crease at bottom left mentioned on most recent certificate, single slightly short perf at top not mentioned on either certificate, still Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith and Hansen, with 1981 and 2011 P.F. certificates
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Rich color, clearly defined grill, cork cancel
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1984 and 2011 P.F. certificates (VF 80).
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Unused (no gum), intense shade of the 12c Z Grill, centered to top right, small shallow thin spot straddling the grill not mentioned on accompanying certificate, appears Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate, Scott value $8,500
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Choice centering with well-balanced margins, intense shade, bold cork cancel, clear grill, we called this reperfed at right in an old sale but P.F. certificates issued both before and after do not note any reperfing
EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 1867 12-CENT Z GRILL.
With 1996 and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF 90).
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Block of 24 in 6x4 format, original gum, none are hinged but about half show tiny gum skips to varying degrees probably caused by some light adherence in the past, so we count these as hinged, the other half are Mint N.H., bright color, some perf separations
FINE AND RARE LARGE BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1868 E GRILL, WITH NUMEROUS MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
Apart from a complete pane of 100 offered in Sale 818 in 1999, this is the largest multiple listed in Power Search.
Scott value $36,000 as six hinged blocks of four.
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Horizontal block of six with top left corner selvage, original gum, right block of four Mint N.H., slightly short gum at top of top row, top left stamp small internal tear, overall Fine, Scott value $8,200 as a block and a pair without premium for the Mint N.H. stamps
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Detailed impression on bright paper, Jumbo margins and choice centering, large open grid cancel, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp, ex Gorham, with 2005 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ)
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Block of four, original gum, bottom right stamp Mint N.H., top pair h.r., perfs to in, top right stamp small thin spot, overall Very Good, Scott value $6,000
1c Dark Blue, F. Grill (92 var). Unused (no gum), intense shade, Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate as Blue, Scott value for an original gum block is $16,000, Scott value as four no-gum singles
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Significant freak caused by foldover, clear grill on both stamp and folded over portion, unfolded prior to use and with neat "New York City Sep. 19" circular datestamp with Star in Circle duplex, small tears at the ends of the foldover, Very Fine, this is easily one of the most dramatic freaks we have ever encountered and it is particularly desirable on a grilled issue, with 1970 P.F. certificate
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
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
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Disturbed original gum, horizontal crease and small perf faults at bottom, otherwise Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value $3,500
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, unusually clear grill points, rich color, bottom stamps with diagonal crease
FINE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
The block offered here is unusually fresh when compared to most other multiples of the issue. With 1973 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, original gum, h.r., clearly defined grills, rich color
FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
Ex Curtis. With 1988 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, unused (no gum), centered strongly to top, faults including top left stamp tiny cut in grill, bottom right stamp small thins at bottom edge, small sealed split at bottom between stamps, small lightened stain at bottom right, appears Very Good, scarce block, Scott value for original gum block is $17,500, Scott value as four no-gum singles $4,800
5c Brown, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (95 var). Attractive color, clear grill, cork and red cancels, Very Fine and choice, with 2023 P.S.E. certificate
10c Dark Green, F. Grill (96). Original gum, centered to right, Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, barely hinged, intense shade and attractive centering, two horizontal creases at top, Very Fine appearance, with copy of 2016 P.S.E. certificate for a block of four (top right stamp)
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Block of four, unused (no gum), intense shade and impression on bright paper, expertly rejoined perf separations, bottom right stamp small tear
FINE-VERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
The largest recorded original-gum multiples are a reconstructed block of 20 and a block of 16. Both are significantly off center with perfs cutting far into the stamp designs.
Ex Ishikawa, Drews and Przybyl. Scott value as original-gum block is $35,000.
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Unused (regummed), bright shade, reperfed at right, appears Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value $3,500
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Clear grill, rich color, unobtrusive cancel, faint corner crease at top left, Very Fine appearance
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Unused, P.F. opines regummed but the grill is impressed into gum (rather than gum on top of grill), so we think it is original gum, vibrant color, Fine and scarce unused stamp, with 2024 P.F. certificate, Scott value as no gum
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Slightly disturbed original gum, pulled perf at top and some gum soaked perfs at top, otherwise Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificates stating "o.g. hinged" and mentioning only the pulled perf, Scott value $12,500
30c Orange, F. Grill, Split Grill (100 var). Rich color, showing grill at both sides, bold strike of cork cancel, fresh and Fine
2c Black, Re-Issue (103). Part original gum, few small thins and light wrinkling, otherwise Fine, only 979 sold, Scott value as original gum
5c Brown, Re-Issue (105). Original gum, bright color, Fine, only 672 sold, with 1997 P.F. certificate