Sale 1297 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 31 October-2 November, 2023
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
National Bank Note Co., 3c Green, Untrimmed Die Essay on Wove Paper (79-E28H). 98 x 51mm, rich color, few light toned spots, otherwise Very Fine, very rare especially in such a wide size, Scott Catalogue used to note that this "possibly includes a third design at right" and illustrates a smaller example, the example offered here answers this question, ex "Lake Shore"
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Radiant color and excellent centering, clear grill points, neat strike of circle of V's cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL, SCOTT 83, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
Ex Gorham. With 1996 P.S.E., 1995, 2005 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded by the P.F. By way of comparison, XF-Superb 95 is also the highest grade in the P.S.E. Population Report (one example, realized $4,500 hammer in our Sale 1254).
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Choice centering, faint manuscript cancellation, appears unused at a glance, light corner crease at top left visible only when drying, single nibbed perf at top, appears Very Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate, Scott value as handstamp cancel is $5,250
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Perfectly defined grill, fresh color on bright white paper, neat circle of V's cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1984 and 2010 P.F. certificates
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Clearly defined grill, unobtrusive cancel, perfs clear of design, Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and impression, clearly defined grill, segmented cork cancel with trace of red transit cancel at top right, Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Wide margins and choice centering, rich color, bold strike of rosette cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Bright shade and crisp impression, clear grill, segmented cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, ex Hansen, with 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Mint N.H., radiant color, clearly defined grill
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL.
We have offered only four others since keeping computerized records. With 2015 P.F. certificate (VF 80). Scott value as hinged.
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Horizontal block of ten, original gum, few light creases, Very Good-Fine, rare multiple, ex Curtis, Scott value $14,200.00 as blocks of four and a pair
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression
VERY FINE LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL.
With 1984 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates.
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Unused (no gum), rich color on bright paper, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1982 and 2007 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Well-proportioned margins, dark color, bold grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2021 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, clearly defined grill, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, reperfed at right
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT E GRILL, SCOTT 90.
With 1969 P.F. certificate as sound. With 2023 P.S.E. certificate noting the reperfing.
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Crisp impression nicely complemented by red circle of V's cancel, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Gorham, with 1991, 2003 and 2022 P.F. certificates
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, clearly defined grill, detailed impression, most recent certificate notes reperfed at left
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT E GRILL.
With 2017 P.F. certificate as sound (VF-XF 85). With 2023 P.S.E. certificate noting the reperfing.
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Wide and perfectly balanced margins all around, clear grill points, light cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex "Tahoe". With 2023 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only three others.
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Block of four, bright color, clear grills, tiny surface scrapes
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
Ex Klein and Curtis. With copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for block of ten. Scott value $17,000.00.
5c Brown, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (95 var). Block of four, unused (no gum), with left part imprint selvage, unusual "Chestnut" shade (in our opinion a changeling of some kind), left stamps vertical crease
FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL ON VERY THIN PAPER.
Ex Caspary and Curtis. With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott value $17,000 as original-gum block of four on normal paper.
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Choice margins and centering, rich color, large cogwheel cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Bright color, neat strike of target cancel, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2023 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill, Very Thin Paper (96 var). Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, rich color, cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND HUGE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL ON VERY THIN PAPER — GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY THE P.F.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo).
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Unusually choice centering with wide margins, crisp impression, target cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1997 P.F., 2015 and 2023 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), only five grade higher
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Mint N.H., crisp impression, clearly defined grill, well-balanced margins
VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT F GRILL. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
Most blocks of the grilled issues with sound and centered stamps have been broken to feed collector demand for singles. Despite this fact, we have encountered only three other Mint N.H. singles of the 15c F Grill since keeping computerized records almost 30 years ago, and two of those had creases.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value as hinged.
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Block of four, original gum, clearly defined grills, bright shade, light horizontal crease and thin spots affect top stamps, tiny perf crease at bottom left, few minor reinforced perf separations
FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.
Despite some flaws the appearance of this block is bright and fresh. With the demand for choice singles, it is unlikely that any sound and centered blocks have survived.
Ex Curtis. Scott value $35,000.
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Choice centering and margins for this tightly spaced issue, rich color, large grid cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.S.A.G. certificate (VF-XF 85)
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Crisp impression, clear grill, circle of Vs cancel and part of red transit cancel at bottom right, fresh and Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Bright color and clear grill, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Deep rich color, wide and balanced margins top and bottom, slightly in at right, cork cancel, fresh and Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate