Sale 119: The Dr. Armando Grassi Collection of Classic United States

Lot 2552 o   

1867, 3¢ rose, C. grill, cancelled by fancy Blue Bird of Rockford, Ill., deep rich color, well defined grill, choice centering with full perforations all around, an Extremely Fine gem, ex-Welling, V. Morris, Hinrichs and Scarsdale; with 1985, 1994 & 2004 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 83    Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

WIDELY REGARDED BY STUDENTS OF UNITED STATES STAMPS AS THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3¢ ROSE C. GRILL IN EXISTENCE.

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Lot 2553 o   

1867, 2¢ black, D. grill, perfectly centered, deep shade, full clear grill impression showing the compulsory 15 columns of points, light target cancel, an Extremely Fine gem, ex-Zoellner and Puliafito; with 1995 P.F. & 2008 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (XF 90, SMQ $11,000), with only two examples graded higher.
Scott No. 84    $5,250.

APART FROM THE A. AND Z. GRILL RARITIES, THE 2¢ 1868 D. GRILL IS THE RAREST OF ALL GRILLED ISSUES. ONLY A HANDFUL EXIST IN THIS SUPERB CONDITION.

Usage of the D. grill was very short-lived, with the grilling machines being refitted with the E. grill in early February 1868. This undoubtedly is a major factor for the great rarity of the 2¢ D. grill.

Realized: $10,500

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Lot 2554 o   

1867, 3¢ rose, D. grill, bright color as fresh as the day it was printed on fresh paper, very well centered with full perforations, light strike of grid cancel, Very Fine and choice; with 1997 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 85    $1,050.

A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE WHICH IS SELDOM FOUND IN THIS PRISTINE CONDITION.

Two grilling machines were used to make the regular production grilled stamps beginning in January 1868. The D. Grill machine was refitted with the E. grill in early February 1868. Based on the earliest known usages of the 3¢ D. Grill and the 3¢ E. Grill, the conversion from the D. to the E. Grill must have taken place shortly after the 3¢ stamps were run through the D. Grill machines. Given these factors, it is no surprise, that the 3¢ D. grills are extremely scarce, particularly in in this choice condition.

Realized: $1,250

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Lot 2555 o   

1867, 2¢ black, Z. grill, gorgeous strike of blue quartered cork cancel, beautifully centered with four large margins, deep color and detailed impression, clear grill, an Extremely Fine gem; with 1995 & 2003 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 85B    $1,100.

A STUNNING COMBINATION OF CENTERING AND CANCELLATION RARELY FOUND AMONG EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 2¢ BLACK JACK Z. GRILL.

Only a small quantity of 2¢ sheets were grilled during the period when the Z. device was active. After the D. Grill, the Z. is the rarest of Black Jack grilled stamps.

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Lot 2556 o   

1867, 2¢ black, Z. grill, socked-on-the-nose Star within a Star fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno ST-E9), nicely centered with sharp impression, deep color on bright fresh paper, Very Fine and attractive; with 2003 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 85B    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

A GORGEOUS 1867 2¢ BLACK JACK Z. GRILL RARELY FOUND IN THIS CONDITION ENHANCED BY THIS FANCY CANCELLATION.

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Lot 2557 o   

1867, 2¢ black, Z. grill, well centered, beautiful sharp grill points clearly showing the horizontal ridges unique to the Z. grill, cancelled by neat red New York City "Post Office" town cancel, Very Fine and rare, ex-Puliafito; with 1995 & 2009 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 85B    $1,100.

AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WELL CENTERED. ESPECIALLY RARE WITH A RED TOWN CANCELLATION.

Narrow spacing on the plates used to print the Black Jacks did not provide enough room between subjects for the large Perf 12 gauge holes. As a result, most Black Jack stamps have perfs touching the design on one or more sides. The scarcity of four margined copies multiplies exponentially when the Z. Grill is factored into the equation, particularly with a fancy red color cancellation.

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Lot 2558 o   

1867, 2¢ black, Z. grill, Horizontal Pair, incredibly well centered for this difficult grill value, fresh color and strong impression of the grill, light quartered cork cancel, sold in 2005 Siegel sale stating, "tape stain top right corner right stamp, reperfed at left" (neither of which are mentioned on clear P.F. cert.), Very Fine and a rare multiple; with 2007 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 85B    $2,750.

Realized: $1,400

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Lot 2559 o   

1867, 12¢ intense black, Z. grill, light cancellation giving the appearance of the "Mask of Zorro", beautifully centered, rich color with deeply etched impression, Post Office fresh, Extremely Fine and choice; with 1993 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 85E    $2,250.

A WONDERFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1867 12¢ Z. GRILL.

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