2002 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL IS A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WITH INTACT PERFORATIONS.

The experimental A Grill covered the entire stamp. On most examples, this caused the perforations to virtually disintegrate when the stamps were separated. When the unsatisfactory effects of the grilling process were observed during this experimental stage, the grill was reduced to a smaller area within the borders of each stamp. Examples of the 3c A Grill such as the stamp offered here, with an intact sheet margin and virtually full perforations all around, are true condition rarities.

With 1983 and 1990 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM STAMP AND COVER IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. A BEAUTIFUL COVER IN EVERY RESPECT.

The earliest recorded usage of Scott 83 is November 19, 1867, only four days prior to this cover. Ex Zoellner. (Image)

VERY FINE. THE FAMOUS AND UNIQUE PAIR SHOWING PARTIAL ERASURE OF GRILL POINTS BETWEEN TWO C GRILLS. THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE GRILL VARIETY.

In a few areas of the C Grill (Positions 99-100R, 89-90R, 79-80R, 68-69R and 1-2L, 11-12L, 21-22L and 31-32L), the points between grills were insufficiently planed away or erased when the A Grill was converted to the smaller C Grill. As a result, some of the stamps from the C Grill have grills measuring approximately 18 mm wide. These so-called Partially Erased C Grill stamps are very rare, and the pair offered here is the only recorded multiple with original gum showing a pronounced partial erasure.

Illustrated and discussed in Chronicle 105. Ex Zoellner (where a more in-depth discussion appears, see catalogue or our website Encyclopedia at www.siegelauctions.com). With 1976 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED PAIR OF THE RARE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL. VERY FEW MULTIPLES ARE KNOWN TO EXIST. THIS PAIR IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST BY VIRTUE OF ITS MARGINS, COLORED CANCELLATION AND CONDITION.

After the supremely rare A, B and Z Grills, the 2c D Grill and 3c Z Grill are the two rarest of the regular-production grills that were widely distributed. In this pair, the lefthand stamp is centered within unusually wide margins -- it is one of the two or three finest 2c D Grill stamps we have ever encountered -- and the pair, lightly cancelled in blue, is an extremely rare and attractive multiple.

With 1980 P.F. certificate (Image)

FRESH AND FINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.

The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples, especially in sound, original-gum condition.

With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL.

With 1993 and 2001 P.F. certificates (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL.

A scarce stamp in such fresh condition. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL -- FAR RARER THAN ITS F GRILL COUNTERPART IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.

As collectors who have been searching for a superb original-gum copy of the 12c E Grill can attest, it is rarely seen in choice condition. One reason is that there have been far fewer multiples of the 12c E Grill than other grilled issues, and, therefore, fewer singles from broken blocks. No blocks were offered in sales of great classic collections, such as Crocker, Caspary, Eno, Lilly, Moody, West or Ishikawa. The Zoellner block was broken into Fine-Very Fine singles. The singles in most of the important U.S. collections offered during the past 20 years have been unsatisfactory in one way or another.

With 1994 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.

An example in similar condition realized $14,000 in our 2001 Rarities sale. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT F GRILL.

With 1983 and 1997 P.F. certificates (Image)