3c Rose, A. Grill (79).
Original gum, pretty pastel color, usual perf flawsVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL.
Due to the fact that the grilling machine covered the entire area of the stamp, the perforations on the A Grills were usually damaged during separation.
With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Rose, C. Grill (83).
Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill, brilliant color on
bright paper, beautiful centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.
With 1986 and 2003 P.F. certificates (Image)
2c Black, D. Grill (84).
Perfectly centered with wide balanced margins, quartered cork
cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AFTER THE ONE-CENT AND 15-CENT Z GRILLS, THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL IS THE RAREST OF THE GRILLED ISSUES.
The grilling device equipped with the D Grill was probably refitted with the E Grill on or about February 9, 1868. Based on the earliest known usages of the 2c D Grill (2/15/68) and 3c E Grill (2/19/68), we believe that the conversion from the D to the E Grill took place only one or two days after sheets of the 2c were first run through the D-equipped machine. The great rarity of 2c D Grills, relative to all other regularly produced grills bears out this theory. Very few exist in this quality.
With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Rose, D. Grill (85).
Clearly-defined grill points, deep rich color, bold strike of Reverse
"R" cancel, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL WITH "R" FANCY CANCEL.
With 1995 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B).
Sharp grill points, intense shade contrasted by bold strike of brilliant
red cork cancel, choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL IS SCARCE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION. THIS STAMP, WITH A VIVID RED CANCEL, IS UNUSUALLY ATTRACTIVE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B).
Exceptionally strong grill impression, beautifully centered with wide
balanced margins, light quartered cork cancel leaves majority of design
clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
As experienced collectors know, Black Jacks with perforations clear of the design are scarce, and those with the Z Grill are rare.
With 1998 A.P.S. and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image)
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E).
Original gum, which has never been hinged but shows tiny offset spots from
sheet beneath, remarkably choice centering and margins, intense jet-black
shade typical of the 12c Z Grill, bright and fresh paper with well-defined
grill, faint corner crease at top right barely shows in or out of
fluidVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
Although the supremely rare 1c, 10c and 15c Z Grills have attracted more attention over the years, the rarity of original-gum examples of the 2c, 3c and 12c Z Grill has been well-known to collectors who demand Very Fine or Extremely Fine centering and original gum. Unlike the 2c Z Grill, no well-centered blocks of the 3c or 12c have been available to furnish singles. This stamp comes from a recent find and has never been in a collector's album. (Image)