2004 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.

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 1999 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT E GRILL IN PRISTINE CONDITION.

As an indication of rarity, Scott Catalogue values Scott 91 at $4,500.00 without gum, and $10,000.00 with original gum. The example offered here, with full original gum which has been lightly hinged, is easily one of the finest copies in existence.

Ex Lyons. With 1998 P.F. certificate. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.

Ex Weisman. With 1984 P.F. and 1989 P.S.E. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT F GRILL.

With 1995 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL. DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.

With 1995 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.

The block offered here is unusually fresh when compared to other multiples of the issue. With 1973 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.

With 1995 and 2004 P.F. certificates (the former as Yellow Green)

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.

With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND RARE UNUSED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.

As an indication of rarity, the Scott Catalogue value for four singles with gum is $13,000, versus $23,500 for the block. This is only the fourth block we have sold in the past ten years. Only two of the others had original gum (one ex Zoellner, which was subsequently broken, and one from our Sale 836).

Scott Retail as block of four with gum. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.

Although we acknowledge the past existence of original-gum 12c F Grill multiples, which in recent years have been broken to furnish choice singles, the quality of this particular stamp -- its centering and margins, shade and overall freshness -- qualify it as one of the three or four finest in existence (we know of none finer).

With 1984 and 1992 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM 1868 15-CENT F GRILL WITH REMARKABLE FRESHNESS AND DEPTH OF SHADE.

With 1999 P.F. certificate. (Image)