Auction Highlight
From U.S. and Worldwide Stamps and Covers - Cherrystone Auctions - May 7-8, 2024
Lot 72 -
1867 15c black, Z.Grill, geometric cancel, centered to right, completely sound, one of only two known copies, with 1962 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates, ex-Eugene Costales. A tremendous United States and World Class rarity, ex-Schilling Collection, last offered in a 1975 Siegel Rarities sale (catalogued in the grade of extremely fine at $2,000,000 and $800,000 as VG-50 in the U.S. Specialized by Grade). This stamp is definitely a key to forming a complete U.S. stamp collection, equal in rarity to the famous Z.Grill 1c (In Scott catalogue of U. S. Stamps, the 15c Z.Grill is listed as 85F: it is one of the very few issues that does not bear a unique number but must share its numeral (85) with other stamps of different denominations. This anomaly arose because Scott created its system long before the Z pattern gained general recognition as a separate variety of Grill (which did not occur until the 1910s). Accordingly, Scott assigned capital letters to the Z.Grill denominations and inserted them into the catalogue after No.85 (the 3c D.Grill). The 1c Z.Grill appeared as 85A and the 2c through 15c Z.Grills were designated 85B through 85F. This expedient enabled Scott to retain the existing numbers for all subsequent stamps, beginning with the E.Grill issues (86-91) (Cat No. 85F)....Est.$750,000
Sold for US$ 1,400,000
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