1867, 15¢ Black, F. Grill, wide margins, tied by neat violet grid handstamp on fresh 1869 cover to Paris, France, matching partial "Philadelphia, Paid 12, Jun 11" exchange cds and French packet octagon date stamp, receiving backstamp, Extremely Fine; with 1990 and 2012 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 98  Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. A CHOICE USAGE OF THE 1867 15¢ F. GRILL ISSUE FROM PHILADELPHIA, PA. TO FRANCE. $0 (Image)

1867, 15¢ Black, F. Grill, Block of 4, full Post Office fresh o.g., which appears never hinged despite the fact that the accompanying P.F. certificate calls the block previously hinged, virtually perfectly centered with sharp early impression, vibrant fresh color, the gum and the grill are as nice and sharp as the day the block was printed, top stamps with two light horizontal creases, otherwise fresh and Extremely Fine, In our opinion the bottom stamps are o.g., n.h., if not the whole block, which would yield two of the finest never hinged singles if broken up; with 2015 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 98  $35,000. The ungrilled version of this issue was released in 1866, about one year after President Lincoln was assassinated. It is regarded by many to be America's first commemorative issue, memorializing the martyred President as the nation started to heal from the wounds of the Civil War. In 1868 it was issued with two grill types, the E Grill (Scott 91) and F Grill (Scott 98). 15¢ usually paid the registration fee on domestic mail or the U.S.-French treaty rate. $0 (Image)