The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers continued...

**1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-91) continued...**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
3246		2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Block of four, traces of original gum, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grills, rejoined vertically, few other perf separations sensibly reattached, faint overall toning FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL, WHICH IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL GRILLED ISSUE MULTIPLES. PERHAPS TWO OR THREE ARE KNOWN. Only a small quantity of 2c sheets were grilled during the period when the Z device was active -- after the D Grill (Scott 84), the Z is the rarest of Black Jack grilled stamps. We were only able to locate two other unused blocks. One was offered in our 1970 Rarities sale and was well-centered (top pair creased), so that may have been broken to feed collector demand for choice singles. The other has perfs into the design on two sides and a few faults. Ex Allen and Metzger. Scott Retail $75,000.00 as a block and $65,000.00 as two pairs (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $5,750.00 Will close during Public Auction
3247		2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Crisp impression, wide margins, neat cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 1,300.00 SOLD for $900.00 Will close during Public Auction
3248		2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Bright shade, clearly-defined grill, unusual circle of V's segmented cork cancel, fresh and Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 1,300.00 SOLD for $350.00 Will close during Public Auction
3249		2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Intense shade, tied by bold blue circle of wedges and matching "New York City Feb. 18" circular datestamp on locally addressed cover, Fine and scarce (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 1,650.00 SOLD for $225.00 Will close during Public Auction
3250		3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Block of four with top part imprint selvage, original gum, clearly-defined grills, few tiny holes and thins in grilled areas on three stamps, few shortish perfs at right, top right stamp expert repair FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL WITH PART IMPRINT SELVAGE AT TOP. ONE OF SIX REPORTED UNUSED MULTIPLES OF THIS RARE GRILL ISSUE. We located six blocks in a survey of past auction sales and using Power Search for our sales. The Caspary collection contained a block of four with top part imprint selvage, which originally formed a full imprint block of eight with the block offered here. With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $120,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 7,500-10,000 SOLD for $9,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
3251		3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Radiant color nicely complemented by blue cork cancel, clearly-defined grill, fresh and Very Fine, a pretty stamp, with 2007 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 3,600.00 SOLD for $2,700.00 Will close during Public Auction
3252		3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Clear grill easily visible on the face of the stamp, cancelled by target, "Clear Spring Md. Feb. 12, 1868" circular datestamp on cover to USS Vermont in New York City Navy Yard, some edgewear including small envelope tear at lower right, Very Fine, a very early use and scarce with a yeardated cancel, for many years this was the earliest documented use (new earliest is Jan. 29), ex Rustad, Ishikawa and Berkun, with 2004 A.P.S. certificate, accompanied by article from Chronicle 92 detailing discovery of this cover, Scott Retail $4,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $750.00 Will close during Public Auction
3253		12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and impression, clear grill, neat strike of red datestamp at lower left, Very Fine and choice, a stamp with great visual appeal (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 2,500.00 SOLD for $2,600.00 Will close during Public Auction
3254		12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Intense shade and impression, cancelled by target, "Lowell Mass. Mar. 17" circular datestamp on buff 1868 cover to Halifax, Yorkshire, England, red "New York Paid All Mar. 18" circular datestamp, receiving backstamp, stamp lifted and replaced, light waterstaining, otherwise Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail $3,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 500-750 SOLD for $325.00 Will close during Public Auction
3255		1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Block of six with top imprint selvage, top stamps and bottom left stamp Mint N.H., other two lightly hinged, brilliant color, clearly-defined grills FRESH AND FINE. A RARE SOUND BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL, CONTAINING FOUR MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS. A WONDERFUL CONDITION RARITY BLOCK. The E Grill was the first regular-production grilled issue, after the experimental grilled issues (A thru D Grills). As with the ungrilled issue, the imprint with plate number is found only at the bottom of the sheet. The printer's imprints without the plate number are located at one side (left or right, depending on the pane) and at top. Brookman reported the existence of a complete pane of 100 in the Worthington sale, but it has not been seen nor photographed and might have been broken. A block of eight with top imprint was offered in our Frelinghuysen sale, with a light gum soak and a few light creases. Ex Evans and illustrated in the Evans 1c book on p. 49. Scott Retail as block of four and pair with no premium for the Mint N.H. stamps. Scott Retail $27,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 5,000-7,500 SOLD for $5,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
3256		1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Perfectly centered with wide and well-balanced margins, brilliant color on bright paper, light cancel leaves design clearly visible, strong grill impression EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS OF THE SERIES TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING AND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED, AND THIS STAMP IS ONE OF ONLY TWO TO ACHIEVE IT. Ex Tahoe and Merlin. With 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $13,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it (offered in our Kirke sale). (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 475.00 SOLD for $13,000.00 Will close during Public Auction

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