2017 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL, WHICH IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- A STAMP OF GREAT BEAUTY.

The 3c is the only denomination that comes with the distinctive C Grill, with the grill points facing up instead of down. The few high-grade original-gum examples owe their existence to the division of blocks of four over the years.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $28,500.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98) and only two others share this desirable grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A FRESH AND BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL.

The 3c is the only denomination that comes with the distinctive C Grill, with the grill points facing up instead of down. The few high-grade original-gum examples owe their existence to the division of blocks of four.

With 1986, 2003 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $13,500.00) (Image)

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FRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE ELUSIVE 2-CENT D GRILL.

With 1969, 1994 and 2007 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL.

To form our assessment of this 2c Z Grill, we conducted a survey of approximately 100 auction catalogues for major United States collections sold over the past 65 years. The majority of these collections contained only used or very poor unused examples of 85B. In general, many accomplished collectors, such as Sheriff, Klein and Seymour, evidently were unable to acquire a well-centered, original-gum 2c Z Grill. Power Search produced only a very few, along with some near-misses -- the most common flaw being faint creases. Finally, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five original-gum stamps, with the highest grade a 50.

With 1998 and 2007 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE FOR THIS IMPOSSIBLE ORIGINAL-GUM STAMP. THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-PRODUCED GRILLED ISSUES. THE RARITY OF THIS STAMP IN SUCH PRISTINE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION CANNOT POSSIBLY BE OVERSTATED.

The 3c Z Grill was in production for only a short period of time before the device was replaced with the F Grill. Only a small number of 3c sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples, especially in sound, original-gum condition. Our review of past auctions, including Power Search, found precious few sound copies with Very Fine centering.

With 2006 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $30,000.00). This is one of only two original-gum 3c Z Grill stamps to be graded VF 80, with none higher (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $10,000.00). Only one stamp has been graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (at 90) and no others share this grade (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.

We have offered only approximately ten examples with original gum in the past fifteen years. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE 1868 ONE-CENT E GRILL IS FAR SCARCER THAN ITS F GRILL COUNTERPART, PARTICULARLY IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

Some time ago we observed that the 1c E Grill appeared at auction very infrequently, in any form. After analyzing the early 1868 regular-production grills (Z, D, E and F), we concluded that grilling of the 1c 1861 issue with the E (and Z) Grill must have been short-lived, occurring sometime around February 28, 1868. Later grilling of 1c stamps was probably done with the F Grill. Relatively little of the 1c E Grill supply appears to have reached the philatelic market, as evidenced by the stamp's scarcity.

With 1990 P.F. and 1991 P.S.E. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL WITH THE "TAG" TRANSFER VARIETY. A RARE STAMP IN THE HIGHER GRADES.

With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $9,500.00). Only one original-gum stamp has been graded higher (at 90) and this is the only example graded 85 (Image)

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

With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

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

With 2007 P.F. certificate (Image)

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