United States Stamps and Covers 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 25 years have been unsatisfactory in one way or another.

Ex Curtis. With 1999 P.S.E. certificate and 2014 P.F. certificate (F-VF 75) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.

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). 15c usually paid the registration fee on domestic mail or the U.S.-French treaty rate.

With 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85) (Image)

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VERY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL.

With 2005 and 2012 P.F. certificates (VF 80) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE ONLY 2-CENT "BLACK JACK" RE-ISSUE CERTIFIED AS MINT-NEVER HINGED BY EITHER THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION OR PROFESSIONAL STAMP EXPERTS.

This remarkable stamp is graded XF-Superb 95 by P.S.E., which is the highest grade awarded to any original-gum No. 103.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGnh, XF-Superb 95). P.S.E. does not price this issue Mint N.H.. SMQ for hinged 95 is $13,000.00. (Image)

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FINE APPEARING AND RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1866 RE-ISSUE. ONLY SIXTEEN ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.

The 15c Re-Issue was printed from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 stamps were printed (50 impressions). Only 397 of the 15c were sold; the remaining 9,603 were destroyed on July 16, 1884.

Our census of Scott 108 used, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/108/108.pdf , records only 16 examples.

Census No. 108-CAN-16. This is a new entry. With 2014 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE.

Only 346 sold. With 1992, 2002 and 2014 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1861 RE-ISSUE.

The 90c Re-Issue was printed from the original plate of 200 subjects. 10,000 stamps were printed (50 impressions). Only 317 of the 90c were sold; the remaining 9,683 were destroyed on July 16, 1884. The example offered here, with original-gum, sound and well-centered, is a great rarity.

With 1973, 1991, 2006 and 2013 P.F. certificates (latter grading VF-XF 85) (Image)

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