2017 Rarities of the World continued...

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

With 1983 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT F GRILL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,900.00). Only one other has achieved this grade, which is the highest awarded (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT BROWN F GRILL WITH ORIGINAL GUM. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.

The 5c 1861-68 Issues are extremely difficult to find in sound, well-centered, original-gum condition. The narrow spacing between stamps on the plate and large 12-gauge perforations resulted in stamps that are frequently off center. This applies to Scott 67, 75, 76 and 95 alike. None is easy to locate in centered original-gum condition (to understate the matter), but the limited production of 5c F Grills leaves collectors with an even smaller supply.

Ex Beverly Hills. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $12,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a 5c F Grill and it is shared by only one other (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.

Ex "Silver Lake" and Hansen. With 1995 and 2004 P.F. certificates (the former as Yellow Green) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THIS REMARKABLY FRESH AND COMPLETELY SOUND BLOCK IS, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM MULTIPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL IN EXISTENCE. A WONDERFUL GEM CLASSIC BLOCK THAT HAS MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED INTACT SINCE THE LEGENDARY 1956 CASPARY SALE.

The few well-centered 1868 10c F Grill blocks from past auctions have, for the most part, been broken to feed market demand for singles. The block offered here is the second largest surviving multiple, but it is in far superior condition to the block of fifteen illustrated in Brookman. In the November 19-21, 1956, H. R. Harmer sale of the Alfred H. Caspary collection (lot 282), it was described as "extremely fine... a magnificent block of the greatest rarity and a marvelous showpiece." In that sale it realized $2,100 versus its then-current Scott Catalogue value of $800.00. We have been unable to trace its provenance prior to Caspary.

With 2015 P.F. certificate as "genuine, previously hinged." Scott Catalogue value for two blocks of four (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND ALMOST PERFECTLY-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. VERY FEW BLOCKS EXIST IN ANY CONDITION, AND THIS IS PERHAPS THE FINEST.

Our records contain only six original-gum blocks of the 12c F Grill. Some of these have probably been broken to feed collector demand for singles, and therefore the number of surviving multiples may be smaller. Blocks of four are the largest surviving multiples, since the Caspary block of eight has been broken.

Ex Caspary, where in 1956 it realized $650 against its then-current Scott Catalogue value of $250. With 2015 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL.

Ex Caspary and Drucker. With 1987 and 2002 P.F. certificates. With 2002 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $8,500.00) (Image)

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VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL.

With 1994 P.F., 1993 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 24-CENT F GRILL IN EXISTENCE. THIS AND THE 30-CENT ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT F GRILLS TO OBTAIN IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.

The higher-denomination F Grills were produced in limited quantities and seem to have caused National Bank Note Co. difficulty in applying perforations. They are typically off center with very choppy perfs. This stamp has uncharacteristically precise centering and well-formed perforations.

Ex Weisman and Whitman. With 1990 P.F., 1990 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $19,500.00). Only one example has been graded higher (at 95) and two share this grade (Image)

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