The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps continued...

VERY FINE. THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL IS SELDOM ENCOUNTERED IN SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WITH INTACT PERFORATIONS.

The experimental A Grill covered the entire stamp. On most examples, this caused the perforations to virtually disintegrate when the stamps were separated. When the unsatisfactory effects of the grilling process were observed during this experimental stage, the grill was reduced to a smaller area within the borders of each stamp. Examples of the 3c A Grill such as the stamp offered here, with virtually full perforations all around, are true condition rarities.

With 1983 and 1995 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL. AN EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE STAMP IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION AND WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.

With 1989, 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates. (Image)

VERY GOOD. A RARE AND PRESENTABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL.

As a thorough search of past auction catalogues shows, the 2c D Grill in original-gum condition is conspicuously absent from most important collections. The finest examples are contained in the intact block of four, ex Caspary, Lilly and Klein. We have offered perhaps four or five sound copies with centering we would consider Very Fine. The example offered here, with selvage containing an additional imprint of the grill, should be considered highly desirable.

With 1993 and 2000 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. IN TERMS OF CENTERING AND MARGINS, THIS STAMP RANKS AMONG THE TOP FIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES 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 60 years. The majority of these collections contained only used or very poor unused examples of 85B. Many accomplished collectors were never able to locate a sound, well-centered original-gum 2c Z Grill. Although the stamp offered here is indeed creased, its appearance far surpasses most of the known copies. In our Sale 814, a sound, Extremely Fine 2c Z Grill realized $24,000 hammer.

With 1987 and 2005 P.F. certificates. (Image)

FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL.

Excluding the supremely rare grills -- 5c and 30c A Grill, 3c B Grill, 1c, 10c and 15c Z Grills -- the 3c Z Grill is the second rarest of the regularly-produced grilled issues. Examples of the 3c Z Grill are usually far off-center and faulty.

With 2000 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

A FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.

With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as no gum. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. 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.

Ex Silver Lake. With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT E GRILL.

With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80, SMQ $2,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to any of the four original-gum copies graded by P.S.E. to date. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL -- RARE IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.

While blocks of the 10c F Grill have been broken in recent years, yielding some choice single stamps, the 10c E Grill blocks are extremely rare and always have been. Caspary's block of 18 was broken years ago, but many of the stamps had faults or disturbed gum. Few other blocks have become available to furnish singles. This stamp should be considered a condition rarity.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.

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