Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 134-155)
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Original gum, deep blue shade on bright white paper, fresh and Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear rows of grill points, deep rich color on bright paper, Very Fine, ex McKinney, with 1979 (copy for a block), 1993 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Original gum, bright color, clear grill on face of stamp, centered slightly to bottom
VERY FINE AND SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Ex "Ambassador". With 2005 P.S.E. certificate.
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Original gum, bright color, centered to top right, Fine and scarce original-gum example, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
7c Vermilion, H. Grill, Split Grill (138). Clear grill points easily visible from the front, showing most of grill at right and several rows at left, New York Foreign Mail Multi-star cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 and 2025 P.F. certificates (VF 80), Scott value with no premium for the better cancel
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Slightly glazed original gum, bright color and detailed impression, a few visible grill points
FINE AND SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 10-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH H GRILL.
With 1995 (copy for block of six) and 2002 P.F. certificates. Both state "previously hinged" — the slight gum glazing probably occurred after the issuance of the second certificate.
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Clear grill points, rich color, bold strike of circle of V's cancel, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Unused (no gum), pretty shade on crisp paper, easily discernible grill points
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATION OF THE SET TO OBTAIN IN UNUSED CONDITION.
Aside from the 24c, which does not exist unused, the 12c is the most difficult to obtain unused, in any condition. Our unpublished census records only nine singles with original gum, and many of those have faults or are off-center. The stamp offered here, with clear grill points, rich color, choice centering and in sound condition, is a true condition rarity.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex "Laila", "Adventurer" and Pivawer. With 1991, 2009 and 2018 P.F. certificates (VF 80).
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Unused (no gum), rich color, several noticeable grill points, small extraneous ink marks at top left
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Aside from the 24c, which does not exist unused, the 12c is the most difficult to obtain unused, in any condition. Our unpublished census records only nine singles with original gum.
With 1960 and 2017 P.F. certificates.
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Original gum, evident row of grill points, centered to top left, small diagonal crease and some foreign matter adherence to left of portrait, otherwise Fine and scarce with original gum, with 1999 P.F. certificate, SCV $7,500
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Redistributed original gum, h.r., intense shade and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issue
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING AND IN SOUND CONDITION.
The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among original-gum examples, which are rare in any condition, only a few sound examples would grade Very Fine or better. A search through 60 years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. In fact, even among the collections famed for quality Bank Note issues — Caspary, Lilly, Henry, "Ambassador," Braus, Floyd, Whitman et al — we could not find any original-gum examples that would grade Very Fine or better. The finest original-gum example we were able to locate was offered in our "Scarsdale" sale (Sale 924, lot 9).
Ex Hall. With 2000 P.F. certificate.
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Original gum, several clear rows of grill points in Hamilton's forehead, intact perforations at left
FINE. A RARE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 1949, 1990 and 2025 P.F. certificates.
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Attractive centering and margins, clear grill, cork cancel, added perf tip at top, appears Very Fine
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Unused (no gum), rich color, several noticeable grill points
very FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE WELL-CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL bank note company GRILLED ISSUE. VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
The 1870 90c National Bank Note Company grilled issue is one of the most difficult of the series to obtain with decent centering. Collectors who have been waiting to acquire a Very Fine example of this issue with original gum should consider this choice unused stamp without gum.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Pivawer. With 1986, 2008 and 2025 P.F. certificates.
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). When we offered this uncertified in 2002 we described the bottom half as original gum and the top half as without gum — with h.r. at top concealing a thin spot — the h.r. was subsequently removed and it now has full gum and a certificate stating "previously hinged" (we are not sure if there was gum underneath the h.r. or if the gum at top was filled in), bright color and detailed impression, clear grill points, small corner perf crease, Fine appearance and a rare stamp in original-gum condition, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Clear grill with the I Grill dimensions, wide margins and choice centering, brilliant color, bright blue segmented cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 ONE-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY I GRILL, WITH A VIVID BLUE CANCEL.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 1999 P.F. certificate as H Grill No. 134. With 2019 P.S.E. certificates as I Grill No. 134A (XF 90). While four used examples grade higher, and two share this grade at P.S.E., this is a case where strict numerical grading cannot do a stamp justice and where SMQ value for a black cancel is irrelevant. We have offered four of the aforementioned stamps and none have a colored cancel — all have black cancels including a couple indistinct corks. In our opinion, this Gem with a complementary bright blue cancel ranks among the finest extant.
1c Ultramarine (145). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and Very Fine, with 1993 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
2c Red Brown (146). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and bright color, wide margins and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Red Brown (146). Choice centering with unusually wide margins, intense shade and impression, negative "H" in Circle cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2001 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo)
6c Carmine (148). Slightly disturbed original gum, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate as "previously hinged"
6c-12c 1870-1873 Bank Note Issues (148, 149, 159, 162). Four used stamps, selected for attractive cancels, including No. 159 with NYFM cancel, fresh and Very Fine group
7c Vermilion (149). Slightly glazed original gum called "previously hinged" on certificate, bright color, Very Fine, with clear 1998 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (150). Original gum which is essentially full with a small h.r., called "part o.g." on certificate, rich color, Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate
12c Dull Violet (151). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impression, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine, with 1992 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
12c Dull Violet (151). Large part original gum, h.r., attractive color, Very Fine, with 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate
15c Bright Orange (152). Original gum, brilliant color, well-centered
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
With 1984 P.F. certificate
15c Bright Orange (152). Unused (no gum), fresh color, Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Original gum, a bit heavily hinged, bright color, reperfed at left, appears Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Black (154). Part original gum which covers most of the bottom half, intense shade, well-centered
VERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE.
With 1983 P.F. certificate. SCV $7,000 as original gum, $2,400 as no gum.
90c Carmine (155). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE, SCOTT 155, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E.
The 1870 90c National ungrilled issue, Scott 155, is somewhat overshadowed by its grilled counterpart, Scott 144. Collectors are also misled by the availability of Scott 166, the 90c 1873 Continental. Although the difference in shades is distinct, collectors have a tendency to confuse the two and underrate the 1870 National printing.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Gross. With 1991 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90). Only three graded higher (at 95) and three share this grade. SCV $5,000.
90c Carmine (155). Original gum, bright color, nicely centered but reperfed at top, Very Fine appearance, with clear 1988 P.F. certificate, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate noting reperf
90c Carmine (155). Brilliant color and detailed impression, outstanding centering, bold red cork cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE, CANCELLED IN VIVID RED.
With 2026 P.S.E. certificate. (XF-Superb 95). Only four grade higher (highest is 98). We have offered three of the higher grades and only one of those has a red cancel.