Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue: A thru Z Grills (Scott 79 thru 85E)
1c Blue, A. Grill, All-Over Grill Essay with Points Up (79 var, unlisted in Scott). Original gum, full and well-defined grill, a few perfs missing at top, centered to right as are all four known
ONE OF FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 1867 ONE-CENT ALL-OVER GRILL, WHICH IS UNLISTED IN SCOTT. FROM THE EX-STEEL, EARL OF CRAWFORD AND WORTHINGTON BLOCK OF FOUR.
The four recorded examples of the 1c A Grill essay come from the block of four that originated in the Charles F. Steel archive and was part of the Earl of Crawford and George Worthington collections. The grill has tiny "X" pyramidal points impressed into the back, which differs from the essay grill made of small squares (79-E15a/b); it is very similar to the issued A Grill. The 1c block and a 5c block with the identical grill were acquired by the Earl of Crawford from the archive of papers and stamps retained by Charles F. Steel, who patented the grilling device. For more information about the origins of the experimental A and C grills, please refer to our Siegel Encyclopedia at https://siegelauctions.com/legacy/1867.pdf.
Two of the stamps from Steel's 5c block were previously certified by The Philatelic Foundation as Scott 80, which indicates how similar these grills are to the issued A Grill (Scott 79, 80 and 81). We believe that the 1c and 5c A Grills from the Steel blocks deserve Scott Catalogue listings — we would go so far as to put them at the front of the catalogue, not in the essay section. There is precedent for giving the 1c and 5c grilled stamps from the Steel blocks full Scott listings: the 4c Pan-American Invert and the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps. None of them were issued at the post office, but nonetheless they are genuine varieties that reached the public through official channels. Whether or not Scott's editors concur with our view, collectors should consider the stamp offered here to be an integral part of classic U.S. philately.
Ex Steel, Earl of Crawford, Worthington (as block of four, this is the bottom left stamp) and "Lake Shore". The last two examples we have offered from the block, from the the top right, realized $23,000 hammer in Sale 1339 in 2024, and from the top left, ex Drews, realized $18,000 hammer in Sale 1195 in 2018.
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Original gum, perfs typical of this challenging issue but mostly intact, some gum soaks in the grill not mentioned on accompanying certificate
FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL.
Due to the nature of the grilling machine and the overall grill, most examples of this issue have missing or ragged perfs.
With clear 1988 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1988 PF No. 0190530 View Cert
3c Rose, All-Over Grill Essay, Points Up, All-Over Pinpoint Grill Essay (79-E15b, 79-E15d). Two different grill essays, first part original gum, Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate, second Mint N.H., Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
3c Lake, All-Over Grill Essay, Points Up, Imperforate (79-E15c, formerly 79a). Horizontal pair, original gum, huge margins and rich color in the Lake shade, left stamp small thin spot, appears Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate as No. 79a
Certificate
1992 PF No. 0260178 View Cert
5c Brown, A. Grill, All-Over Grill Essay with Points Up (80-E). Original gum, small h.r. at bottom reinforcing a partly broken 10mm vertical crease, characteristic centering and perforations of the experimental A Grill, couple pulled perfs at top, light creases
FINE APPEARANCE. THE BOTTOM LEFT STAMP FROM THE EARL OF CRAWFORD BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1867 5-CENT ALL-OVER GRILL. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THIS EXPERIMENTAL GRILL.
There are four unused 5c A Grill points up stamps recorded in our census, which originally formed a block of four owned by the Earl of Crawford (there is also a 5c points down A Grill essay, see Sale 888, lot 84). This stamp is the bottom left stamp from Earl of Crawford block, which has an interesting history.
The entire Earl of Crawford collection was purchased by Nassau Stamp Co. (John A. Klemann) in 1915. In a June 5, 1930, letter from Klemann to Philip H. Ward, this stamp was described as follows: "The 5c copy was one of a block of four from the 'Lord Crawford' collection, purchased by this company and later broken into four single stamps. It was previously owned by an employee of the National Bank Note Company, Mr. Charles F. Steel." [Steel was the creator of the grilling process]. The stamps originating from the Earl of Crawford block have drawn inconsistent opinions over the years. The right vertical pair of stamps have been separately certified by the P.F. as genuine A Grills, Scott 80, while the upper left stamp was certified first as an essay (PFC 3170) and then as a counterfeit (PFC 36753). The lower left stamp — the stamp offered here and the one described in the Klemann letter — had never been submitted to The Philatelic Foundation until 2003, when it was declared to be an all-over essay grill. It previously had a 1942 American Board of Experts certificate signed by Klemann, describing it as a genuine "5c Brown with essay grill covering the entire stamp", an opinion consistent with Klemann's knowledge of grilling and of the source block's origin (that certificate no longer accompanies).
Of the four recorded used 5c A Grill stamps, two have identical shades, centering and cancellations. In fact, the two of the same shade were originally joined as a pair and were used as singles together. They are printed in a distinctive shade — sometimes called Black Brown — that is very scarce and found only on covers dated from late 1867 into 1868 (we have records of four covers from October 1867 to May 1868). It is likely that a small number of sheets from this late printing were available for grilling with the A Grill in 1867. The other two recorded 5c A Grills are in a brighter shade of Brown and must come from a different supply of 5c sheets printed earlier. Our census of the recognized used 5c A Grill stamps is available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/80.
As mentioned above, two of the four unused 5c A Grill stamps from the Earl of Crawford block were previously certified as the genuine Scott 80 by The Philatelic Foundation. The P.F. is now consistently describing these unused 5c A Grills as essays.
Ex Sinkler, Lamdorn and Daniels. With 2003 P.F. certificate stating "it is a genuine previously hinged Scott 80E, all over essay grill, with creases."
Certificate
2003 PF No. 0394222 View Cert
1c Blue, C. Grill Essay with Points Down (83 var, 79-E15i). With clear 13 x 16mm male grill impressed points down on face of stamp, unused (no gum), reperfed at top, perf flaws at lower left
FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT 1867-68 ISSUE WITH POINTS DOWN C GRILL.
This 1c C Grill essay has a grill made up of tiny "X" pyramidal points impressed into the face, points down. This male grill differs from the issued C Grill, which was made by a female grill surface of embossed depressions. When applied to the sheet, facing toward the depressions, the female C Grill created raised bosses on the face of each stamp.
This and the other C Grill essays originate from the archive of papers and stamps retained by Charles F. Steel, who patented the grilling device. The various experimental grilled stamps were acquired by James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford, from the Steel archive. As some point the two 1c essays were apparently separated from the rest of the group and this example appeared in the Worthington sale. The other known 1c C Grill essay is also points down. The 3c, 5c, 10c, 12c and 30c values with C Grill points up and down were sold in the Col. E. H. R. Green sale (Part XXV, Costales sale, Feb. 18-21, 1946, lots 204-213). In recent decades that set, with the addition of the other 1c (which is also reperfed), was part of the Richard Drews collection, acquired from the family of Clarence W. Brazer, and was sold by Siegel in Sale 1195 (lots 317-327 — the 1c realized $16,500 hammer). Each of those 3c-30c points up and points down C Grill essays is believed to be unique. A 1c with points up has never emerged.
Illustrated in the Evans 1c 1861-68 book (p. 46). Ex Steel, Earl of Crawford, Worthington, Weill Brothers Stock and Wagshal. With 1969 P.F. certificate and 1971 letter from Lester G. Brookman. Listed but unpriced in Scott.
Certificate
1969 PF No. 31452 View Cert
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Original gum, attractive centering and margins, strongly impressed grill naturally breaks the paper in spots
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT ROSE C GRILL.
With clear 1985 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1985 PF No. 0146944 View Cert
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill (83 var). Original gum, clear grill, bright color on crisp paper, very choice centering and margins
EXTREMELY FINE. POSSIBLY THE FINEST SINGLE EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL WITH PARTIAL ERASURE.
In a few areas of the C Grill (Positions 99-100R, 89-90R, 79-80R, 68-69R and 1-2L, 11-12L, 21-22L and 31-32L), the points between grills were insufficiently planed away or erased when the A Grill was converted to the smaller C Grill. As a result, some of the stamps from the C Grill have grills measuring approximately 18mm wide. Many of the positions listed above show only faint traces of the larger grill. These so-called Partially Erased C Grill stamps are very rare in such pristine original-gum condition and with such easily recognizable grill points.
Ex Whitman. With 1993 P.S.E. and 1994 P.F. certificates.
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill (83 var). Original gum, clear grill, bright color on crisp paper and well-centered
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE CENTERED, ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT C GRILL WITH PARTIAL ERASURE.
In a few areas of the C Grill (Positions 99-100R, 89-90R, 79-80R, 68-69R and 1-2L, 11-12L, 21-22L and 31-32L), the points between grills were insufficiently planed away or erased when the A Grill was converted to the smaller C Grill. As a result, some of the stamps from the C Grill have grills measuring approximately 18mm wide. Many of the positions listed above show only faint traces of the larger grill. These so-called Partially Erased C Grill stamps are very rare in such pristine original-gum condition and with such easily recognizable grill points.
Ex Sheriff and Drucker. With 1971 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
3c Rose, Partially Erased C. Grill, Imperforate (83P5 var; formerly 83a var). Pair, original gum, h.r., each stamp with strong full grills which are connected by light partially erased grill, which extends further to right on right stamp and to bottom on left stamp, large margins to ample at right, bright color, Very Fine and scarce variety in imperforate form, with 1977 P.F. certificate calling it No. 83a with double grill
Certificate
1977 PF No. 60431 View Cert
3c Rose, C. Grill, Points Down (83 var). Original gum, bright shade, pulled perf at lower left and tiny perf tip thin at top right, neither mentioned on accompanying certificate, appears Fine, scarce variety, with 1973 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1973 PF No. 42254 View Cert
3c Rose, C. Grill, Points Down (83 var). Original gum, clear grill and attractive centering, pulled perf bottom right corner and tiny bit of toning in that area, appears Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1992 PF No. 0262240 View Cert
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Large part disturbed original gum, well-centered for this exceedingly challenging unused stamp, slightly toned perf tip at left
FINE AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT D GRILL — VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND WITH ANY SEMBLANCE OF DECENT CENTERING.
The 2c D Grill is very difficult to find in original-gum condition with anything approaching good centering. It is nearly always centered strongly to one or two sides, often with perfs in.
With 1988 P.F. certificate. Scott value as original gum.
Certificate
1988 PF No. 0190531 View Cert
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Unused (no gum), clearly defined grill, radiant color on bright paper, wide and well-balanced margins, especially for this challenging issue
EXTREMELY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT ROSE D GRILL. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
Ex Geisler and "Alan". With 1980 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1980 PF No. 93585 View Cert
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Unused (no gum), outstanding centering with balanced margins, clearly defined grill, intense shade
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL — A VERY CHALLENGING ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION.
This is one of the most challenging grilled issues to obtain with decent centering. For example, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five original-gum stamps — graded 10 (two), 20, 30 and 50. For no-gum stamps, they also grade five, with the highest an 85.
With 1982 and 1985 P.F. certificates.
3c Rose, Z. Grill, Double Grill (85C var). Original gum, second grill slightly displaced from first, bright color and paper, centered slightly to bottom with perfs clear on that side, extra wide margin at top and balanced side-to-side
VERY FINE FOR THIS EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM STAMP. A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z GRILL WITH DOUBLE GRILL.
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 Rose sheets were fed through 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 few sound copies with at least Very Fine centering and no others with original gum and a double grill.
With 1986 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1986 PF No. 0162963 View Cert
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Small part original gum called "traces" on most recent certificate, exceptional centering with wide and balanced margins almost unheard of for this issue, negligible tiny corner perf tip crease at top right not mentioned on either certificate
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT Z GRILL.
Based on the earliest documented use of the 12c Z Grill (2/12/1868), E Grill (3/3/1868), and F Grill (5/27/1868), our theory is that the first 12c sheets were grilled in January 1868, using the Z Grill machine. They probably come from less than a day's production, which coincided with high-volume 2c and 3c grilling, and with the few sheets of 1c, 10c and 15c stamps put through the Z Grill machine. The 12c stamps were finished with perforations and distributed in time to be used no later than February 12, 1868. All of the 12c Z Grill stamps are a consistent shade of Intense Black.
Additional 12c stamps were produced in late February, after one of the two grilling machines was refitted with the E Grill roller. These were available by March 3, 1868 (EDU). No more 12c stamps were grilled until May, when the second machine was refitted with the F Grill roller. These 12c F Grill stamps were available by May 27, 1868 (EDU).
Unused or original-gum examples of the 12c Z Grill are rare. Only one block survives — the block of four offered in our 2019 sale of the Gross collection. Among the unused population, very few stamps qualify as Extremely Fine, and none grade higher than the XF 90 awarded to this stamp.
Ex Jennings and Ishikawa. With clear 1966 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (POG, XF 90; SMQ $27,500 with original gum and $9,000 as no gum). This is the highest graded unused Scott 85E in the P.S.E. Population Report and none are equal. The next highest no gum or part gum stamp is graded 85. For full original gum the highest grade is a lowly 50. Scott value is $25,000 as original gum and $8,500 as no gum.