Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — 1867-68 Grilled Issue (Scott 79-101)
3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Large part original gum which covers about 80% of the back, perfs typical of this challenging issue but mostly intact and also decent centering for this, small thin spot and minute pinhole
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 1970 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose, C. Grill (83). Unused (no gum), clear grill and bright color, centered to bottom left, Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
3c Rose, C. Grill, Imperforate (83P5; formerly 83a). Pair, original gum, h.r., large margins, bright color, bold and clear grills, Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate as No. 83a
2c Black, D. Grill (84). Unused (no gum), intense shade and clear grill, tiny sealed tear at top not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine appearing and scarce unused example of the 2c D Grill, with clear 1979 P.F. certificate
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Unused (no gum), attractive margins and centering, rich color
VERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL.
With 1975 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Original gum, straddle-pane margin at left, clearly defined grill, certificate notes a small repair at top right which is an added perf tip, otherwise Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate, SCV $8,500
2c Black, Z. Grill (85B). Large part original gum which covers nearly the entire back, intense shade, typical centering for this unused stamp, in this case centered left but with three full to wide margins
ABOUT FINE. A SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 2-CENT Z GRILL.
This is one of the most difficult grilled issues to obtain with any semblance of decent centering or sound condition. As further evidence of this stamp's rarity, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only five original gum stamps in any grade, including graded 10 (two), 20, 30 and 50.
SCV $20,000.
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Unused (no gum), clearly defined grill, brilliant color
VERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT Z 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 sheets were fed thru the Z Grill, which accounts for the rarity of surviving examples, especially in unused condition.
With 2014 P.F. certificate.
3c Rose, Z. Grill (85C). Brilliant color, clear impression, neat parallel lines manuscript cancel, insignificant nibbed perf at top not noted on certificate, otherwise Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate, Scott value as handstamp cancel
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Original gum, small h.r., characteristic intense shade of this issue and with a bold and clear grill, few slightly blunted perfs at lower left from separation not mentioned on certificate
FINE AND SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT Z GRILL.
We have offered only approximately 15 examples with original gum in the past fifteen years.
With 1983 P.F. certificate. SCV $25,000.
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Unused (regummed), clear grill points, centered to bottom right, Very Good, a scarce stamp in unused condition, with 2000 P.F. certificate, SCV $8,500
12c Black, Z. Grill (85E). Choice margins and exceptionally well-centered, unusual Masonic Trowel fancy cancel, very scarce, especially on this stamp, Very Fine and handsome, with 1997, 2008 and 2015 P.F. certificates
1c Blue, E. Grill (86). Original gum, bright color, centered to left with perfs clear on that side and three wide margins, fresh and Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
2c Black, E. Grill (87). Original gum, sharp grill points, centered to right with perfs clear on that side and three wide margins, Fine, an attractive original-gum example, with 1992 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
3c Rose, E. Grill (88). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense color on bright white paper, choice centering with balanced margins, strong grill impression
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 3-CENT E GRILL.
With 2002 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded only five at 90 with just two higher (at 95). SCV $1,050.
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, unusually choice centering and rich color, easily identifiable grill points
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL.
A Power Search review shows how difficult it is to find this issue in sound, centered original-gum condition. Most have one margin significantly larger than the others, or are poorly centered.
With 1999 P.F. certificate.
10c Green, E. Grill (89). Original gum, single hinge mark, clear grill, deep rich color and proof-like impression
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT E GRILL, SCOTT 89.
With 1993 P.S.E. and 1992,2017 and 2024 P.F. certificates.
12c Black, E. Grill (90). Original gum, h.r., clearly defined grill and sharp impression, centered to top with perfs clear on that side and three wide margins
FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT E GRILL.
With 1980 P.F. certificate.
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Original gum, clearly defined grill, crisp impression, centered to left with perfs clear on that side and three wide margins
FRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT E GRILL.
With 1993 P.F. certificate.
15c Black, E. Grill (91). Unused (no gum), intense shade and impression, clear grill points, reperfed at left (not noted on certificate), Very Fine appearance, with 1983 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, F. Grill (92). Original gum, bright color, clearly defined grill, Very Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
1c Dark Blue, F. Grill (92 var). Unused (no gum), intense shade, Fine, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate as Blue, Scott value for an original-gum block is $16,000, Scott value as four no-gum singles
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Significant freak caused by foldover, clear grill on both stamp and folded over portion, unfolded prior to use and with neat "New York City Sep. 19" circular datestamp with Star in Circle duplex, small tears at the ends of the foldover (called pulled perf in selvage on newer certificate), Very Fine, this is easily one of the most dramatic freaks we have ever encountered and it is particularly desirable on a grilled issue, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 1970 and 2025 P.F. certificates
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Original gum, rich color, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, F-VF 75), SCV $350
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Original gum, lightly hinged,, deep rich color
FRESH AND FINE LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 5-CENT F GRILL.
With 1998 P.F. certificate.
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Unused (regummed), clearly defined grill, bright color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine, with 1989 and 2006 P.F. certificates as original gum (XF 90), with 2025 P.S.E. certificate correctly noting the regumming
(Image Magnifier)10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color on fresh paper, well-centered with balanced margins
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 10-CENT F GRILL.
With 1990 P.F. certificate.
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression, clearly defined grill, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. AN EXTRAORDINARY STAMP AND CERTAINLY AMONG THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Ex "El Dorado". With 1984, 2000 and 2005 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With ungraded 2025 P.S.E. certificate—likely it did not make the 95 grade, which surprises us.
(Image Magnifier)12c Black, F. Grill (97). Original gum, centered to bottom right, most recent certificate mentions a faint toned spot in the "1" of "12" at upper right (it is indeed very faint), appears Fine, with copy of 1997 P.S.E. certificate for a block, with 2004 P.F. certificate for single
15c Black, F. Grill (98). Redistributed original gum over two small closed tears, choice centering, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Gray Lilac, F. Grill (99). Original gum, h.r., clearly defined grill, two small corner creases at top left and light toned spot at right, Fine appearance and a scarce stamp with original gum, with 2007 P.F. certificate, SCV $9,000
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Original gum, clearly defined grill, bright color, well-centered for this tightly spaced issue, there is a very faint blue line that starts as a tiny dot in the oval at right and extends left to the bust (it takes magnification to identify it)
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 1868 30-CENT F GRILL IS AN EXTREMELY RARE ISSUE IN WELL-CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1993 and 2007 P.F. certificates (only the latter mentioning the faint blue line).
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Vibrant color, cork cancel, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 1999 and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90), only four grade higher
30c Orange, F. Grill (100). Wide straddle-pane margin at left with significant portion of adjoining stamp, bright color, split grill with one vertical row of grill points at right and majority of grill at left, red target as well as blue French transit and quartered cork cancels, few minor perf creases, Very Fine, an unusual stamp and most striking stamp, ex Geisler
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Original gum described as "previously hinged" on accompanying certificate but we would say slightly disturbed (or heavily hinged), rich color, well-centered but partly accomplished by reperfing — P.F. states at top and right, otherwise Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate, SCV $16,500