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)
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.
