Values of US Stamps Scott Catalog 97: 1868 12c George Washington Bank Note Grill. Page 8

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Nearly perfect centering with wide balanced margins, detailed impression, bold cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ price $750.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1315

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Choice margins and centering, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $750.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1314

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Choice centering with well-proportioned margins, unobtrusive strike of cork cancel, certificate states reperfed at bottom but the perfs are genuine in our opinion, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2008 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1316

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfectly centered with remarkably wide margins all around capturing the characteristic plate burrs of 12c 1868 grills, intense shade and impression, clearly-defined grill, reperfed right and bottom, Extremely Fine appearance, with clean 1986 P.F. certificate and 2008 P.F. certificate mentioning the reperfing

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1313

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill points, perfectly centered with wide and even margins all around, intense shade and impression EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. This stamp is highly desirable — it is remarkably fresh, lightly hinged, has a clear grill and is perfectly centered. As such it is a true condition rarity. A comparable example realized $14,000 hammer in our Sale 953 (lot 416). With 2002 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3097

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). With part imprint at top, original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and remarkably detailed impression which shows every nuance of the detailed engraving, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. THIS IS CERTAINLY AMONG THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE, AND IT IS WORTHY OF THE FINEST COLLECTION. We acknowledge the past existence of original-gum 12c F Grill multiples, which in recent years have been broken to furnish choice singles (this came from a block). However, the quality of this particular stamp — its centering and margins, shade and overall freshness — qualify it as one of the three or four finest in existence. Ex Caspary and Moody as part of an imprint block and ex Morris as a single. With 1987 and 1994 P.F. certificates, the former as a block.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jan 2009, Sale 968, Lot 122

12c Black, F. Grill (97). Block of four, original gum, small h.r., bright shade on crisp paper, clearly-defined grills, choice centering throughout VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. VERY FEW BLOCKS EXIST IN ANY CONDITION, AND THIS IS PERHAPS THE FINEST. Our records contain only six original-gum blocks of the 12c F Grill. Some of these have probably been broken to feed collector demand for singles (the previous lot is a perfect example), and therefore the number of surviving multiples may be smaller. Blocks of four are the largest surviving multiples, since the Caspary block of eight has been broken. With 1986 and 2003 P.F. certificates. As another indication of rarity, the Scott Catalogue assigns a 214% premium for the block versus four singles.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jan 2009, Sale 968, Lot 123

UNITED STATES 1867 GRILL ISSUE 1867 12c black, F. Grill, deep rich color, lightly hinged, fine, with 2005 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Jan 2009, Sale 200901, Lot 112

UNITED STATES 1867 GRILL ISSUE 1867 12c black, F. Grill, unused with original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful color, well centered for this difficult issue, fresh and v.f., with 1995 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Jan 2009, Sale 200901, Lot 111

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Original gum, uncommonly well-centered, clear impression, several tiny toning spots of little import, otherwise Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 967, Lot 4206

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Wide margins and wonderfully centered, neat large circle of wedges cancel, clear impression EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS 1868 12-CENT F GRILL IN CHOICE USED CONDITION, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $2,700.00). Only two have graded higher, while nine others share this grade.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 967, Lot 4207

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Beautiful margins and exceptional centering, circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90, SMQ value $750.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 967, Lot 4208

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Choice centering with wide margins, pretty shade, circle of wedges cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 967, Lot 4209

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Large part original gum, intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering with well-balanced margins EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 12-CENT F GRILL. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING. With 1999 P.F. certificate which states “part original gum”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 600

12c Black, F. Grill (Scott 97). Crisp impression, light strike of cancel, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 601