US Stamp Value Scott 140: 1870 12c Henry Clay National Bank Note Grill. Page 1

USA (Scott 140) 1870 CLAY GRILLED BANKNOTE 12¢ DULL VIOLET Genuine, segmented cork cancel, reperforated at left plus several small faults, very good. Genuine copies are scarce. (2014 PF Cert #523646) Cat $3750.

Regency-Superior, Aug 2015, Sale 112, Lot 300

o U.S.; General Issues, 1870, 12¢ Dull Violet, H. Grill, #140, used, quite nicely centered with several visible grill points, 2 nibbed perfs at top not mentioned in cert., fine, PF (1964) cert. Scott $3,750. Estimate price $800-1,000.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2015, Sale 106, Lot 1493

12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (Scott 140). Characteristic shade of the genuine 12c Grilled Bank Note, oval grid cancel, minor corner creasing, Fine appearance, with 1960 P.F. certificate as “faint partial grill” (doesn’t mention corner crease)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 1107, Lot 264

Scott #140, 12c Dull violet with “H” grill, a rather attractive used example of this scarce stamp, with lovely rich color and a clean impression, well centered with petite cross-roads cancel, the grill is often difficult to see on this stamp because of its dark color but several discernable points show behind the head, very fine; 1971 PF certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 151, Lot 136

United States 1870-73 Banknote Issues 1870 12c dull violet, unused with full original gum, h.r., fresh color, a fine sound example of this rare unused stamp, only a handful exist with original gum, with 1985 and 2015 PFCs

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2015, Sale 201507, Lot 2061

12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (Scott 140). Perfectly centered, lovely pastel shade nicely complemented by red cancel, several discernible grill points at right EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE AND ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH A RED CANCEL. With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 269

United States 1870-73 Banknote Issues 1870 12c dull violet, segmented cork cancel, reperforated at left, sealed tear, thin and perf. faults, otherwise fine example of this rare stamp, with 2014 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Mar 2015, Sale 201503, Lot 11

o 1870, 12¢ dull violet, H. grill (140), well centered, rich color. Neat circle of wedges cancel. Faint creases, not mentioned in accompanying certificate. Choice Very Fine appearance. Scott price $3,750 Expertization: 1996 P.S.E. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2015, Sale 351, Lot 110

12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (Scott 140). Intense shade, easily discernible grill points, quartered cork cancel, unusually wide top margin (possibly from top row of sheet), sealed tear at right near top, Very Fine appearance, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3378

12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Horizontal strip of four, each stamp shows some discernible grill points, pretty shade, unobtrusive cancel, left stamp small corner creases FINE AND RARE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. Linn’s Stamp Facts reports one unused block of four (ex Zoellner), and notes that pairs are the largest reported used multiple (they must have been unaware of this strip). With 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $17,000.00

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3379

12c Dull Violet, H. Grill (140). Distinct vertical row of grill points behind ear of portrait and horizontal row across top of head, fresh color in distinctive 12c grilled-issue shade, tied by target cancel on salmon-colored cover addressed in violet to Gotland, Sweden, indistinct strike of town datestamp, red “New York 4 May 4” (1872) credit datestamp, red “Wfr. 1-1/2” German credit handstamp (re-stated credit in silbergroschen), Swedish receiving backstamps (May 20 and 21, 1872) VERY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE ON COVER. ONLY FOUR COVERS ARE REPORTED — THIS IS THE ONLY COVER TO SWEDEN. Our Levi records contain three other covers previously described as bearing the 12c 1870 Grilled Issue: 1) single used alone on cover to Liverpool, ex Braus (Siegel Sale 449, lot 54); 2) used with 10c 1870 to India, Bissell corr. (ex Braus, Siegel Sale 449, lot 55); and 3) used with Nos. 145, 146, 147 and 148 on large domestic cover from the Austro-Hungarian Consulate in New York (Siegel Sale Apr. 18, 1979, lot 175). This fourth cover was identified by us after it was consigned to our auction in 2001 as a No. 151. The grill on this stamp is much stronger than the grills on the stamps on the other covers. The stamp overpays the 11c NGU Closed Mail rate to Sweden. The cover was carried on the North German Lloyd’s Weser II, departing New York on May 4 and arriving in Southampton on May 15, 1872. Ex Andromeda. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott value for 12c Grill is $3,750.00 off cover and $7,000.00 on cover

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3380

1870, 12¢ dull violet, H. grill (Scott 140), neat black cancellation, handsome large margined example with a nice clear grill, fresh and appealing; expertly cleaned, somewhat affecting the color of the stamp, otherwise Very Fine, 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott $3,750. Estimate $1,200 – 1,800.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, May 2014, Sale 652, Lot 270

o    12¢ dull violet, H. grill (Scott 140), nicely centered, rich color for this, many visible grill points, single short corner perf, otherwise F.-V.F (photo). $3,750 Expertization: 2009 P.S.E. Certificate graded VG-F 60 (reduced for short perf).

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 255

o    12¢ dull violet, H. grill (Scott 140), well centered within positively huge margins for the 12¢ grilled Bank Note, many visible grill points, excellent color for this, and with a New York Foreign Mail cancel (Weiss Type ST-8P11), Very Fine. SMQ price $3,100 for normal 80 (photo). $3,750 OUTSTANDING QUALITY FOR THE VERY DIFFICULT 12¢, BEING THE ONLY ONE AT THIS JUMBO GRADE AND ONLY TWO GRADED HIGHER (85). Expertization: 1976 APS, 2010 and 2012 P.S.E. Certificates, the latter graded VF 80J.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 254

1870, 12¢ dull violet, H. grill (Scott 140), neat black cancellation that doesn’t obliterate the stamp’s design, a most impressive example of this extremely scarce grilled stamp, beautifully centered with vibrant color, despite having a small crease, this stamp is among the best centered examples of this notoriously difficult stamp; faint (invisible) corner crease, otherwise Extremely Fine, 2014 P.S.E. certificate & 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott $3,750. Estimate $2,000 – 3,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Mar 2014, Sale 648, Lot 2077