Cost of US Stamp Scott 140: 1870 12c Henry Clay National Bank Note Grill. Page 4

12c Dull Violet, I. Grill (140 var). Disturbed original gum, overall rectangular grill impression showing size and shape of grill, several grill points along the bottom of the impression visible at center left, the grill points and overall impression are clear enough that noted expert Ronald A. Burns has definitively identified this as an early state of the I Grill, attractive shade, light diagonal surface rub across the face of the stamp VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY CONFIRMED AND CERTIFIED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE WITH THE I GRILL. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE BANK NOTE ISSUE, WHICH MAY ONE DAY BECOME A KEY TO A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF MAJOR SCOTT-LISTED UNITED STATES STAMPS. # At least two sizes of grills were used by the National Bank Note Company for the 1870 Issue. They are identified by Scott Catalogue by a notation prior to Scott 134, which assigns them the letters H and I. However, to date they have not been separately catalogued, as have the different grills used in 1867 and 1868 (A, B, C, D, Z, E and F Grills). The G Grill was used on the 1869 Pictorial Issue. The H Grill is larger than the I Grill, measuring approximately 11-13 points wide by 14-16 points tall when the full dimensions are visible. It is found on all values from the 1c thru the 90c. The I Grill measures from 9-11 points wide by 10-13 points tall. It is often a stronger grill impression (though many times incomplete). Students also distinguish between early and late states of the grilling device. The sizes of the grills remained the same in both states, but the characteristics of the grill points changed in different ways as the device wore away. The early state I Grill, as in the stamp offered here, has a very distinct shape to the grill points. In 2004 we started to distinguish between the H and I Grills in our catalogue descriptions and research, in an effort to establish relative scarcity. The 1c thru 7c makes up the bulk of the population of the I Grill, but it is also known on the 10c (approximately a dozen used known), 12c (one certified unused copy offered here and another unused example reported by Ron Burns), 15c (3 unused and 11 used known) and the 90c (3 used known). The recently-discovered 30c I Grill — the listing copy — is offered in the following lot and fills in a gap, leaving only the 24c value to be discovered with the I Grill. If the Scott Catalogue editors were to be consistent in their listing policy of grills across all issues, then they would separate the H and I Grills into major catalogue numbers, as they do for the 1867-68 Grilled Issue. If this were to occur, then the rare Bank Note I Grills would take their place alongside other grilled-stamp rarities such as Nos. 80, 81, 82, 85A, 85D and 85F. Ex Edward H. R. Green and Col. Aisenstadt. With 1957 A.P.S. certificate not specifying grill type. With 2011 P.F. certificate. Accompanied by a note and analysis by Ronald A. Burns, one of the foremost authorities on the Bank Note grills, who points out that this may be the 12c I Grill reported by J. B. Leavy in 1897. Scott Retail as normal grill, with no premium for the I Grill.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1371

o 1870, 12¢ dull violet, grilled (140), beautifully centered with unusually large margins, rich color and a well impressed, unmistakable grill; neatly canceled by a circled “85”, Extremely Fine. Scott $3,750. Scott Stamp Values $7,750 for a normal XF 90 A SIMPLY STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THIS MOST DIFFICULT GRILLED ISSUE, MADE EVEN MORE SPECIAL BY THE PRESENCE OF A FANCY NUMERAL CANCEL. Expertization: 1999, 2001 & 2011 PF Certificates, the latter graded XF 90 XQ.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2011, Sale 338, Lot 1814

12c Dull Violet, Grill (Scott 140). H. Grill, light cancel, couple perf flaws, Very Good, with 1978 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2332

12c Dull Violet, Grill (Scott 140). H. Grill, wide margins and ever so slightly in at bottom, richer color that typically seen, bold red New York Foreign Mail crossroads cancel, small margin crease, Fine appearance, with 1972 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2331

o 1870, 12¢ dull violet, grilled (140), fairly strong grill and neat barred ellipse cancel, neatly reperfed at left; fresh Fine appearance. Scott price $3,750 Expertization: 1989 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2619

o 1870, 12¢ dull violet, grilled (140), nicely centered with a strong, nearly complete H. grill and a light red N.Y.F.M. cancel cancel, reinforced corner perf at upper right; fresh and F.-V.F. Scott value $3,750 Expertization: 2001 APS Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2617

o 1870, 12¢ dull violet, grilled (140), nicely centered with a light cancel and a fairly strong grill; minor corner crease and tiny perf tear; fresh, F.-V.F. appearance. Scott $3,750 Expertization: 1977 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2618

12c Dull Violet, Grill (Scott 140). H. Grill, exceptionally wide margins all around, beautifully centered, red cork cancel, reperfed at top, otherwise Extremely Fine, of all 12c 1870 Grill stamps we viewed in Power Search, this is perhaps the most spectacular appearing, with 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2010, Sale 997, Lot 5552

12c Dull Violet, Grill (Scott 140). Choice centering, bold blue cork cancel and trace of red cancel at bottom, rich color in attractive pastel shade, tiny negligible corner crease at upper right does not detract, Extremely Fine Gem appearance, very few are known with colored cancellations, with 1972 P.F. and 1994 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2010, Sale 997, Lot 5551

o 1870, 12¢ dull violet, end roller grill (140), strong color and grill, average centering but fresh and sound and exceedingly rare. Scott value $7,250 Expertization: 1969 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2010, Sale 333, Lot 3526

o 1870, 12¢ dull violet, grilled (140), nicely centered and lightly canceled with a typically weak but nearly complete grill, F.-V.F. Scott $3,750 AN OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE GRILL. Expertization: 1995 APS and 2010 PF Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2010, Sale 331, Lot 503

o U.S.; General Issues, 1870, 12¢ Dull Violet, Grilled, #140. Used, Fine. Scott $3,750. Estimate value $600-700.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Jul 2010, Sale 86, Lot 393

12c Dull Violet, Grill (Scott 140). H. Grill, wide nicely balanced margins, clear grill, cork cancel, light horizontal crease VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE WELL-CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 12-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. With 1997 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2010, Sale 992, Lot 2220

12c Dull Violet, Grill (Scott 140). H. Grill, pretty shade, discernible grill points, neat strike of small “cloverleaf” cork cancel, Fine and scarce with this fancy cancel, with 1955 A.P.S. and 1979 P.F. certificates which do not specify the grill type

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 466

12c Dull Violet, End Roller Grill (140 var). H. Grill, right third of the stamp with clearly-defined grill points, cancel removed, light horizontal crease and small tear at bottom, appears Fine, scarce grill variety, this is the listing copy, with 1980 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2010, Sale 983, Lot 98