US Stamps Price Scott 143: 1870 30c Alexander Hamilton National Bank Note Grill. Page 1

1870, 30¢ black, H. grill (Scott 143), lightly struck cancellation, scarce grilled 30 cent Banknote issue, with a couple barely discernable grill points present, with beautiful rich color; reperforated at top not mentioned on accompanying certificate, otherwise Fine to Very Fine, with 1959 P.F. certificate. Scott $4,000. Estimate price $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2015, Sale 672, Lot 2408

United States 1870-73 Banknote Issues 1870 30c black, black cancel, usual centering, rich color, fine, with 2004 PSE cert.

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2015, Sale 201507, Lot 55

Scott #143, 30c Black, “H” grill, a presentable used example of this scarce grilled issue, the grill is unusually well defined for a grill with a large portion of the grill points showing and that show all the characteristics of being an early-state “H” grill which often show only a few edge points, deep color and lightly cancelled, a few nibbed perfs. at lower right and small h.s. on reverse shows faintly shows to the front, fine and a nice item for the grill specialist; 2015 PF certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 151, Lot 139

Scott #143, 30c Black with “H” grill, attractive used single, intense color and strong impression on fresh paper, full even perforations, the grill shows several distinct points in the bust area, lightly cancelled, a fine example of this rare grilled value; signed H. Bloch and accompanied by a 1976 Friedl certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 151, Lot 138

United States 1870-73 Banknote Issues 1870 30c black, unused without gum, rich color, inconsequential corner perf. crease at upper left, mentioned for accuracy’s sake, otherwise a fine example of this unused stamp, with clear 1981 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2015, Sale 201507, Lot 2063

30c Black, H. Grill (Scott 143). Intense shade and impression, bold cork cancel, several rows of clear grill points, reperfed at right, deceptively so and not noted on accompanying certificate, Very Fine appearance, with 2004 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 274

30c Black, H. Grill (143). Redistributed original gum, h.r., intense shade and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issue EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTETING AND IN SOUND CONDITION. The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among original-gum examples, which are rare in any condition, only a few sound examples would grade Very Fine or better — our computerized records contain five others with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through 60 years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. In fact, even among the collections famed for quality Bank Note issues — Caspary, Lilly, Henry, Ambassador, Braus, Floyd, Whitman et al — we could not find any original-gum examples that would grade Very Fine or better. Further demonstrating just how rare Scott 143 is in this condition, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only two stamps in the “OG” category, one graded 90 and the other graded 70, both offered in our recent Curtis sale. The finest original-gum example we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9). With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 273

1870, 30¢ black, H. grill. Light red cancel, nicely centered amid large margins, deep color; couple small thin spots, Very Fine appearance, with 1984 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 143; $4,000.

Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, Apr 2015, Sale 60, Lot 2145

1870, 30¢ black, H. grill (Scott 143), spectacular red segmented cork cancellation, among the most attractive examples of this rare grilled stamp we have ever had the pleasure to offer at public auction, a flawless sound stamp with tantalizing rich color and detailed impression, with many clearly identifiable grill points, as the majority of these 30 cent grills are unpleasing to the eye, finding an example with the attributes that this stamp possesses is a tremendous accomplishment, just a great stamp, Fine to Very Fine, 1968 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates. Scott $4,125. Estimate $2,500 – 3,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jan 2015, Sale 663, Lot 1383

USA (Scott 143) 1870 HAMILTON GRILLED BANKNOTE 30¢ BLACK Rich color, small part original gum and light red offset on back, fine. Rare in sound condition. (2012 PF Cert #508919). Cat value $20000.

Regency-Superior, Jan 2015, Sale 109, Lot 804

30c Black, H. Grill (Scott 143). Unused (no gum), clear grill points, deep shade, expertly reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance, a scarce unused stamp in any condition, with 2013 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2014, Sale 1090, Lot 1304

1870, 30¢ black, H. grill (Scott 143), unused without gum, lovely and fresh example with clear grill impression, beautiful rich shade, a wonderful opportunity to acquire a scarce unused 30 cent grilled banknote issue at an affordable price; tiny faults include a couple tiny tears at bottom, and small thins at top, Fine to Very Fine appearance, 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott $7,500. Estimate value $2,000 – 3,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Dec 2014, Sale 661, Lot 142

USA (Scott 143) 1870 HAMILTON GRILLED BANKNOTE 30? BLACK Well centered, lightly canceled, thin surface scrape lower left through TY of THIRTY. Very fine appearance. (2009 PSE Cert #01206192) Cat value $4000.

Regency-Superior, Nov 2014, Sale 108, Lot 325

30c Black, H. Grill (Scott 143). Intense shade and impression, several rows of easily discernible grill points, Jumbo margins VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. With 1983 and 1999 P.F. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3386

143, 1870 30c Black “H” Grill,used, strong grill impression, scarce denomination, 1972 PF and 2014 PSE graded F-VF 75 certificates (Scott value $4,000) 

H.R. Harmer, Oct 2014, Sale 3006, Lot 1203