US Stamp Prices Scott 143: 1870 30c Alexander Hamilton National Bank Note Grill. Page 3

1870, 30¢ black, H. grill (143), o.g., very lightly hinged, among the few existing completely sound 30¢ grilled Banknote issues, a wonderfully fresh and choice example showing several visible grill points, a major league philatelic rarity missing from even the most advanced collections, Fine, 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott $20,000. Estimate price $6,000 – 8,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2013, Sale 639, Lot 3258

1870, 30¢ black, H. grill (143), neat black circle of V’s cancellation, exceptional well centered with clearly evident grill impression, with beautiful rich color and clearly etched impression; faint trace of crease at top left only shows in fluid, otherwise Very Fine, 1987 A.P.S. and 2013 P.F. certificates. Scott $4,000. Estimate value $2,000 – 3,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2013, Sale 639, Lot 1055

Scott #143, 30c Black with grill, pleasing used example of this difficult stamp, light and transparent cork cancel, very tiny thin spot, otherwise fine; clear1983 PF certificate and 2013 PSE certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Aug 2013, Sale 144, Lot 172

30c Black, H. Grill (Scott 143). Intense shade and impression, neat circle of wedges cancel, reperfed at left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2012 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2013, Sale 1050, Lot 275

30c Black, H. Grill (Scott 143). Detailed impression, well-defined grill, wide and balanced margins, small corner perf crease at bottom left only visible in fluid EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY H GRILL. This issue is difficult to obtain with such wide and balanced margins. We have never encountered another of this size. With 2012 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2013, Sale 1050, Lot 274

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

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2013, Sale 1050, Lot 273

143, 1870 30c Black, “H” grill, ,vivid color with strong grill impression, small faults, VG, a rare stamp in any condition, 2013 PSE ,Certificate (Scott price $4,000)

H.R. Harmer, Jun 2013, Sale 3003, Lot 1118

o U.S.; General Issues, 1870, 30¢ black, grilled, #143. Used, rare stamp, Fine, PF (1964) cert. Scott $4,000. Estimate $800.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, May 2013, Sale 97, Lot 344

30c Black, H. Grill (143). Original gum, h.r. near top, noticeable grill points along Hamilton’s forehead, intense shade and impression VERY FINE. THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM 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 one stamp in the “OG” category, which is graded Fine 70. The finest example we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9). Small pencil “Grill J.M. Bartels” signature on back. With 1999 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, May 2013, Sale 1044, Lot 125

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

Cherrystone Auctions, May 2013, Sale 201305, Lot 84

1870, 30¢ black, grilled (Scott 143), neat black crossroads cancellation, unusually well centered example with bold color and a nearly complete grill impression – scarce thus; tiny thin spot, otherwise Very Fine. Scott $4,000. Estimate price $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Apr 2013, Sale 636, Lot 162

Scott #143, 30c Black with grill, pleasing used example of this difficult stamp, light and transparent cork cancel, fine; 1983 PF certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Mar 2013, Sale 142, Lot 215

1870, 30¢ black, grilled (Scott 143), attractive light black cancellation, extraordinary copy of this scarce and undervalued stamp, the 30c grilled Banknote issue, easily identifiable grill points, astounding deep rich color with tremendous eye appeal, a great stamp that would please the most discriminating collector, Fine, 1986 P.F. certificate. Scott $4,000. Estimate value $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Feb 2013, Sale 634, Lot 117

30c Black, H. Grill (Scott 143). Intense shade with neat segmented cork cancel, the grill is very faint and difficult to detect, otherwise Fine and scarce, with 1997 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2012, Sale 1037, Lot 1714

30c Black, H. Grill (Scott 143). Intense shade and impression, unusually clear grill points, far better centering than normally seen with wide margins, cork cancel EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS TO OBTAIN IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION. The 30c National Bank Note Co. Grilled Issue is normally seen with small margins, or is off-center. If one sees a centered copy, it more often than not turns out to have a small flaw. The stamp offered here is truly the exception to the rule. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $7,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2012, Sale 1034, Lot 147