Prices of US Stamps Scott 143 – 1870 30c Alexander Hamilton National Bank Note Grill. Page 7

30c Black, Grill (Scott 143). H. Grill, intense shade with large red grid cancel VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE WITH RED CANCEL. Signed “S.A.” (Spencer Anderson). With 2009 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1543

30c Black, Grill (Scott 143). H. Grill, several easily visible rows of grill points, crisp impression, segmented cork cancel VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE IS RARELY FOUND IN THIS CHOICE USED CONDITION. With 1987 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1542

30c Black, Grill (Scott 143). H. Grill, cork cancel, small faults, Fine appearance, with 2009 P.F. certificate which declines opinion as to the origin of the cancel

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1545

30c Black, Grill (Scott 143). H. Grill with strong grill points, cork cancel, fresh and Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1544

30c Black, Grill (143). H. Grill, original gum, lightly hinged, several noticeable grill points, intense shade and impression VERY FINE AND CHOICE. 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 the original-gum examples, which are rare, only a few would grade Very Fine or better. Our computerized records contain four others in sound, original-gum condition with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through sixty 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 does not even show an “OG” category for this stamp in any grade (although the SMQ lists OG values up to VF 80). The finest we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9). Ex Argentum and Vineyard. With 1967, 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3146

UNITED STATES 1870-88 BANKNOTE ISSUES 1870 30c black, black canc., usual centering, rich color, fine, with 2004 PSE cert.

Cherrystone Auctions, Jan 2009, Sale 200901, Lot 143

30c Black, Grill (Scott 143). H. Grill, several noticeable grill points, rich shade, cork cancel, few short perfs not mentioned on accompanying certificate, otherwise Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 741

30c Black, Grill (Scott 143). H. Grill, cancel removed, reperfed and small faults, Fine appearance

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2008, Sale 962, Lot 2435

() 1870, 30¢ black, grilled (143), fresh and intense color, numerous distinct grill points, unused, a few trimmed perforations at lower right, a few small tone spots, virtually invisible from front, otherwise Fine. Scott value $8,250 Expertization: 1998 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2007, Sale 325, Lot 1637

o 1870, 30¢ black, grilled (143), choice centering with large margins, a nearly complete grill (a rare occurence on a high value grill) and a light, centrally struck radial cork cancellation, reperforated at the right (not mentioned in either P.F. Certificate, and an opinion with which we strongly disagree), otherwise an incredible, Extremely Fine gem. Scott $3,750 Expertization: 1973, 1994 P.F. (both clear) and 2007 P.S.E. Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2007, Sale 323, Lot 332