US Stamps Prices Scott 79: 1867 3c George Washington Bank Note Grill. Page 2

U.S.; General Issues, 1867, 3¢ rose, A. grill, #79. CA cancel on original piece with usual small perforation irregularities, Fine, PSAG (2014) cert. Scott $1,500. Estimate $350.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 103, Lot 94

3c Rose, A. Grill (Scott 79). Centering and perfs superior to typical 3c A Grill stamps, tied by cork and “Cairo Ill. Aug. 18” (1867) duplex datestamp on buff cover to Oakley La. with sender’s routing “Via Natchez for Distrobution” [sic], Very Fine, ex Cole, Hill and Martin

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3237

3c Rose, A. Grill (Scott 79). Fully impressed grill but mercifully leaving perfs far more intact than normally seen on this experimental all-over grill issue, bold quartered cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, the all-over grill was discontinued after a short period of production because the grill interfered with perforations and separation, with 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3235

79, 1867 3c Rose, “A” Grill,blue cork cancel, several faults (Scott value $1,500) 

H.R. Harmer, Oct 2014, Sale 3006, Lot 1120

1867, 3¢ rose, A. grill (Scott 79), lovely blue quartered cork cancellation, nicely centered with vibrant color, a premium example of this notoriously difficult stamp, especially with an attractive colored postmark; normal perf faults for this grilled all over issue along bottom margin, but much nicer than usually encountered, Fine to Very Fine appearance. Scott $1,625. Estimate $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2014, Sale 660, Lot 2108

3c Rose, A. Grill (Scott 79). Horizontal pair, clearly-defined grill with perfs far more intact than normally seen, tied by “Cairo Ill. Aug. 23” circular datestamp and quartered cork cancel on small orange piece, rich color, choice centering VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE PAIR OF THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL. The 3c stamps issued in August 1867 with experimental Type A grills were the first of the 1867-68 grills. They were soon replaced by other grill types, because the grilling all over weakened the sheets and resulted in poor separations with perforations or pieces torn out. Multiples are scarce, especially in such choice condition. This pair has perf teeth almost all around with only one short perf at bottom of right stamp and two small nicks at top of left stamp. With 2012 PSAG certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2014, Sale 1078, Lot 192

1867, 3¢ rose, A. grill (Scott 79), lightly struck black target cancellation, premium quality example of this extremely scarce A grill, the grilled all over 1867 issue, with vivid color and virtually all perforations intact, rare thus, as this stamp almost never comes with such beautiful qualities, Very Fine, 1980 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,500. Estimate price $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2014, Sale 655, Lot 227

U.S. General Issues, 1867, 3¢ Rose, A. Grill, #79, used on piece, marginal copy, “pulled perf at top”, condition much better than usually seen (see Scott footnote), Fine to Very Fine, PF (2003) cert. Scott $1,500. Estimate $700-800.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2014, Sale 102, Lot 1722

*    3¢ rose, A. grill (Scott 79), well defined grill, deep rich color, full original gum, tiny hinge remnant, some usual perf flaws, fresh and Fine (photo). $8,500 A SCARCE SOUND ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3¢ A. GRILL. A REVIEW OF THE ONLINE RECORDS OF THE PF DID NOT TURN UP EVEN ONE EXAMPLE WITH FULLY INTACT PERFORATIONS! Expertization: 2002 P.S.E. Certificate. Provenance: Schwenk.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 139

o    3¢ rose, A. grill (Scott 79), rather well centered for the issue, bright fresh color, neat “crossroads” cancel, less than the usual perf faults endemic on this issue, F.-V.F (photo). $1,500 for F-VF with perf faults Expertization: 2012 P.S.E. Certificate graded VG-F 60.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 140

1867, 3¢ rose, A. grill (Scott 79), blue target cancellations, extraordinary top quality example of this incredibly difficlut stamp; wonderfully well centered with nearly all its perforations intact – rare thus, as this issue almost never comes in any quality close to the quality of this stamp; deserving placement in the finest collection; perf faults as one would expect, Very Fine to Extremely Fine one of the nicer examples of this scarce issue, 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott $1,625. Estimate price $1,500 – 2,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Mar 2014, Sale 648, Lot 2046

3c Rose, A. Grill (79). Unusually choice centering, perforations completely intact on all four sides, brilliant color and detailed impression, clear grill points, attractive blue pinwheel fancy cancel EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1867 EXPERIMENTAL ALL-OVER GRILL IN EXISTENCE. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT — CENTERING, COLOR, IMPRESSION, PAPER, PERFORATIONS AND CANCELLATION. The August 1867 3c experimental A Grill was the first grilled issue. It was soon learned that the all-over grill weakened the paper and interfered with perforating and separating, resulting in rough perforations and pieces torn out of the margins when split apart. Within two months of A Grill production the apparatus was modified by dividing the embossed area into small rectangular units within each stamp (C Grill). The 3c A Grill, Scott 79, is one of the most distinctive of 19th century United States stamps by virtue of its consistently poor appearance (the highest grade thus faR is a 60). The Scott Catalogue values this stamp in Fine-Very Fine grade and with perforation faults, the norm for the issue. Any example with complete perforations and in sound condition is valued far in excess of the Scott Catalogue price. The example offered here, which received a clear but not as heavy grill impression as usual — allowing the perfs to remain intact — realized hammer prices of $5,500 when sold by our firm in 1987, $7,500 in our 1998 Zoellner sale, $12,500 in our 1999 Dr. Puliafito sale and $35,000 in its last auction appearance in the 2012 Natalee Grace sale. Ex Zoellner, Dr. Puliafito and Natalee Grace. With 1966, 1987 and 2012 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue states that “Values for No. 79 are for Fine-Very Fine examples with minor perf faults. Examples with complete or virtually complete perforations sell for much more.”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2013, Sale 1062, Lot 261

1867, 3¢ rose, A. grill (79), manuscript penstroke cancellation, decent example of this scarce grilled all over stamp, much nicer than usually found; small faults as normally found on this notoriously difficult issue, otherwise Fine. Scott $1,500 for normal cancel. Estimate value $400 – 600.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Dec 2013, Sale 640, Lot 106

1867, 3¢ rose, A. grill (79), lighter than normal neat black cancellation, good looking example of this terribly difficult stamp, with extremely bright color; nibbed perfs as usually found on this impossible grilled all over issue, repair along right margin adding a small piece, otherwise Very Fine. Scott $1,500. Estimate price $350 – 500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Dec 2013, Sale 640, Lot 107

3c Rose, A. Grill (Scott 79). Large part original gum, intense shade and impression, lighter than usual grill impression which leaves perforations on all sides completely intact, faint horizontal crease FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1867 3-CENT A GRILL. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE PERFORATIONS INTACT. Due to the nature of the grilling machine and the all-over grill, most examples of this issue have missing or ragged perfs. The example offered here, with intact perfs all around, is a condition rarity. Ex Geisler. With 1986, 1990 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1057, Lot 639