US Stamps Prices Scott 85: 1868 3c George Washington Bank Note Grill. Page 1

o U.S.; General Issues, 1867, 3¢, D. Grill, Fancy Cancel, #85, fresh, cancelled by choice black Eagle, small tear at right, fine appearance, PSE (1988) cert. Scott $1,100. Estimate price $180-200.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2015, Sale 106, Lot 1426

o U.S.; General Issues, 1867, 3¢ Rose, D. Grill, #85, black cork cancel, “light diagonal crease”, Fine to Very Fine appearance, PSAG (2015) cert. Scott $1,050. Estimate price $180-220.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2015, Sale 106, Lot 1427

1867, 3¢ rose, D. grill (Scott 85), without gum, fresh stamp with wonderful rich color, much richer than usually encountered, an attractive fault free D grill, scarce thus, Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate. Scott $2,150. Estimate $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2015, Sale 672, Lot 2276

1867, 3¢ rose, D. grill (Scott 85), light black cancellation, outstanding top quality example of this scarce D grill, beautifully centered with bright color, completely sound and attractive – scarce thus, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,050. Estimate price $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2015, Sale 672, Lot 2277

1867, 3¢ rose, D. grill (Scott 85), bold rosette cancellation, impressive rich shade, very pleasing example of this tough stamp, Very Good, with 2010 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,050. Estimate value $200 – 300.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2015, Sale 672, Lot 2279

United States 1867 Grill Issue 1867 3c rose, D. Grill, black segmented cork cancel, well centered, fresh and fine, with 1995 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2015, Sale 201507, Lot 39

85, 1868 3c Rose, ‘D’ Grill, rosette cancel, Very Fine, 2015 PF certificate (Scott price $1,050)

H.R. Harmer, Jun 2015, Sale 3007, Lot 3160

85, 1867 3c Rose, ‘D’ Grill,removed cancel, corner crease at top right and perf faults at top, Very Good; 2015 PSE certificate (Scott price $1,050) 

H.R. Harmer, Jun 2015, Sale 3007, Lot 3161

United States 1867 Grill Issue 1867 3c rose, D.Grill, negative black star cancel, well centered for this issue, fine, with 2002 PSE certificate

Cherrystone Auctions, May 2015, Sale 201505, Lot 9

3c Rose, D. Grill (Scott 85). Bright color, clear grill, neat cork cancel, fresh and Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 162

3c Rose, D. Grill (85). Original gum, near perfect centering, deep shade, prominent grill with full width visible, few slightly nibbed perfs EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 1868 3-CENT D GRILL WITH ORIGINAL GUM. The D Grill was refitted with the E Grill on or about February 9, 1868. Based on the earliest documented uses of the 3c D Grill (2/1/68) and 3c E Grill (2/12/68), it is our theory that the conversion from the D to E Grill took place very soon after sheets of 3c stamps were first run through the D-equipped machine. To determine Scott 85’s rarity, we surveyed a series of major United States collections. The results of our survey are as follows: Caspary–none; T. Charlton Henry–none; Concord (1994 Rarities)–unused (no gum); “Connoisseur” (Superior 1992)–choice o.g. stamp (also Whitman); Cole–unused (no gum); Grunin–unused (no gum); Ishikawa–unused (no gum); Klein-none; Lilly–off-center block (no gum); Seymour–none; Sinkler–Fine block (no gum); Weisman–unused (no gum); West-none; Zoellner–used only; and Rarities sales (blocks without gum and stamps accounted for elsewhere in this list). A total of eight sound original-gum stamps in Very Fine (5) or Extremely Fine (3) grades have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. Therefore, although the Scott Catalogue values an original-gum example at $6,000.00, in real terms the rarity of a sound well-centered 3c D Grill with original gum puts it on a par with the major A and Z Grill rarities (2-8 recorded for each). The bidders will determine the ultimate price, but we foresee this stamp easily realizing a substantial five-figure sum. With 1993 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 161

1867, 3¢ rose, D. grill. Light cork cancel, wide margins, rich bright color; reperforated at left, Very Fine appearance, with 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 85; $1,100.

Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, Apr 2015, Sale 60, Lot 2055

1867, 3¢ rose, D. grill. Bold geometric grid cancel, wide margins, bright color, nearly Very Fine. Scott No. 85; $1,050.

Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, Apr 2015, Sale 60, Lot 2054

Scott #85, 3c Rose, “D” grill, single centered to upper left tied by quartered cork cancel on cover to New York, indistinct town postmark, stamp lifted for examination and hinged back in place, fine and scarce.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jan 2015, Sale 150, Lot 86

Scott #85, 3c Rose, “D” grill, used, rather well centered and cancelled by a purple quartered cork cancel, small perforation faults and some light soiling, fine; a scarce grill and the purple cancel, which should get a substantial premium, is not noted on this scarce stamp; 2014 PF certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jan 2015, Sale 150, Lot 85