Price of US Stamp Scott Catalogue 98: 1868 15c Abraham Lincoln Bank Note Grill. Page 9

15c Black, F. Grill (Scott 98). Five singles, original gum, each centered to left and slightly in, few small faults incl. creases, otherwise Very Good, scarce group with original gum and seldom seen in this quantity

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1419

15c Black, F. Grill (Scott 98). Intense shade, bold strike of cork cancel and also trace of red cancel at bottom right, Very Fine and choice

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1420

15c Black, F. Grill (Scott 98). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill, intense shade and impression FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL. With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3098

() U.S.; General Issues, 1867, 15¢ Black, F. Grill, #98. Unused, “creased”, Fine appearance, PF (1993) cert. Scott $1,750. Estimate price $200-250.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2009, Sale 80, Lot 1132

15c Black, F. Grill (98). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, detailed impression, clearly-defined grill, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL IN EXISTENCE. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS ATTAINED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE. THIS STAMP IS OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE. The ungrilled version of this issue was released in 1866, about one year after President Lincoln was assassinated. It is regarded by many to be America’s first commemorative issue, memorializing the martyred president as the nation started to heal from the wounds of the Civil War. In 1868 it was issued with two grill types, the E Grill (Scott 91) and F Grill (Scott 98). 15c usually paid the registration fee on domestic mail or the U.S.-French treaty rate. Although some of the 15c F Grill blocks have been broken to furnish choice singles, we were unable to locate any other stamps among multiples that would qualify for the coveted P.S.E. grade of Superb 98. Ex Concord, Morris and Weisman. With 1987 and 1994 P.F. and 1998 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and this is the only example awarded this grade. Accompanied by note from master grader Dr. William Litle which reads “I think this is the first 98 Scott No. 77, 91 or 98 of any kind”.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jan 2009, Sale 968, Lot 124

15c Black, F. Grill (Scott 98). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade and detailed impression, clearly-defined grills, some tiny insignificant pinpoint gum toned specks not even worth mentioning on accompanying 2007 P.F. certificate VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL. THIS IS AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT BLOCK TO FIND WITH DECENT CENTERING. The largest recorded original gum multiples are a reconstructed block of 20 and a block of 16. Both are significantly off center with perfs cutting far into the stamp designs. With 1988 and 2007 P.F. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jan 2009, Sale 968, Lot 125

15c Black, F. Grill (98). Mathematically perfect centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, bright shade and crisp impression, clear grill points, light strike of target cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, long and full perforations all around EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS USED 1868 15-CENT E GRILL IS UNDENIABLY THE PERFECT STAMP, POSSESSING EVERY QUALITY ONE COULD POSSIBLY HOPE FOR — CENTERING, IMPRESSION, STONG GRILL, FULL PERFORATIONS AND A LIGHT CANCEL. We created Power Search for occasions like this, when superlatives fail to do justice to an extraordinary stamp. To see the centering, margins and cancellations on typical used examples of the 15c Lincoln — ungrilled or not — please use our website’s Power Search feature to find Scott 77, 91 and 98 (three different searches). You will see that the 15c Lincoln is almost always a stamp of compromise. Great centering and margins, but heavy cancel. Light or colored cancel, but small margins or not quite centered. Great looking, but small faults. Then look at the “name” collections and see which 15c Lincoln stamps were included. No one — and there are great collector names on this list — managed to obtain this stamp or one even remotely like it. When numerical grading started, the 15c Lincoln was on our list of “Try to Find a 100” stamps. We did not believe one existed. When this 15c F Grill was presented to us, we knew it was perfect without even looking at the grade. The Gem 100 grade and a note of praise from master grader Dr. William Litle confirmed our gut reaction. The ungrilled version of this issue was released in 1866, about one year after President Lincoln was assassinated. It is regarded by many to be America’s first commemorative issue, memorializing the martyred president as the nation started to heal from the wounds of the Civil War. In 1868 it was issued with two grill types, the E Grill (Scott 91) and F Grill (Scott 98). 15c usually paid the registration fee on domestic mail or the U.S.-French treaty rate. The 15c stamps used on transatlantic mail passed through foreign-mail exchange offices, where clerks were zealous about cancelling high-value stamps. For this reason, the 15c Lincoln usually has a heavy cancel or large cancel over the portrait. This stamp, with its light target cancel, is the rare exception. There are certainly rarer stamps in this sale, and stamps that are worth much more, but we cannot think of a stamp that has conquered the odds better than this one. The perforating machine blessed it, the postal clerk respected it, and the generations who handled it managed to preserve its soundness. We are quite sure that the collectors who bid for this stamp will express their appreciation accordingly. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ price $10,600.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. The next-highest grade awarded is a 95.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 967, Lot 4210

o 1867, 15¢ black, F. grill (98), exceptionally well centered, bright and fresh with a light purple cancel, Very Fine. Scott price $475 Expertization: 2008 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2008, Sale 330, Lot 1549

15c Black, F. Grill (Scott 98). Original gum, intense shade and impression VERY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1868 15-CENT F GRILL. With 1995 and 2004 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 604

1867, 15¢ black, F. grill (98), exceptionally well centered, deeply etched grill, sharp impression on bright paper. Traces of o.g. Very Fine to Extremely Fine and choice. Scott price $4,500 as o.g. Expertization: 2003 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2008, Sale 327, Lot 99

o U.S., 1867, 15¢ black, F. grill, #98. Used, torn perf at top, Average. Scott $375. Estimate value $70.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Apr 2008, Sale 77, Lot 65

UNITED STATES 1867 GRILL ISSUE 1867 15c black, F. Grill, unused without gum, rich color and large margins, v.f., with 1Scott 981 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Jan 2008, Sale 200801, Lot 1098

UNITED STATES 1867 GRILL ISSUE 1867 15c black, F.Grill, unused with full original gum, l.h., well centered, deep rich color and clearly defined grill, v.f., with 19Scott 98 PFC, also 1998 and 2005 PSE certs

Cherrystone Auctions, Jan 2008, Sale 200801, Lot 1097

o 1867, 15¢ black, F. grill (98), bright, fresh and exceptionally well centered within beautifully balanced margins, cancelled by a bright red N.Y.F.M. supplementary leaf cancellation and small part of framed handstamp, Extremely Fine. Scott $525 A STUNNING GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 15¢ F. GRILL WITH A STRIKING N.Y.F.M. SUPPLEMENTARY CANCELLATION. Expertization: 1995 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2007, Sale 323, Lot 248

1867, 15¢ black, F. grill (98), exceptionally fresh, with bright color and an excellent impression, original gum, Very Fine and choice. Scott price $4,500 AN OUTSTANDING 15¢ F. GRILL MINT SINGLE. Expertization: 1993 P.S.E. and 1994 P.F. Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Oct 2007, Sale 320, Lot 414