The Tahoe Collection of Superb Used United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 6-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION, AND EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $3,050.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only four others share this grade. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1870 15-CENT I GRILL IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TEN USED AND TWO UNUSED EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS RARITY DESERVES MAJOR CATALOGUE LISTING STATUS.

At least two sizes of grills were used by the National Bank Note Company for the 1870 Issue. The I Grill measures from 9-11 points wide by 10-13 points tall. The I Grill is currently recorded on all values except the 12c, 24c and 30c (there are unconfirmed reports of the I Grill on the 12c and 24c). The 1c thru 7c values make up most of the population of I Grill stamps. The 10c, 15c and 90c I Grills are extremely rare, and it is only in recent years that their existence was reported by Ronald Burns.

Ex Chapin and Lake Shore. With 2003 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE DOUBLE GRILL VARIETY.

This is the only example contained in our computerized records (which now contains all of our Rarities sales from 1964 to date plus 12 years of auctions).

Ex Morris and Lake Shore. With 1997 and 2005 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue value is loosely based on the realization of this stamp in our 1995 Lake Shore auction ($4,000 hammer). (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLES OF THIS BANK NOTE RARITY, AND POSSIBLY THE FINEST IN TERMS OF COLOR AND CANCELLATION.

Ex Morris. With 1993 P.S.E. and 1997 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND IN SOUND CONDITION. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

For no apparent reason, most examples of this issue with wide margins tend to have small flaws. We have encountered perhaps a dozen copies which are sound and also have wide margins. the example offered here is easily one of the finest.

With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo, SMQ $12,600.00 as 95, $25,500.00 as 98, a grade which is not shown in P.S.E. Population Report). This is the only example to achieve this lofty grade, which is the highest awarded to date. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS CANCEL IS ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN NEW YORK FOREIGN MAIL TYPES STRUCK IN BROWN.

With 1995 P.S.E. and 1995 and 2003 P.F. certificates. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $1,500.00). Only one has graded higher to date, and only one other shares this grade. (Image)