3cent Stamp, Grill

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/...C00114-1.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/...DSC00118.jpg

tell me something about this stamp. is it worth anything? theres a grill on it, I have others like it, but with no grill. thanks!

You might have something there. From where I sit it appears that it might be a "D" Grill, which is one of the more valuable ones. There's a bunch of different grills that were used on the stamps of the 1861 issue and the 3 cent is the only one that's seen with every single grill they used (A, B, C, D, E, F and Z). Its not an "A" (Entire stamp is grilled) or a "B" (Too Narrow) but looks big enough to be a C or D. It's too big from where I sit to be an E or F, the E and the F are the "common" grills.

If it's a D Grill, it's Scott #85 with a Catalog value of $1,200. If it's a C grill, It's Scott #83 also with a $1,200 catalog value.

With a straight edge and G-VG centering and a perf tip crease (From what I see in the pics, it may well have other problems) it's probably a $200ish stamp.

That's worth sending into the PF for a cert, reason being, there's a lot of fake grills out there, that's a 50c stamp ungrilled in that condition so many of the tougher and more valuable grills are frequently faked.

Nice find!

Bill

thank you!

Here is a link to some info on grills that might help to determine the cat no.
http://1847usa.com/Grills.htm

i appreciate it! and your right its either C or D, very hard to tell.

OK, now is there a neat story behind how ya found it? This would be neat to hear!

no neat story ha just my grandpa! xD

I'm not that good with grills, but it looks like points down with vertical ridges, and I only see 14 points by 16 points (there may be more, but that's all I can count using your pic of the backside). That would seem to suggest it is an E grill (Scott #88). You might want to check again; I'd be more than happy to be wrong.

I don't have much input for CJJA, but to all you folks who replied, wouldn't it be worthwhile to send this one to an expert?

(My way of re-opening the 'expertise' or don't-expertize' debate...)

Kirk

Good point. If you can confirm it is not a #88, then it would be worth sending to an expert. Keep in mind, however, that the straight edge, even if natural, will reduce the catalog value significantly (we're talking down to 25% tops).

A quick way to check grills is to put it under a longwave UV lamp. The points, even the faintest of them, while show up as a bright speck. You can then count the points and also measure them. If you see more than the 14x16 that I see, then it is likely not a #88.

Minimum cost to have it sent in and professionally expertized is about $20. So I would make an effort to make sure it's not a #88, because if it were, the cost of expertizing would exceed the retail value of the stamp.

Thanks KHJ:

Your approach seems logical to me. It's great to learn from the experience or others.

I think you should just send it to me and let me worry about it...

SV, I'm sure you'll expertise it for free and help hold it for safe-keeping!

Kim, honestly, I would, I would even slab it and put in the safe with some silica gel.

Which proves my point. It's safe with Daryl! So why wait? He's already got a safe and secure spot prepared.

khj raises a very valid point, I mean, we're working off of a pic and all :)

However, C and D grills are both larger than E and F grills. I would be more worried about a cert if you planned on selling the stamp, if not, why bother?