#114 That I Can't Find The Grill- Need Your Eyes Please?

..One more time...
OK, as you know I've been diligently looking through about 75+/- SC#114's lately and have found one that I can't see a grill on or any evidence of one so, I need your eyes to help look for it. Tell me what you think please?

More than likely it's been pressed out.

Have you tried using watermark fluid to try and bring out the grill?

Although there don't appear to be any grill points visible, there seems to be a box-shaped pattern in the middle of the left hand side of the stamp that is about the size of the overall grill pattern.

lpmiller, I seen that too but it's simply the banner over the train on the front. I don't think it was ever pressed out or else all the other indentations from the printing process would be gone or at least badly disturbed too and they are all really sharp and very clear. I used both Zippo fluid and later used my S.G. detectamark, I even waited until the sun came up to look at it like I did the last one.(the sun is straight out from me in the early A.M.) I'm not saying it doesn't have one but I'm not saying it does either. After all that's how these things are found and this one came off of a piece of a cover that was ripped (so I removed it).

I Love Stamps,

I just acquired the same stamp,Used, and new to grills. Any help on how to find these grills would be most helpful.

The thing to remember here is that no used copies have ever been certified. Scott #112-122 Issues of 1869-80. All the stamps from that series listed without grills are only priced with original gum or part original gum. Scott does not price used examples as it states it cannot guarantee the authenticity of used copies or any mint copies without at least partial original gum. There is a very small note on page 27 of the 2010 Scott Specialized Catalog. The reason for this is because it is basically impossible to tell in some cases, if a used stamp has been soaked, and the grill pressed out. Same applies for an unused stamp that has been regummed.

OK so to be 100% sure it has to be Mint and a used one is well good luck than.

The one I have I scanned at 1,200 DPI with color, black and white, with a white back ground and a black back ground and seen nothing and seen what my mind wanted to see, basically nothing.

Well I'm very well aware that it's probably just your standard issue 114 but I seriously can't locate the grill? It just made me a bit curious was all and Who could blame a fellow for being curious after all? If everyone was so arrogant to think that every stamp hat looked like this was "just another 114" then how would any 125's ever get discovered? Just sayin?

Hi Jeff. I too took your image into Photoshop and tried a kergillion filters and adjustments, and couldn't see any trace of a regular grid pattern. Not trying to get your hopes up or anything.
I could see the banner at the top, as you mentioned, and the numeral at the bottom, but else where on the back of the stamp I could only see the irregular texture of the paper. Can't offer any other suggestions, I'm afraid. Maybe it just didn't get pressed by the 'grid maker' enough?

yeah probably just a fluke. I'll still keep hold of it you never know down the line something odd might pop up about this. Thank you James.

If the paper is right, then a 125 is not out of the question. I thought you were hoping it was a 114a.

Boy I just looked up the value of a used 125 and, thats a lot of zeros

There are actually 2 issues without a grill: Scott 114a (only 14-16 known) and Scott 125 (1,406 printed, less than 15 used copies known). I have two Scott 114 that I can find no grill even when checked in watermark detector. The odds are greatly against us that ours are genuine.

There are examples of no grill 125's used...

I sent a 114 to APS a long time ago, they found the grill. and it was pretty cheap.

You could send it to Bill W. for a 5$ ID