85c Z Grill Genuine?

I wouldn't trust anything at that catalog value w/o a cert.

The seller lists quite a few "rare" items but not 1 cert for anything he or she is claiming and there are some that are highly suspect.

Got it: No cert...no bid!

The experimental grills (Z, A, B, C, D) are normally found in the dull rose shade. Completely wrong shade for a Z grill, and it is more the shade of a common F grill.

Hope this is helpful, Ray

Impossible to say from this image. Can't really tell which way the grill ridges are running though they kind of look horizontal. That makes it possible, can't be sure. There doesn't appear to be 14 columns which makes it less likely. With this limited image and no cert I'd bet against it. I have plenty of grills without certs. Really it isn't that difficult to identify grill type if you have the stamp in person. What you need is a dealer you can trust or at least one that will take a return if you don't like it once you have it. Counting columns, seeing the direction of the ridges, using the "precision US Specialty" gauge are all things that can be done to get it right. It also helps to have a complete set of certified grills to hand (I do).

This particular seller has a penchant for seeing scarce varieties where they do not exist. I have engaged with him and believe this is due to confirmation bias and/or wishful thinking rather than deliberate attempts at deception. Regardless, however, one needs to be vigilant about bidding on his lots.

"Got it: No cert... no bid"

Wrong! Don't be lead astray by pooled ignorance and certificate dogma. Learn why it is highly unlikely that the stamp in question has a Z-grill and find out who you can really trust. I would not rely on pooled ignorance for a good list of dealers either. As far as that seller goes, Dudley is being way too kind. I have contacted that seller a number of times and it has resulted in zero revisions to his listings. I have even offered to sell him genuine examples of what he is pretending to have. All I got was dead air of course.

Can't tell anything from that scan. If it really is, why is there no cert for it? He has to know it would sell much better if it had one. And as pointed out above, he has a lot of questionable items listed.

Just another ebay "seller" throwing manure at the wall to see what sticks.

I prefer: Just another seller throwing manure at the wall to see what sticks. It was happening long before ebay existed.

Fair enough Winston. Fair to say though that the internet has given such behavior a much larger audience.

Yes. But until then, you should have a cert to improve the odds that something purported to be of such value is genuine.

Thank you to all of you who have replied to this thread. I appreciate all the posts and will take into consideration the pros and cons on this lot/dealer and have come with: No cert...No bids.!

John

Highly unlikely it is a "Z" grill. The shade of the stamp is that of an "E" or "F" grill and the paper is far too translucent for a "Z" grill. "Z" grills do not come on thin paper, but "E" and "F" grills do.

The knowledge you people have is remarkable!!!