Scotts #119 US stamps

#119 - 1869 Type II 15¢

15¢
Brown and blue, dark brown and blue
G GRILL
TYPE II (scroll below for Identification)

Subject: The Landing of Columbus
Number issued: 1,238,940
Perforations: P12
Printer: National Bank Note Co.
Scott #: 119
Earliest known use: May 23rd, 1869

#119 Value

Used
$45 - $130
No postmark with gum (MH)
$750 - $8,000
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$9,000 (2019)

The G Grill

The 1869 pictorial stamps were grilled on the reverse with the G grill. An illustration of this grill is shown above

#119b (invert)

119b
Inverted frame

#119b Value

Used
$5,000 - $14,000
No postmark with gum (MH)
$800,000 (2013)
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No sales recorded

Stamp usage

The stamp paid the paid the domestic registered fee and rates to France, Switzerland (shown above) and other countries.

Plate #'s

#119 was issued with the following plate #'s

Imprint and plate number
Vignette plate 23, Frame plate 31

The design inspiration

The vignette was based on John Vanderlyn's (American, 1775-1852). Landing of Columbus.

Multiples

There are very few blocks left of #119. Above is the largest known multiple, a block of 20

Fake Perforations

Be careful about the paper. If the stamp is on India paper, versus white wove paper, then you have a proof which has had gum, fake perforations and a grill added. This has been done to make the relatively inexpensive proof appear to be the expensive genuine #119