Scotts #122 US stamps

#122 - 1869 90¢

90¢
Carmine and black, carmine rose and black
G GRILL

Subject: Abraham Lincoln
Number issued: 47,640
Perforations: P12
Printer: National Bank Note Co.
Scott #: 122
Earliest known use: May 10th, 1869

#122 Value

Used
$450 - $750
No postmark with gum (MH)
$1,700 - $3,250
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No sales recorded

The G Grill

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

#122a

122a
Without grill
Value MH, $14,500 - $27,000

Earliest known date of use

The only known cover with #122. Known as the ice house cover.

Stamp usage

The stamp paid the rate for large-weight letters sent domestically or for triple /quadraple rate to foreign-destination rates.

Plate #'s

#122 was issued with the following plate #'s

Imprint and plate number
Vignette plate 22, Frame plate 22

The design inspiration

The vignette is based on the February 1861 photograph of Abraham Lincoln whilst he was still in Springfield, Illinois

Multiples

There are very few blocks left of #122. Above is the one of the two largest surviving blocks, each with six stamps.

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 #122