#137 1870 6¢ With grill

Basic Information

Color: Carmine
Subject: Abraham Lincoln
Paper: Hard white wove paper
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: National Bank Note Co
Perforations: 12
Plate #’s: 26, 27
Grills: H or I grill (see below)
Scott #: 137 (H grill) 137A (I grill)
Quantity issued: 1,562,000 (estimate)
Issued: April 12th, 1870

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: H grill - I grill -
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: H grill $2,600-$3,750 I grill $6,600-$7,500
A used stamp: H grill $70-$110 I grill $350-$700

About the large bank note stamps

A National Bank notes from 1870
Click image to enlarge

"Large Bank Note" stamps refers to a major definitive series of postage stamps issued between 1870 and 1890. They are called "Bank Notes" because they were produced under contract by three private security printing firms—the National, Continental, and American Bank Note Companies—before the Bureau of Engraving and Printing took over production in 1894.

Key Characteristics
Size: They are called "Large" to distinguish them from the "Small Bank Notes" (or "Baby Bank Notes") issued from 1890 to 1894, which were reduced in size to cut production costs.
Paper and Grills: Early issues (National) often feature "grills" (embossed patterns intended to prevent reuse), while later issues moved from hard paper (National and Continental) to soft porous paper (American).
Secret Marks: To identify which company printed which stamp, "secret marks" (tiny design modifications) were often added to the original plates when contracts changed hands.

Historical Timeline
National Bank Note Co. (1870–1873): The original printers who introduced the designs.
Continental Bank Note Co. (1873–1879): Took over the contract and added secret marks to the 1¢ through 15¢ denominations.
American Bank Note Co. (1879–1890): After merging with Continental, they printed the same designs on soft porous paper and later introduced re-engraved versions with slightly modified details.

Grills (H, I and J grills)

H Grill 11-13 x 14-16 points 10 x 12mm
I Grill 10-11 x 10-13 points 8½ x 10mm
Click image to enlarge
The grills as they appear on the stamp
Click image to enlarge
It is common to see only a partial grill
Click image to enlarge

The H grill (#137)
The H grill is often confused with the I grill. If a grill measures roughly 10 x 12 mm, it is generally considered an H grill, while smaller ones are I grills. If an identification cannot be firmly made, the default classification is usually the H grill, as it is generally more common than the I grill

The I grill (#137A)
It is small, typically measuring 8½ x 10mm with 10 vertical rows. Examples, such as on the 30-cent stamp, are extremely rare

Usage

#137A used on a cover to England

#137 was primarily was primarily issued for prepaying the 6-cent registered letter fee or international mail rates. It was commonly used to cover the increased postage for heavier domestic letters or, frequently, for mail to Europe

Shades of the carmine 6¢ and the reasons behind them

The color variation on #148 was primarily caused by inconsistent ink mixing, variations in ink application during production, and different printing runs between 1870 and 1873. These factors resulted in shades ranging from bright carmine to duller or paler pinkish hues.

Key Reasons for Shade Variations
Ink Formulation: Carmine inks were notoriously difficult to mix uniformly, and batches varied in hue..
Inking Intensity: Variations in the amount of ink applied (over-inking or under-inking) by the printers produced different shades of red
Environmental Factors: Red pigments, such as those used in this era, are particularly susceptible to fading or changing color when exposed to light, moisture, or chemical reactions over time, such as oxidation.

The Inspiration for the Design

Abraham Lincoln’s bust by Sarah Fisher Ames

The design of the #137, which features Abraham Lincoln, was a marble bust sculpted by Sarah Fisher Ames. Ames, who was a professional sculptor and served as a Civil War nurse, reportedly knew Lincoln personally through her work and shared anti-slavery views.

The U.S. Capitol Version: One of her most famous marble busts of Lincoln was purchased by the Joint Committee on the Library in 1868 for $2,000. It is currently on display in the Senate wing (third floor, east corridor) of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Ames created at least five marble busts of the 16th president based on sessions where she sketched and modeled his features from life.