#80 - 1867 A grill 3ยข
See below for details
Basic Info
5¢
Brown
A GRILL
Printing Method: Engraved
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Subject: Thomas Jefferson
Number issued: Not known
Perforations: 12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 80
Grilled: Early August, 1867
Issued: Late August or September, 1867
#80 and #80a Value
Certificate Required
THERE ARE ONLY 4 SURVIVING COPIES
Used
$340,000
No postmark with gum (MH)
No sales recorded
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No sales recorded
Plate Numbers
#80 was printed with the following plate #:
Plate # and Engravers Imprint
17
#80a
#80a
Dark Brown
About the A grill
This is considered to be an experimental grill. It was produced over a two month life span from August 13th, 1867. The grill points are facing up (see types of grills). This was the first experimental grill, it was found that it weakened the paper and the perforations. As a result the separation of the stamps became difficult resulting in rough perforations and jagged edges. It was followed by the C grill which had a small rectangular grill embossed into the stamp.
Counterfeits
The A grill on #80 is commonly counterfeited. It is far more likely that the a stamp is submitted for certification claiming to be an A grill but was an A grill essay, #80-E.
On the #80-E essay the grill units are not quite as heavily impressed as are those of the issued grill (#80) and are square. On the issued grill (#80) the units are rectangles, slightly taller than they are wide, and they were impressed strongly enough so that an examination of them thru a glass will reveal that the fibres of the paper are broken at the bottom of each pit made by the grilling units.
1867 A to D Grills
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