#81 1867 30¢ A grill

Basic Information

Color: Orange
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Perforations: 12
Watermark: none
Type of Grill: A
Scott #: 81
Plate: 7
Quantity issued: Not known
Issued: Late August or September, 1867

Value

A used stamp: $120,000

Rarity

The A Grill

The "A" Grill was the very first type of grill tested to prevent stamp reuse by breaking paper fibres so cancellation ink would soak in. It was only produced for about two months, starting in August 1867.

Because the "A" Grill covered the entire stamp, it severely weakened the paper. This caused sheets to fall apart during perforation or when postmasters tried to separate individual stamps, resulting in high damage rates.

Only 8 copies survive, all used. It would be properly described as a grill essay.

The Inspiration for the Design

The design of the 1861 US 30¢ stamp was inspired by a sculpture of Benjamin Franklin, which is currently located in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

The portrait was modeled after a bust (sculpture) of Franklin, not a painting, contrasting with many other 1861 issues that were modeled after paintings.