#88 - 1868 E grill 3ยข
See below for details
Basic Info
3¢
Rose, pale rose, rose red
E GRILL
Printing Method: Engraved
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Subject: George Washington
Number issued: 80,000,000
Perforations: 12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 88
Grilled: Third week of January, 1868
Issued: First week of February, 1868
#88 Value
Used
$3 - $15
No postmark with gum (MH)
$150 - $500
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$3,250 (2016)
Plate Numbers
#88 was printed with the following plate #'s
Engravers imprint and number
32, 36, 54-55
#88a
#88a
Lake
#88a Value
Used
$900 - $1,100
No postmark with gum (MH)
No sales recorded
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No sales recorded
About the E grill
Over 95% of grills are either E or F grills. The A, B, C, and D grills had proved to be unsatisfactory, mostly due to their presence on the stamp making the stamp difficult to separate. The Z grill did not have that problem but for whatever reason it was printed in very limited quantities. The E grill is often confused with the Z grill as the size of the grill is similar and they are on the same values. Close examination of the E grill will reveal the grills has a vertical orientation as shown above. Whilst the Z grill has a horizontal orientation. Both the E and Z grills have their grill points facing down (see types of grills).
This stamp is often found on very thin paper, which made a more defined grill than ordinary stamp paper.
The Earliest Known Use
The earliest known date of use of #88 is February 12th, 1868
A Full Pane
A full pane of 100 #88, there are two panes to a sheet of 200
Counterfeits
The E grill on #88 is not commonly counterfeited. The counterfeit grill above is made up of tiny squares, not the grill with ridges
1868 E Grills
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