#92 1868 1¢ F grill

Basic Information

Colors: Blue, Pale Blue
Subject: Benjamin Franklin
Printing method: line-engraved intaglio on flat plates
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Perforations: 12
Watermark: none
Type of Grill: F
Scott #: 92
Plates: 9-10, 22, 25, 27
Quantity issued: 7,000,000
Issued: Early August, 1868

Value

An unused stamp with perfect gum: $7,500
An unused stamp with gum and a hinge mark: $1,000-$1,300
A used stamp: $100-$110

F Grill Detail

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 F grill was the last of the grills. Grilling was expensive and it was increasingly seen that there was no need for it. Grilling did have a benefit; it helped the National Banknote Company win the contract

Points: 11-12 x 15-17 points
Size: 9 x 13mm

Usage

Earliest known use of #92, dated August 11th, 1868

#92 was primarily used for prepaying the 1¢ postage rate for "drop letters" (delivered within the same post office), circulars, and newspapers during the early Civil War era. It was the standard adhesive for low-weight, local mail and printed matter.

Drop Letters: 1¢ per 1/2 ounce for letters delivered in the same city or town where mailed.
Printed Matter: Used for newspapers, circulars, and other printed items.
Carrier Fee: Used to pay the fee for local delivery by mail carriers

Counterfeits

Click image to enlarge

Grills are often added to stamps in order to increase their value. As you can see from the grill on the reverse of the stamp above, the grill is a serious of points, not squares.

The Inspiration for the Design

The design of the 1861 US 1¢ stamp (#63) 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.