Scotts #79 US stamps

#79 - 1867 A grill 3¢

3¢
Rose
A GRILL

Printing Method: Engraved
Printer: The National Bank Note Company
Subject: George Washington
Number issued: Not known
Perforations: 12
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: 79
Grilled: Early August, 1867
Earliest known use: August 13th, 1867

Value

Certificate Required

Used
$750 - $1,000
No postmark with gum (MH)
$2,000 - $4,250
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No sales recorded

Plate Numbers

#79 was printed with the following plate #'s:

Plate # and Engravers Imprint
11, 52

Multiples

The largest known used multiple. A block of nine on double paper

About the A grill

This is considered to be an experimental grill. The total production of 250-300 sheets probably took no more than two hours. 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.

Earliest Documented Use

The earliest documented use of #79, August 13th, 1867

Counterfeits

The A grill on #79 is fairly 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, #79-E15a.

On the #79-E15a essay the grill units are not quite as heavily impressed as are those of the issued grill (#79) and are square. On the issued grill (#79) 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.