Discover America’s Rarest Stamp – 1868 1¢ Z Grill
Why is the 1868 1¢ Z Grill the rarest U.S. stamp?
In the late 1800s, officials had a real problem with stamps being illegally reused by washing away their cancels. Charles F. Steel came up with a solution – a grilling machine that broke the fibers of the stamp paper and left behind a distinct pattern. This allowed cancellation ink to completely soak into the paper, preventing it from being removed. There were 11 types of grills: “A-J” plus the famous “Z.”
The 1868 1¢ Z Grill (US #85A) was produced for just a few days in late February 1868. It saw much more limited use than other US grilled stamps. In fact, most were used to mail public notices which were thrown away by recipients. Today, only two 1868 1¢ Z Grill stamps are known to exist.
How is the Z Grill different from other grills?
The Z Grill is unique because the ridges have a horizontal orientation. All other grills have vertical. The Z Grill measures approximately 11 x 14 mm and has 14-15 x 17-18 grill points.
Check out this article to learn more about the other types of grills.
The Two Surviving 1868 1¢ Z Grills
The 1868 1¢ Z Grill previously owned by Mystic and the 1868 1¢ Z Grill of the Benjamin Miller Collection are the only two examples of the stamp known to exist. Mystic traded their 1868 1¢ Z Grill to Bill Gross for the unique Inverted Jenny Plate Block in 2005, while the Benjamin Miller example is owned by the New York Public Library and is on long-term loan to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
A Timeline of the 1868 1¢ Z Grill
Z Grill First Enters Use
The National Bank Note Company produces the six denominations of Z Grill stamps: 1¢ (US #85A), 2¢ (US #85B), 3¢ (US #85C), 10¢ (US #85D), 12¢ (US #85E), 15¢ (US #85F).
F Grill Replaces the Z Grill
The stamps with Z Grills were produced for a very short time, with approximately 1,000 of each being made. Since the 1¢ was mainly used on circulars, drop letters, and transient mail, many were thrown away upon receipt.
Z Grill Discovered by Philatelic Expert
William L. Stevenson (father of the grill letter classification system) discovers the Z Grill after being unable to match it to any other previously known grill.
Stevenson Reports on Z Grill Denominations
Stevenson writes in Collector’s Journal that he has seen only two Z Grills: one 1¢ and one 10¢ stamp, neither on cover.
Stevenson Discovers Second 1¢ Z Grill
Stevenson reports to Mekeel’s that he has seen a second 1¢ Z Grill.
Scott Catalogue Lists the 1¢ Z Grill for the First Time (US #85A)
Stevenson Sells 1¢ Z Grill
Stevenson sells his 1868 1¢ Z Grill, to Elliott Perry who then sells it to Benjamin K. Miller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 16, 1923. According to philatelic expert, Ken Lawrence, Stevenson kept the other example of the 1¢ Z Grill until his death. It remained out of the public eye until 1957.
Miller Donates 1¢ Z Grill
Benjamin K. Miller donates his 1¢ Z Grill to the New York Public Library’s permanent collection.
Second 1¢ Z Grill is Revealed
US stamp expert (and dealer) Lester G. Brookman unveils an 1868 1¢ Z Grill he obtained through two Chicago dealers. He sells it to Wiler Schilling Jr. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to complete his one-of-everything US collection. Schilling obtains a certificate of genuineness from the Philatelic Foundation in New York.
1¢ Z Grill Sells for $42,500
The stamp is expertized again and recertified. Its Scott Catalogue value is now $25,000. It sells at a Robert A. Siegel Rarities of the World auction for $42,500.
1¢ Z Grill Sells for $90,000
The 1868 1¢ Z Grill is now valued at $40,000 by Scott Catalogue. It sells at a Sotheby Parke Bernet auction for $90,000 to Superior Stamp & Coin Company in Beverly Hills, California. Superior then sells it to Dr. Jerry Buss.
1¢ Z Grill Becomes the United States’ Most Expensive Stamp
Superior Stamp & Coin auctions the Buss Collection. The 1868 1¢ Z Grill (certified for the third time) is now valued at $110,000 by Scott Catalogue. Robert Zoellner, who is assembling a complete US collection, pays $418,000 for the stamp, setting the record for the most expensive US stamp.
Mystic Buys the 1¢ Z Grill and Sets a New Record Price
The 1868 1¢ Z Grill is sold by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries as part of the Robert Zoellner collection. Mystic Stamp buys the stamp for $935,000, a record price for a US stamp. Zachary, the 11 year old son of Don Sundman (Mystic’s president), held the auction paddle and did the bidding.
World Stamp Expo 2000
Mystic brings the 1868 1¢ Z Grill to the World Stamp Expo 2000 in Anaheim, California. Famous professional wrestler “Hillbilly Jim” is one of countless people to come view the stamp.
APS STAMPSHOW 2002
Mystic displays the 1868 1¢ Z Grill at the APS STAMPSHOW 2002 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and is given an Award of Appreciation for their exhibit. Celebrity Heidi Klum is one of many to come see the stamp.
The Stamp Trade of the Century
Don Sundman trades the 1868 1¢ Z Grill to “Bond King” Bill Gross (represented by Charles Shreve) for the unique Inverted Jenny Plate Block. Both items are valued at upwards of $3 million each today.
Both 1¢ Z Grills on Display at Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Scott Catalogue Updates Z Grill Details
The number of horizontal points in the Z Grill listing is adjusted to coincide with new information published by Philatelic Foundation expert Jerome Wagshal. The updated listing states the Z Grill measures 14-15 points x 17-18 points. (It previously stated 13-14 points x 17-18 points.)
Robert A. Siegel Auctions Announces 1¢ Z Grill Will Be Sold
It’s reported that Bill Gross’s complete collection of classic US stamps (including the 1868 1¢ Z Grill) will go up for auction June 14-15 in New York City.
The Future of the 1868 1¢ Z Grill
On June 14-15, 2024, Bill Gross’s complete collection of classic US stamps was auctioned off by Charles F. Shreve and Tracy L. Carey in association with Siegel Auction Galleries. “This is, without question, the most significant and most valuable collection of United States stamps formed this past half century,” Shreve said. “Its appearance at public auction will be a historic event, where all of the rarest and most sought-after stamps issued by the United States will be offered for sale…”
Siegel expected “the entire auction [to] realize $15 to $20 million, with several individual stamps breaking the $1 million mark and the collection’s rarest stamp – the 1868 1¢ Z Grill – on track to become the most valuable American postage stamp with an estimate of $4 to $5 million.”
The top 100 rarest and most valuable items in Gross’s collection (including the 1868 1¢ Z Grill) were auctioned on June 14th, with the Z grill going to an anonymous buyer for a final price of $4.366 million – a new record for a single US stamp.