1867 3-Cent C Grill (Scott #83)

In the years following the Civil War, the United States Post Office Department faced an annoying problem. People were washing the cancellation ink off used postage stamps and reusing them. It was penny-ante fraud on a national scale, and it cost the government real money. The solution was elegant, physical, and short-lived: emboss tiny patterns of raised points into the stamp paper, breaking down the fibers so cancellation ink would soak in permanently. These patterns were called grills, and the stamps that carry them represent one of the most fascinating chapters in American philately.

The 1867 3-Cent C Grill, cataloged as Scott #83, sits at a remarkable crossroads in that story. It is the only denomination ever produced with the C grill pattern. With an estimated print run of just 300,000 copies and a survival rate that makes even experienced collectors pause, this stamp commands serious respect and serious prices.

The Grill Problem and Its Solution

The reuse of postage stamps was a genuine concern for postal authorities in the 1860s. At smaller post offices, stamps were often canceled by hand with pen ink, which could be removed with chemical washes. Even machine-applied cancellations could sometimes be cleaned off, leaving a stamp that appeared unused.

Charles F. Steel, superintendent of stamp manufacturing at the National Bank Note Company, devised the solution. He developed a mechanical process that pressed a pattern of small pyramid-shaped points into stamp paper, either from above (creating "points up" patterns) or below ("points down"). The broken paper fibers absorbed cancellation ink so deeply that removal became virtually impossible.

Steel received US Patent No. 70,147 for the grilling process on October 22, 1867. In his patent application, he described the dual purpose: "The object of my invention is to produce a stamp which shall stick better than usual, and which it shall be impossible to fraudulently remove and use again." The process not only prevented ink removal but also improved adhesion to envelopes.

Understanding the C Grill

The C grill is classified by its dimensions: 16 to 17 points in width by 18 to 21 points in height, measuring approximately 13mm by 16mm. It belongs to the "points up" family of grills, meaning the embossing was applied from the back of the stamp, pushing points upward through the paper.

In 1916, stamp scholar William L. Stevenson measured and categorized all known grill sizes, assigning each a letter from A through J (with the mysterious Z grill receiving its designation because Stevenson could not determine where it fit in the sequence). The major grill classifications are:

The A, B, and C grills are all considered experimental. They were produced in small quantities as the National Bank Note Company searched for the optimal grill size. The large grills weakened the paper too much, making stamps prone to tearing. As experimentation continued, rollers were ground down to produce progressively smaller patterns. The C grill represents the last of the three "points up" experimental grills before the transition to smaller, more practical designs.

Publication Details

The Design

The stamp's design features a portrait of George Washington based on the famous sculpture by Jean-Antoine Houdon, the French neoclassical sculptor who created Washington's life mask and the celebrated full-length marble statue that still stands in the Virginia State Capitol. This design had been in continuous use on the 3-cent denomination since 1861, and collectors will recognize it across multiple Scott catalog numbers with and without grills.

The stamp was printed in rose ink on white wove paper using the intaglio (engraving) process. Sheets of 200 stamps were divided into vertical panes of 100 for distribution to post offices. The grilling was applied after printing, as a separate mechanical step in the production process.

Identifying a Genuine C Grill

Authentication of grill stamps requires careful examination, and the C grill presents particular challenges. Here is what to look for:

Grill measurement: The C grill measures 16 to 17 points wide and 18 to 21 points tall. This is larger than the more common D, E, and F grills but smaller than the A and B grills. Accurate point counting under magnification is essential.

Points up orientation: When examined from the back of the stamp, the grill pattern should show indentations (the points pushed through from the back appear as raised bumps on the face side). The C grill is a "points up" variety, which is a key distinction from later "points down" grills.

Paper condition: Because the C grill is relatively large, it significantly weakened the stamp paper. Many surviving examples show damage related to the grill itself, including thins, tears, or paper loss along grill lines.

Color verification: The stamp should be rose (not pink, not red). Color identification of 1860s stamps requires experience, as exposure to light and environmental conditions can alter the apparent shade.

Expert certification: Given the rarity and value of Scott #83, professional certification from the Philatelic Foundation or the American Philatelic Expertizing Service is strongly recommended before any significant purchase. The differences between grill types can be subtle, and misidentification is common among less experienced collectors.

Condition Guide and Value Table

The Scott catalog value for Scott #83 reflects its scarcity. With an estimated print run of only 300,000 and the fragility caused by the large grill pattern, survival rates in any condition are low. High-grade examples are genuinely rare.

The Scott 2024 catalog lists the used value at approximately $1,100 for a fine example. Market prices for better-centered copies regularly exceed catalog, especially at major auction houses like Robert A. Siegel, Daniel F. Kelleher, and H.R. Harmer.

Condition Grades Explained

• Superb: Near-perfect centering with full, even margins on all four sides. Virtually unheard of for this issue due to the tight spacing of the printing plate.

• Extremely Fine (XF): Well-centered with margins noticeably larger than average. A premium grade that commands strong multiples of catalog value.

• Very Fine (VF): Nicely centered with margins clear of the design on all sides. The sweet spot for most serious collectors.

• Fine (F): Slightly off-center but with the design clear of the perforations. The most commonly encountered grade.

• Very Good (VG): Noticeably off-center with the design touching or nearly touching perforations on one or two sides. An affordable entry point.

Market Context and Investment Outlook

Classic US stamps from the grilled series have shown steady appreciation over decades. The C grill's unique status as the only denomination to carry this pattern gives it a special appeal among specialized collectors building complete grill sets.

Several factors support long-term value:

• Finite supply: No more will ever surface. The total population is fixed and slowly shrinking as stamps are damaged or lost.

• Specialized demand: Grill collectors represent a dedicated subset of US philately. Many advanced collectors consider a complete grill set a lifetime achievement.

• Historical significance: The grilling experiment represents a fascinating chapter in postal history and anti-fraud technology.

• Catalog recognition: Strong Scott catalog presence ensures broad market awareness.

The primary risk is the narrowness of the market. Classic US stamps are collected by a passionate but aging demographic, and younger collectors have been slower to enter the classic stamp market compared to other collectibles categories. That said, the finest examples continue to attract competitive bidding whenever they appear at auction.

What to Watch Out For

Buyers should exercise particular caution with C grill stamps:

• Grill misidentification: The most common problem. B grills and D grills can appear similar to C grills without precise measurement. Always insist on expert certification.

• Added grills: Unscrupulous sellers have been known to press artificial grill patterns into ungilled stamps. Expert examination under ultraviolet light and with specialized equipment can detect these fakes.

• Repaired damage: The large grill size makes paper damage common. Thins, small tears, and creases along grill lines are frequently repaired. Look for stamps certified as "sound" by recognized expertizing services.

• Color changelings: Chemical treatment can alter the color of rose stamps. Certified examples remove this concern.

The Broader Grill Stamp Market

Collectors pursuing grilled stamps have a fascinating range of material to explore. The complete grilled series spans from 1867 to 1875, covering the 1867 definitives, the 1869 Pictorial Series (Scott #112-122), and the 1870-71 Bank Notes (Scott #134-144). A complete set of grill types across all denominations represents one of the most challenging and rewarding pursuits in US philately.

The most famous grill stamp is the 1-cent Z Grill (Scott #85A), of which only two examples are known to exist. One resides in the New York Public Library's Miller collection, and the other sold at auction in 1998 for $935,000. While the C grill will never approach those stratospheric levels, its position in the grill story gives it outsized significance relative to its catalog value.

Why the C Grill Belongs in a Serious Collection

The 1867 3-Cent C Grill is not just a stamp. It is a physical artifact of one of the earliest anti-fraud technologies in government history. The tiny embossed points pressed into that rose-colored paper represent a moment when federal officials, private-sector engineers, and the national postal infrastructure came together to solve a real-world security problem.

For the collector who appreciates history embedded in objects, who wants to hold something that connects the craft of engraving, the mechanics of paper manipulation, and the politics of Reconstruction-era America, Scott #83 delivers in a way that few stamps can match. It is rare without being unobtainable, historically significant without being unapproachable, and beautiful in the understated way that only a well-printed George Washington portrait can be.

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