The Z Grill – U.S. #85A

The 1868 1¢ Z Grill

Did you know the 1868 1¢ Z Grill (Scott 85A) is America’s rarest stamp?  One of the legends of philately, this Z Grill was purchased by Mystic in October 1998 for $935,000 – setting a record price for a U.S. stamp.

Currently valued at $3 million, the stamp is the finest One-Cent Z Grill known and the only one available to collectors.  (Only one other exists and it’s permanently locked into the New York Public Library’s Miller Collection.)

The Z grill is one of several embossed grill patterns used to break the fibers of certain early U.S. stamps.  Ink was absorbed into the grill when the stamp was cancelled, making removal of the cancel and reuse of the stamp impossible.

The Z grill pattern is approximately 11 millimeters by 14 millimeters (13 to 14 x 18 grill points.)  This pattern is unique due to the horizontal orientation of the tiny grid projections.

Charles F. Steele introduced the practice of grilling stamps, which was used for only a few years during the late 1860s. The classification system for grills was developed in the early 1900s by William L. Stevenson and is still in use today.

For several years, Mystic featured the Z Grill in our advertising and as a sort of ambassador at stamp shows, displaying it for the benefit of collectors.  In 2005, Mystic traded its Z Grill for the unique 1918 Jenny Invert Plate-Number Block, which is America’s Greatest Stamp Rarity.  The one-for-one trade of two legendary U.S. stamp treasures with a combined value of $6 million generated international headlines and interest in our hobby.

14 responses to "The Z Grill – U.S. #85A"

14 thoughts on “The Z Grill – U.S. #85A”

    • Can you take a macro photo of the grill ONLY? is it 11x14mm in size, points down, horizontal raised ridges?

    • I also have this stamp but am unable to determine whether it has a “Grill.” Are they really that hard to distinguish?

  2. I also had this stamp and it was stolen as i did not notice it missing until i left the shop . The lines on the back make this stamp different than others. The guy who ran the coin shop is a con artist. This happened in st.louis. It was hinged and I wish I had a way to find it and match the glue on the back. I get sick about it just knowing what I had. Still have a bunch of very old stamps, but i don’t trust anybody. These were all my great grammas and the stamp book is sighted by her in 1912.

  3. I have the stamp. I am trying to figure out if it’s the same I keep looking From your a stamp to my stamp. And trying to figure out if it’s the same. It is torn and it looks like when they tried to remove it it was torn. Can I send a picture?

  4. Sir,
    I think I have this stamp but I am not sure if it is Z Grill.
    Let me know. It is real old stamp that my Dad gave me.
    Thanks

    • Only two Z Grills are known. And due to that extreme rarity, it’s just very, very unlikely you have one. However, it’s not impossible… and that’s part of the fun of stamp collecting. So if you’ve done thorough research, and still think your stamp might be a rare Z grill, your next step will be to submit to the stamp to the Philatelic Foundation to get a certificate of authenticity. Good luck!

      Here’s a listing of rare stamps that strongly resemble more common stamps.

      #85A – 1c Z grill worth about $2 million – looks like #63
      #539 – 2c Washington worth about $17,500 – looks like #499
      # 594 – 1c Washington worth up to $35K – looks like #632
      #596 – 1c Washington worth about $150,000 – looks like #632
      #613 – 2c Harding worth about $40,000 – looks like #610

  5. Meine Name ist (name removed) und wollte ihnen nur mitteilen das ich zwei weitere Z Grills endeckt habe.
    Eine 15 Cents Lincoln #85F und eine One Cents #85A beide mit 11×14 mm und Horizontalen Points,wo es von beiden bis jetzt nur 2 Exemplare gibt.
    Bei Interesse können Sie sich gerne auf meine E-Mail Adresse melden,gute Scans habe ich zur Verfügung.
    Vielen Dank Mfg

    • Using Google translate: … I just wanted to let you know that I discovered two more Z grills.
      A 15 Cents Lincoln # 85F and a One Cents # 85A both with 11 × 14 mm and horizontal points, where there are only 2 copies of both so far.
      If you are interested, please feel free to contact me at my email address, I have good scans available.
      Thank you very much

      Only two Z Grills are known. And as we’ve stated before in comments, due to that extreme rarity, it’s extremely unlikely you have one. But, of course, it’s not impossible. So if you’ve done thorough research, and still think your stamp might be a rare Z grill, your next step will be to submit to the stamp to the Philatelic Foundation to get a certificate of authenticity. Good luck!
      Here’s a listing of rare stamps that strongly resemble more common stamps.
      #85A – 1c Z grill worth about $2 million – looks like #63
      #539 – 2c Washington worth about $17,500 – looks like #499
      # 594 – 1c Washington worth up to $35K – looks like #632
      #596 – 1c Washington worth about $150,000 – looks like #632
      #613 – 2c Harding worth about $40,000 – looks like #610

      • Guten Tag ich hatte mit der Foundstation schon Kontakt,anhand Fotos ist es leider nicht ausreichend.
        Ich komme aus Deutschland und ist es nicht so einfach mit mal kurz Prüfen lassen,was aber nur Persönlich klappen würde.
        Ich habe 30 Monate Briefmarken gesammelt und mich ein ganzes Jahr nur mit Waffelpressungen Grills beschäftigt.
        Ich weiß genau wie die Rippen der Grillmußter verlaufen müssen,
        ich hatte bei Ebay eine 15 Cents Lincoln als #98 30$ und eine One Cents #86 79# ersteigert,die aber größtenteils horizontale Points Spitzen hatten.
        Mit viel Glück habe ich die ersteigert und es sind zu 100% eine #85F und #85A 11×14 mm wo ich auch viele meiner Meinung waren.
        Ist nur ne Frage der Zeit bis ich es Prüfen lassen kann.
        Per E Mail Adresse könnte ich es schwarz auf weiß nachweisen.
        renetomalak@web.de
        Vielen Dank und euch auch noch viel Erfolg, suchen lohnt sich!

  7. How come there is only 2 stamps 85A if they were produced in between Z and E grills 1,489,800 stamps??2.2 days x 2 machines one for Z and one for E grill x3,550 sheets per machine x 200 stamps per sheet???????

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