US #82
1867 Washington, B Grill

• Only 4 known to exist
• Part of Grill experiment
  
  

Stamp Category:  Definitive
Value:   3¢, First-Class mail rate
Earliest Known Use:  February 1869
Quantity Issued:  Unknown
Printed by:  National Bank Note Company
Printing Method:  Flat plate press
Perforations:  12
Color: Rose

Why the stamp was issued:  The B-grill stamp was part of an experiment aimed at reducing the reuse of postage stamps. The grill was applied to US #65 stamps.  Only four of these stamps are known to exist.

About the stamp design:  The image of George Washington is based on a sculpture by Jean Antoine Houdon

About the printing process:  This stamp was produced as part of a Post Office Experiment to deter the reuse of stamps.  At the time, the government believed people were removing cancellations from stamps and reusing them.  Inventors of that time turned their talents to creating a device that would make the cleaning of stamps impossible.  This experiment led to the creation of grills.

Grills were made by embossing the stamp, breaking paper fibers, and allowing canceling ink to soak deeply into the paper.  This made it difficult to remove cancels and reuse stamps.  Charles Steel, who oversaw postage stamp production in the 1860s, patented the grilling method.  It was used nine short years – 1867 to 1875. 

Unusual facts about this stamp:  The B grill was the second used in the grill experiment.  The A grill covered the whole stamp and weakened the paper and perforations.  The size of the grill was then reduced, forming the B grill.  The grill measures 18 by 15 millimeters, or 22 by 18 points.  The points of the grill pattern face up when the stamp is viewed from the back.
This grill was only used for a short time before being replaced by one that was smaller.

Only four #82 stamps are known to exist.  They are all from a single cover sent from Mason, Texas, to Germany.  The cover was discovered in 1969.

About the 1861-62 Series: The series consists of US #63-72.  The same face values and subjects found in the 1857-61 series were used in their creation, and the colors are similar as well.  The frame designs vary greatly from the preceding series.  While the denominations on the 1857-61 issues were written out, the denominations on the new series were now also shown in numerals displayed in the upper corners of the stamps.  This helped distinguish them from the previous series.