Sale 1075 — 2014 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 26 June, 2014
Category — 1894-98 Bureau and 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issues
1c-$5.00 1894 Issue, Plate Proofs on Card (247P4-248P4, 256P4, 262P4-263P4). Blocks of four, complete set of the five denominations that were issued as card proofs, large margins, rich colorsVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SET OF BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 1894 BUREAU ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD, WHICH IS COMPLETE FOR THE FIVE DENOMINATIONS THAT EXIST.
Not all denominations were printed as plate proofs. Only these five were printed on card.
6c Brown, Plate Proof on Card (256P4). Bottom imprint and plate no. 28 block of six, huge margins to full, brilliant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A VERY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT BUREAU ISSUE PLATE PROOF ON CARD.
We have previously offered a plate block from the top position. These two may be unique. Ex Whitpain as a plate block of twelve
1c-$2.00 Trans-Mississippi, Bi-Color Large Die Essays on India (285E8a-293E7a). Complete set, on approximately 200 x 150mm cards with full die sinkage, none are hybrids, absolutely spectacular colors throughoutEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE CHOICEST SETS OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI BI-COLOR DIE ESSAYS WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
Of the 166 sets printed in these colors, many were hybrids. This is a wonderful set, with no hybrids, perfect colors and pristine cards
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., proof-like impression showing every nuance of the engraving, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $8,850.00)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful rich color and a sharp impression on crisp fresh paper, flawless centering with uncharacteristically wide margins for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The design of the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi depicts the Eads bridge, which spans the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The original engraving was used on the admission ticket to the Republican Convention of 1896, which nominated McKinley as candidate for president. The stamp, issued during the McKinley Administration, illustrates the natural boundary between East and West and so was appropriate for the Trans-Mississippi issue.
All of the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi stamps were printed in a single day's run on June 3, 1898. The $2.00 was printed in sheets that have narrower spacing between the horizontal rows than between the vertical columns. For this reason, it is extremely difficult to obtain stamps with top and bottom margins that equal the sides. This stamp essentially achieves that unnatural effect, which could only occur when the horizontal perforations were applied in such a way that the holes impinged on the space allocated to the rows above and below.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $17,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded in any category and it is one of only three examples to achieve this grade.