Sale 1092 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 19-20 February, 2015
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c-50c Trans-Mississippi (285-289, 291). Mint N.H. singles through the 8c, lightly hinged 50c, exceptional centering throughout but 50c reperfed at left, Extremely Fine or appear so
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Pane of 50 from the left half of plate no. 711, Mint N.H. except few stamps in bottom plate block lightly hinged, few small pieces out at edge of bottom selvage, Fine, Scott Retail as singles and two plate blocks
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H. pane of 50 from the left half of plate no. 592, bright shade, few perf flaws at top affect plate block, otherwise Fine, Scott Retail as singles and two plate blocks
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. pane of 50 from the left half of plate no. 720, rich color, part of right side with decent centering, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive pane, Scott Retail as singles and two plate blocks
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. pane of 50 from the left half of plate no. 721, rich color, lower left portion with decent centering, Fine-Very Fine, an especially nice pane, Scott Retail as singles and two plate blocks
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. pane of 50 from the left half of plate no. 722, intense shade, fresh and Fine, Scott Retail as singles and two plate blocks
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Radiant color, perfectly centered with wide margins, neat quartered cork cancel and part of circular datestamp at left, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $700.00), more than 159 million of the 2c stamp were printed, yet to find a truly superbly centered and sound used example is astonishingly difficult, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only this and two other used stamps at 98 with only one higher, only four others have even graded as high as 95, this compares to approximately 55 Mint N.H. stamps graded 95 or better, the far more common Mint N.H. 98's have an SMQ value of $2,750.00
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H. block of 12 in 4 x 3 format, part arrow selvage at right, bright color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,800.00)
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Wide top left corner imprint and plate no. 643 block of ten, half arrow natural s.e. at right, selvage at left, lightly hinged with several stamps Mint N.H., outstanding centering, particularly in the stamps that comprise the plate blockVERY FINE AND CHOICE LIGHTLY-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
A Power Search review found only one wide top plate block of more than six stamps that compares favorably to the beautiful example offered here.
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, post-office fresh and Extremely Fine
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Original gum, lightly hinged, essentially perfect centering with extra wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1979 and 1986 P.F. certificates
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Complete right pane of 50 with top and bottom imprint and plate 620 blocks of six, full arrow at right and half-arrows at top and bottom left, stamps Mint N.H., a couple sensible h.r. in selvage, outstanding centering essentially throughout, some minor reinforced perf separations in selvage as would be expectedVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND RARE COMPLETE PANE OF 50 OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Like most of the Columbian stamps, the Trans-Mississippi Issue was printed from plates of 100 subjects and then divided into panes of 50 for packaging and sale at post offices. We have not offered an intact complete pane since keeping computerized records (a pane in our Sale 913 had one stamp replaced).
Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles and hinged plate blocks (though the stamps in the plate block are Mint N.H.)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, barely hinged, perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LIGHTLY-HINGED 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.
With 1998 and 1999 P.F. certificate
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Top imprint and plate no. 603 pair with wide selvage, stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged in selvage, brilliant color, detailed impression, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER PAIR OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1989 and 2013 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as two Mint N.H. singles with no premium for the position.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Top imprint and plate no. 606 pair, original gum, barely hinged (if at all), Fine and fresh
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, rich color, detailed impression on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND AND CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2012 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $8,500.00). Only six Mint N.H. stamps have been graded higher (three at 90 and three at 95)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, bottom right stamp tiny thin spot in watermark which may be naturalFINE-VERY FINE APPEARING AND SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Relatively few blocks remain of this popular Trans-Mississippi top value
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, rich color, 1899 New York oval registry cancels, well-centered, couple light creases and top left stamp small thin spotFINE-VERY FINE APPEARING AND EXTREMELY RARE USED BLOCK OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Used dollar-value 19th Century commemorative blocks are extremely scarce, if only for the fact that this $8.00 face-value postage is worth more than $200 in today's inflation-adjusted dollars. The majority if not all used blocks have at least small condition issues. This is only the second used block we have offered since our 2001 Twigg-Smith sale, and Power Search turned up only four or five other blocks.