Sale 1174 — The J. R. Helton, Jr. Collection of Used United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 7 March, 2018
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Deep rich color and sharp impression on bright paper, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $375.00)
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Precise centering, deep rich color on crisp paper, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $625.00)
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, unusually light cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $575.00), only four grade higher
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Bright shade, crisp impression, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $575.00), only four grade higher
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Impressive centering and balanced margins, intense shade and impression, long and full perforations, light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00), only three have graded higher (the highest is a 98)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Rich color, unusually light cancel, well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $500.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Intense shade and proof-like impression, light registry oval cancels, exceptionally choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES HAVE BEEN GRADED HIGHER.
The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi has been called the most beautiful stamp in United States philately. With 2001 and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). Only four have graded higher.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Excellent centering, deep shade on fresh paper, bold duplex cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. and 2008 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Well-centered, Harrisburg Pa. double oval cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Wide margins and well-centered, neat circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2017 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Bold color, sharp impression on fresh paper, lightly struck New York circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $700.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Attractive centering, deep rich color, clear 1905 New York circular datestamp, Very Fine, signed Senf, with 2016 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Wide margins, deep shade and strong impression, unusually light circular datestamp which leaves the central design fully visible, Very Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Intense color as fresh as the day it was printed, bright paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with well-balanced margins, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP, WITH GORGEOUS COLOR, CHOICE CENTERING, UNOBTRUSIVE CANCEL AND OVERALL FRESHNESS, IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
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 William 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.
Brookman notes "the $2.00 is not easy to obtain well-centered as many of these stamps seem to be perforated close to the top and its color is such that it cancels rather badly. This combination makes fine used copies difficult to obtain. I consider it more difficult to obtain in choice used condition than any of the high values of the Columbian issue."
Ex Rubin and "Natalee Grace". With 1997 and 2009 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only five others shares this grade.
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Wide margins, well-centered, bright color, bold and handsome strike of "Bayha Cal. Aug. 17 1900" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, easily one of the finest town cancels we have seen on a $2.00 Trans-Mississippi, which typically comes smudged and/or with large registry ovals, with 2016 P.F. certificate