Sale 1278 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 21-23 March, 2023
Category — Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Dark Yellow Green, Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., deep rich color, precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $625.00)
1c Dark Yellow Green, Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
4c Orange, Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, gorgeous color, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BRILLIANT AND FRESH MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2010 P.S.E. and 2011 P.F. certificates (both XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,250.00).
5c Dull Blue, Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide and beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex "Sacramento", with 1997 P.F. and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95), by way of comparison only eight grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report
5c Dull Blue, Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
8c Violet Brown, Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H., crisp impression, near perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
With 1999 and 2021 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, only nine grade higher in P.S.E.'s Population Report
8c Violet Brown, Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H. with huge top right corner selvage, deep dark shade and detailed proof-like impression, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Gray Violet, Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., remarkable color and detailed impression, gorgeous centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
With 1995, 1999 and 2012 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison only seven grade higher in P.S.E.'s Population Report (all at 98)
10c Gray Violet, Trans-Mississippi (290). Original gum, pretty shade, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.S.A.G. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95)
50c Sage Green, Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H., with wide top imprint selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F. A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
The design of the 50c Trans-Mississippi is based on a drawing by Frederic Remington titled Gold Bug, which was published in 1897 in New York as part of a series of drawings. It depicts a single prospector in a barren landscape, hammer in one hand and a gold prospecting pan in the other, with his dog and two pack mules. The design was originally considered for the $2.00 (an essay is known) but it was ultimately used for the 50c.
The 50c Trans-Mississippi is extremely scarce in well-centered condition. It also seems that fewer 50c stamps exist in Mint N.H. condition, relative to the dollar values of the set. The combination of Extremely Fine centering and Mint N.H. condition is exponentially rarer.
With 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison P.S.E.'s Population Report contains only six at this grade with two higher (at 98).
50c Sage Green, Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H., rich color, faint diagonal gum bend noted on certificate is very minor, Very Fine, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate
50c Sage Green, Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, choice margins and centering, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $975.00)
50c Sage Green, Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1987 and 2022 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., wonderfully well-centered, deep intense shade and proof-like impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HIGHLY DESIRABLE CENTERED, MINT NEVER-HINGED $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.
With 1985, 2016 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (latter two XF 90; SMQ $10,000.00). Only 11 grade higher and ten share this desirable grade. These are ridiculously low population numbers for what is widely regarded as the most beautiful United States commemorative stamp.
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade and sharp detailed impression, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2015 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, detailed impression on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, an attractive stamp
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, h.r., deep shade, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, fresh and Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade, fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered, Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, detailed impression, Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, intense shade, Very Fine, with 2013 Weiss certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp impression, fresh and Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, detailed impression on bright paper, Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, detailed impression, Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, fresh and Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, some adherences on back, crisp impression, Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade, fresh and Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, h.r., crisp impression, fresh and Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, fresh and Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, detailed impression, Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, Fine, with copy of 1976 P.F. certificate for pair and 1985 A.P.S. certificate as single
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade, fresh and Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp impression, Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, crisp impression, diagonal crease at right, Very Fine appearance
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, h.r., well-centered, intense shade, small crease at top right, Very Fine appearance, with 2002 A.P.S. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, reperfed at right, vertical crease at right, Very Fine appearance, with 2022 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, some faint overall toning, reperfed, otherwise Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Disturbed original gum, detailed impression, small corner perf crease at top right, Fine appearance
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Unused (regummed) over small filled thin, detailed impression, Very Fine appearance, with 2022 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Unused (regummed), light diagonal crease at top right, Very Fine appearance
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Unused (regummed), bright shade, few slightly toned perfs at bottom left and bottom right, otherwise Fine
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Unused (regummed), light diagonal crease, Fine appearance
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centering for this difficult issueFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
The design of the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi is based on the famed Eads Bridge that spans the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The river has long been considered the dividing line between East and West, and is a fitting theme for this 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 makes it difficult to fit the collecting criteria of most Gem-quality collectors. The stamp offered here, which is Mint Never-Hinged with choice centering and fresh color, is a true condition rarity.
Ex "Piedmont" and "Hanover". With 2005 P.S.E. certificate. With 1989, 1998 and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF 90). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has certified only three higher and four equal. These are extremely low population numbers for the top denomination of one of the most popular Commemorative sets.
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, rich color, few toned spots on back not noted on certificate, Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
1898 Trans-Mississippi, 1901 Pan-American Issues, Graded Balance. Five Mint N.H. P.S.E. graded stamps, including Nos. 285 (90), 287 (85), 295 (85), 296 (90) and 299 (80), Extremely Fine group, total SMQ $1,410.00
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