Sale 1376 — The Monterey Collection of Superb United States 19th and 20th Century Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 22 April, 2026
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Dark Yellow Green, Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
4c Orange, Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 634 selvage, beautifully balanced Jumbo margins, brilliant color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1987 P.F., 2002 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Only four grade higher (highest is 98J). We do not know if any of those four are imprint or plate number examples, but the two higher grades we have sold are not.
5c Dull Blue, Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
8c Violet Brown, Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H. with bottom imprint selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, exceptional centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
With 2005 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95).
10c Gray Violet, Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1993 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95).
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, well-centered within extra wide margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
50c Sage Green, Trans-Mississippi (291). Bottom imprint and plate no. 603 block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering, slight crease in selvage only
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PLATE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
For many years after the Trans-Mississippi Issue, it was customary to collect Bureau plate blocks in units of four. Only a few 50c Trans-Mississippi plate blocks of six have survived. We have offered three in that format and each had centering or condition issues, including perfs into design or gum creases. 50c Trans-Mississippi plate blocks of four are almost as rare in this choice condition.
Ex "Saddleback". With 2007 P.F. certificate.
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H. with wide bottom plate no. 606 selvage, exceptional centering with wide margins, proof-like impression on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS ISSUE IS WIDELY CONSIDERED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DESIGN IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi is widely considered to be the most beautiful design in U.S. philately. According to Brookman, the picture is supposed to portray cattle in the American West and is labelled "Western Cattle In Storm" at bottom. However, the subject of the original painting by J. A. MacWhirter, who specialized in romantic landscapes and first exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy at the age of 14, was of cattle in the West Highlands of Scotland.
This issue's long-time popularity with collectors led to hinging of the vast majority of singles. Although blocks have been broken over the years to supply Mint N.H. singles, it seems that grading is always a compromise between perfect centering and margin width. Only in a few instances do we find the combination of Mint N.H. condition, Extremely Fine Gem centering and wide balanced margins. We have offered numerous plate number singles of the $1.00 Trans-Mississippi, and we have offered nine Mint N.H. stamps graded 95 or 98. However, before this stamp we had not offered a combination of those two desirable features. The highest graded Mint N.H. plate number single offered in our auctions previously was an example at XF 90. This is truly one of the finest single stamps of the Trans-Mississippi issue.
With 1998 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only four Mint N.H. stamps grade higher (at 98, the last example we offered realized $55,000 hammer in Sale 1351, lot 1118) and only six share this 95 grade. We have offered nearly all of those stamp in the past and none we have encountered have plate number selvage (one has imprint selvage).
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered, rich color and sharp impression
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND THIS WELL-CENTERED.
With 2000 P.F. certificate.
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Well-centered, bright color, unobtrusive datestamp cancel, Very Fine, with 1980 and 2008 P.F. certificates