Sale 1000 — Siegel Sale 1000
Sale Date — Wednesday, 8 December, 2010
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, Jumbo margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Scarsdale, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $750.00 as 95, $2,200.00 as 98)
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., brilliant color and crisp impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $750.00)
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H., vivid color on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $670.00)
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H., radiant color, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $670.00)
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, beautiful centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00)
4c 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. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00)
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on post-office fresh paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A WONDERFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,300.00). Only five have graded higher to date.
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,300.00). Only five have graded higher to date
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H., absolutely eye-catching color in a soft shade, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, IN A DISTINCTIVE SHADE. TRULY A CONDITION RARITY.
The two most challenging Trans-Mississippi denominations to obtain in Extremely Fine grade are the 8c and the $2.00. The spacing between horizontal rows on the sheet is narrower than the spacing between vertical columns, making it difficult to obtain stamps with balanced margins.
The stamp offered here is likely from the fourth and final printing in October 1898 as identified by Randy Neil in his book on the Trans-Mississippi Issue. He identifies the color as Dull Brownish Purple, which is not listed as a sub-shade in Scott Catalogue.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate as normal shade (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,750.00). Only eight have graded higher to date and only three others share this grade.
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H. with wide top imprint selvage, wide and balanced margins, gorgeous color and impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). Only six have graded higher to date.
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H. with plate no. 610 at top, deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). Only six have graded higher to date.
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,000.00). Only six have graded higher to date
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H. with imprint selvage at top, phenomenally fresh color and detailed impression showing every nuance of the design, essentially perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. A VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND IN THE HIGHER GRADES.
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 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $16,000.00). Only one has graded higher to date (at 98) and only three others share this desirable grade, a statistic which has not changed in over a year.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H. with imprint selvage at top, intense shade on bright paper, as fresh as the day it was printed, incredibly detailed impression which highlights every minute detail of this wonderful engravingEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE STAMP EVER ISSUED. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE IMPRINT. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi'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. This stamp is one of those extremely rare examples combining everything that could be desired. It is one of only six examples that have achieved the grade of XF-Superb 95 in the P.S.E. Population Report, and only one has graded higher to date.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1999 and 2001 P.F. certificates, the former as a pair. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $25,000.00). Only six copies of this popular issue have achieved this grade to date and only one has graded higher (at 98).
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression on bright paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,400.00). Only two have graded higher to date.
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., radiant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, as fresh as the day it was printed, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- THE COLOR IS BEAUTIFUL, THE PAPER IS FRESH, THE IMPRESSION IS INTENSE AND THE GUM IS ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE. THIS STUNNING STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
According to Brookman, the design 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 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 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $55,400.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this grade.