Sale 1166 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 24-26 October, 2017
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $625.00)
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H., vivid color on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1988, 2004 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $625.00)
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., intense shade nicely complemented by bright paper, beautiful centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007, 2012 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., deep shade and marvelous impression, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Ex "Hanover". With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $11,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only six others share it.
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., beautifully centered, sharp impression on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Rich color, neat strike of oval cancel, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY DESCRIBED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN U.S. PHILATELY.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,750.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, proof-like impression, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, small h.r., intense shade, small corner perf crease at bottom right, appears Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Top imprint and plate no. 606 pair, original gum, lightly hinged, few sensibly reinforced perf separations at top of selvage (easily trimmed), Fine-Very Fine
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., rich color, detailed impression, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 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.
With 1979 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $8,500.00). Only six Mint N.H. examples have graded higher (3 at 90, 3 at 95).
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, barely hinged, rich color and detailed impression, unusually wide margins for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
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 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,600.00). Only three have graded higher (all at 98).
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, wide margins and well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
A handsome stamp.
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, fresh color, Very Fine, with 1977 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, Very Fine
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). With top imprint selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, Fine
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Top imprint and plate no. 613 block of four, original gum, bottom right and top left stamps h.r., rich color, selvage reduced, few expertly rejoined perfs between left stampsFINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE FROM THE TOP POSITION.
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.
There are perhaps three imprint and plate number blocks of six in existence. The imprint and plate number block of four format is also extremely scarce, especially from the top position.
With 2017 P.F. certificate