Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Wide top left imprint and plate no. 601 block of ten, stamps Mint N.H., rich color, minor perf separations and strengthening in selvage only, Fine-Very Fine
1c, 2c Trans-Mississippi (285-286). 1c bottom imprint and plate no. 598 block of six, 2c Mint N.H. top right corner imprint and plate no. 690 block of ten, few minor perf separations, Fine-Very Fine
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. top right corner block of six with plate no. 729 and imprint with wide selvage, radiant color, fresh and Fine, attractive position multiple, ex MLG, with 2004 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as plate block of four and two singles
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H. top right corner imprint and plate no. 599 block of eight, vibrant color, fresh and Fine, ex Saddleback, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as plate no. block of six and two singles
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Top left imprint and plate no. 614 block of ten, natural s.e. and part arrow at right, original gum, h.r., few toned spots on back, appears Fine-Very Fine
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Perfectly balanced wide margins, deep rich color on fresh paper, neat machine cancel, Extremely Fine, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00), this is one of only four examples to achieve the grade of 98, with none higher
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 609 block of four with extra two stamps at right, wonderful depth of color and crisp impressionFINE-VERY FINE. A CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
This issue is listed and collected as a top or bottom plate block of four or six.
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Bottom right corner imprint and plate no. 643 block of eight, stamps Mint N.H., single h.r. in selvage, bright shade, few expertly reattached perf separations in selvage, small corner crease in selvage at bottom right, Fine-Very Fine, ex MLG, Scott Retail as hinged plate block of six and two Mint N.H. singles
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Bottom imprint and plate no. 609 block of four with two extra stamps at right, five stamps Mint N.H., top center stamp and bottom center selvage lightly hinged, rich color, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as plate block of four and two Mint N.H. singles
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Top imprint and plate no. 617 block of ten with corner selvage and part arrow natural s.e. at right, comprising the top two rows of the pane, original gum, the six stamps in the plate block particularly well-centeredFRESH AND FINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE AND DESIRABLE LARGE FORMAT IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
This is far more frequently found as a plate block of four than it is as a plate block of six, much less a block of ten. Like most of the Columbian stamps, the Trans-Mississippi Issue was printed from plates of 100 subjects then divided into panes of 50 for packaging and sale at post offices.
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, cork cancel, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $575.00)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, wide and balanced margins, fresh color, Very Fine and choice
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Choice centering with well-proportioned margins, bold strike of New York circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Natalee Grace, with 2002 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00), only three have graded higher (highest is 98)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Rich color, tied by well-struck Omaha Nebr. registry oval on folded cover to Fremont Nebr., neat purple "Registered, Omaha, Nebr. Jul. 18, 1899" three-line datestamp on back, Fine, unusual commercial use paying the 8c registry fee plus 21 times the 2c domestic rate, ex World's Fair collection
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Choice centering with balanced margins, detailed impression, unobtrusive strike of duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2009 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, rich color and proof-like impression, remarkable centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI IS THE MOST DIFFICULT VALUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Neat duplex cancel, well-centered, beautiful rich color and fine impression, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, rich color, four strikes of New York oval registry cancel, well-centered throughout, each stamp affected by creasing as the block was apparently folded at one time, though creases are less obvious from frontVERY FINE APPEARING AND EXTREMELY RARE USED BLOCK OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Used dollar-value 19th Century commemorative blocks are extremely scarce, if only for the fact that this $8.00 face-value postage is worth more than $200 in today's inflation-adjusted dollars. This block comes from an old-time collection. It is the first used block we have offered since our 2001 Twigg-Smith sale, and Power Search turned up only four or five other blocks.