Sale 959 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Wednesday, 23-25 June, 2008
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Imprint and plate no. 590 block of four, stamps are Mint N.H. (lightly hinged in selvage), rich color, some gum skips and light wrinkles, otherwise Very Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H., brilliant color, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,050.00)
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H., pretty margins and exceptional centering, bright color and sharp impression, Extremely Fine, lovely quality, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $285.00)
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 729 block of six with wide selvage, extraordinarily choice centering throughout, rich color, fresh and Extremely Fine, a magnificent plate block of this popular commemorative issue
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H. with plate no. 636 at top, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printedEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE 4-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,450.00). Only six have graded higher to date.
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H., beautiful margins and centering, attractive delicate color, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,250.00)
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H., beautiful margins and attractively centered, vivid color, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $700.00)
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Bottom imprint and plate no. 599 block of four, original gum, vibrant color, few black specks on back of right pair and nibbed perf at upper right, otherwise Very Fine
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and well-centered, strong color and fine impressionEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE WIDEST-MARGINED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI KNOWN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED POST OFFICE CONDITION.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 614 block of six with wide selvage, beautiful rich color and bright fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. TOP PLATE BLOCKS OF SIX ARE RARELY SEEN IN THIS CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
The Trans-Mississippi plate blocks were initially collected in units of four stamps. Plate blocks of six are much scarcer, and top positions are the most desirable. This wide top plate block of six of the 5c has the extra element of quality, by virtue of its choice centering and Mint N.H. condition.
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 609 block of four with wide selvage, dark shade, right pair faintly creased from handling, otherwise Fine-Very Fine
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., intense color, Fine and attractive, with 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Original gum, lightly hinged, uncharacteristically wide margins and choice centering, intense color and fine impression, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $380.00)
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Bottom imprint and plate no. 620 pair, original gum, left stamp h.r., right lightly hinged, fabulous wide margins and intense color, Extremely Fine
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Bottom imprint and plate no. 620 block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, lovely dark shade and proof-like impression, choice centering, some rejoined perfs in selvage, otherwise Very Fine
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H., gorgeous color, Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate for horizontal pair (right stamp)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H., nicely centered, natural s.e. at left, Fine and attractive, with photocopy of 2007 P.S.E. certificate for horizontal pair (left stamp)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractive margins and marvelous intense color, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $950.00)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, exceptional centering and fabulous depth of color, Very Fine and choice, with 1986 and 2002 P.F. certificates
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Block of four with bottom sheet selvage, bottom pair Mint N.H., gorgeous deep rich color and bright fresh paperFINE-VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SHEET-MARGIN BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE WITH TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS AT BOTTOM.
Scott Retail as singles (two Mint N.H.)
50c, $1.00 Trans-Mississippi (291-292). 50c unused (regummed), reperfed at left, $1.00 disturbed original gum, small thin spot, Extremely Fine appearance
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., well-centered, wonderfully fresh with strong intense impressionVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFULLY-CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.
With 1986 and 2001 P.F. certificates
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., natural gum wrinkle, otherwise Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate for horizontal pair (right stamp)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., natural gum wrinkle, otherwise Fine, with photocopy of 2007 P.S.E. certificate for horizontal pair (left stamp)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,150.00). Only two have graded higher to date and only thirteen others share this grade
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade and proof-like impression, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,100.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, barely hinged, well-centered, strong color on fresh paper, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,600.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, nicely margined and centered on crisp paper, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum with slight gum loss from hinge removal, intense shade and proof-like impression, fresh and Very Fine
$1.00, $2.00 Trans-Mississippi (292-293). Mint N.H., $2.00 somewhat oxidized, bottom perfs touch on $1.00, perfs close but clear on the $2.00
$1.00, $2.00 Trans-Mississippi (292-293). Original gum, former attractively centered, light corner crease, Very Fine appearance; latter with top plate no. 613 (partially separated), perfs barely in at top
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Top imprint and plate no. 606 pair, stamps Mint N.H. (there may have been some skillful separation strengthening on a couple perfs but no hinging), fresh, close two sides, Fine
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Block of four, original gum, exceptionally choice centering, deep shade and proof-like impression, couple faint tiny toned specks and strengthened perf separationsVERY FINE. A HANDSOME ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE ONE-DOLLAR TRANS-MISSISSIPPI, REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE STAMP EVER PRODUCED.
The Scott Catalogue assigns a small 15% premium to a block versus four singles.
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., bright color and detailed impression, fresh and Fine, scarce in Mint N.H. condition, with photo of strip of three (this is the center stamp)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, beautifully centered, intense color and wonderful detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 IS THE MOST CHALLENGING OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS PRISTINE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, Very Fine and quite attractive, with 2008 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, bright color, tiny thin speck at top left, appears Fine
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Horizontal pair, Mint N.H. except for tiny gum disturbance speck at top left of left stamp, natural s.e. at right, lovely unadulterated color, right stamp natural wrinkles, otherwise Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H.