Sale 953 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 25-28 March, 2008
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., pretty shade, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,050.00)
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 590 block of four, intense shade and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering throughout, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb Mint N.H. plate block, with 1992 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, beautifully centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,450.00)
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 636 selvage, wonderfully bright color and exceptionally choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate for imprint and plate no. block of four (bottom right stamp) and 2007 P.S.E. certificate for this single (XF 90; SMQ $1,200.00), for our money this is a better stamp than some we have seen graded 95
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H. with imprint at bottom, brilliant color, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $700.00)
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Described on 2008 P.F. certificate as Mint N.H. and on 2007 P.S.E. certificate as previously hinged (we see no evidence of hinging), brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.F. certificate as Mint N.H., with 2007 P.S.E. certificate as previously hinged and graded Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in this high grade (SMQ $1,100.00 as 98 hinged); if this were to receive a Mint N.H. P.S.E. certificate with this grade, then the SMQ price would be $15,600.00 as 98, Scott Retail as hinged
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H., bright vivid color on crisp paper, well-centered, Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Original gum, single hinge mark, vivid color, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $300.00)
4c Trans-Mississippi (287). Bottom imprint and plate no. 634 block of four, three stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp barely hinged, dazzling color, choice centering throughout, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the plate block
5c Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., wide margins of near Jumbo proportions, intense color on bright crisp paper, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,200.00)
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H., extraordinarily well-centered, strong color and clear impression, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,850.00)
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H., unusually choice margins and centering, Very Fine, handsome example, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Original gum, remarkably wide margins for issue, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $410.00)
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 604 selvage, wide margins, beautiful impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate for top imprint and plate no. pair
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $630.00)
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Rich color and proof-like impression nicely complemented by magenta cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $160.00)
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Top margin imprint and plate no. 603 pair, both stamps are Mint N.H., barest trace of hinging in the selvage only, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE PAIR. EXCEPTIONALLY WIDE MARGINS AND CHOICE CENTERING FOR THIS ISSUE.
With 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as two N.H. singles.
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Top imprint and plate no. 603 pair, original gum, lightly hinged, Very Fine and choice
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, lightly hinged, perfectly centered, fresh color and fine impression, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractive margins and centering, particularly choice deep rich color, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Wide margins and nearly perfect centering, bright color and detailed impression, bold strike of New York oval cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $470.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade on bright paper, wide margins and nearly perfect centeringEXTREMELY 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 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,100.00). In our opinion this meets the P.S.E. criteria for an XF-Superb 95 grade
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN CALLED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DESIGN IN U.S. PHILATELY.
With 1988 P.F. and 2001 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,150.00). Only one hinged and one used copy have graded higher to date.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractive margins and uncommonly well-centered, fresh, intense color, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Unused (no gum), bright shade and detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,150.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Bright shade on crisp paper, wide and balanced margins, neat strike of target cancel at bottom right leaves design clearly visible, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,350.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Wide margins and exceptional centering, intense color, light New York oval registry cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1988 P.F. and 1993 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $900.00)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice margins and with far better than typical centering, pristine colorEXTREMELY FINE. CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MORE BEAUTIFUL SURVIVING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1994 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $3,550.00)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, crisp impression, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,550.00)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, lovely margins and centering for this tightly-spaced Trans-Mississippi top value, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful warm shade on bright paper, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,750.00)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, choice wide margins, wonderful unadulterated dark color that has not been affected by oxidation which is often the case, Very Fine and choice, with 1990 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins and wonderful deep rich color, light creasing along top, Very Fine appearance

