Sale 1014 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 12-14 October, 2011
Category — $1.00-$2.00 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 292-293)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, marvelous intense shade on crisp white paperEXTREMELY 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.
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 rare examples combining everything that could be desired.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., deep shade and proof-like impression, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1998 and 2004 P.F. certificates as block of four (top left stamp) and 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $5,150.00)
$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.
1988 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00). Only two hinged copies have graded higher to date. As an indication of how rare this stamp is in higher grades, only five stamps in any condition have graded higher than 95.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, very lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,550.00)
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade and detailed impression, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1979 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and crisp, Very Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and clear impression, Fine
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, fresh and Fine
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, marvelous intense shade and proof-like impression, Fine
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, h.r., attractive margins, small corner thin, otherwise Fine
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp impression, wide margins, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Block of four, original gum, very lightly hinged, intense shade and detailed impressionVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1997 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strikes of Boston oval cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE USED EXAMPLE HAS GRADED HIGHER TO DATE.
1990 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,900.00). Only one used copy has graded higher (at 98), and only five others share this desirable grade.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Wide balanced margins, New York oval registry cancel, reperfed at left and with tiny perf tear at bottom, Extremely Fine appearance, with clean 1985 P.F. certificate, with 2010 P.S.E. and 2011 P.F. certificates as reperfed
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With copy of older P.F. certificate for large multiple and with 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $8,950.00). Only five examples have graded higher to date (top is 95)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., detailed impression, well-proportioned marginsA FINE AND ATTRACTIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1997 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., bright color and detailed impression, light corner perf crease top right, Fine appearance
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression showing every nuance of the engraving, post-office fresh paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
The $2.00 Trans-Mississippi Issue is widely regarded as being the most difficult denomination of the series to obtain with any decent-size margins. The margins are almost always narrow on the $2.00, making it difficult for collectors of Gem-quality stamps to fill this space in their albums.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,400.00). Only one example in any condition category has graded higher to date (hinged, at 98)
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H. except slight gum disturbance incl. fingerprint, Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate as Mint N.H., Scott Retail as hinged since this surely would not receive a Mint N.H. certificate by today's expertizing standards
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, wide nicely balanced margins, warm color, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 A.P.S. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, rich color, Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Disturbed original gum, radiant color, small thin spots, short perf at bottom, otherwise Fine
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, nicely centered, guide line at bottom, rich color and clean impression, tiny hinge thin, Very Fine appearance
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, excellent color, light horizontal crease, otherwise Very Fine
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractively centered with strong color, reperfed at right, Very Fine appearance
10c, 50c, $2.00 Trans-Mississippi (290-291, 293). Singles with plate no. selvage, 10c top, others bottom, original gum, 10c Mint N.H., 50c h.r. and selvage reattached, $2.00 nicely centered but has small margin tear at right, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, each with 2010 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Unused (regummed or possibly heavily disturbed original gum), tiny barely discernable corner thin, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail as no gum
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Unused (regummed), expertly added bottom left corner perf, Fine appearance
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, h.r., bright color, few perf separationsFINE AND ATTRACTIVE BLOCK OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Scott Catalogue assigns only a $650.00 premium for a block versus four singles