$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., radiant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, as fresh as the day it was printed, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins all around

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- THE COLOR IS BEAUTIFUL, THE PAPER IS FRESH, THE IMPRESSION IS INTENSE AND THE GUM IS ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE. THIS STUNNING STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

According to Brookman, the design is based on the famed Eads Bridge that spans the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The river has long been considered the dividing line between East and West, and is a fitting theme for this 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. 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 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $55,400.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this grade.

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