$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Bottom imprint and plate no. 606 block of four, original gum, the gum is pristine except for tiny traces of hinge-sliver removal at points where perfs were reinforced and a small faint hinge mark in selvage, appears never-hinged at first glance

FINE-VERY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH AND LIGHTLY-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN U.S. PHILATELY.

The $1.00 stamp issued for the Trans-Mississippi Exposition was based on an image of cattle in a storm in an engraving by C. O. Murray, a copy of which was loaned to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing by Mrs. C. B. Johnson. The engraving was used as a trademark by an American cattle company, but the image originated in an oil painting by J. A. MacWhirter entitled "The Vanguard", which depicts cattle in the West Highlands of Scotland. The Post Office Department was embarrassed when the painting was identified as the property of the Lord Blysworth, who was sent a formal apology and philatelic memento through the British Ambassador. The memento, a proof item, was donated to the Royal Philatelic Society by Lord Blysworth and hangs today on the walls of the Royal.

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