$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Bottom imprint and plate no. 613 block of four, original gum, very lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE TWO OR THREE FINEST IN TERMS OF CENTERING, FRESHNESS AND GUM.

The design of the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi depicts the Eads bridge, which spans the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The original engraving was used on the admission ticket to the Republican Convention of 1896, which nominated McKinley as candidate for president. The stamp, issued during the McKinley Administration, illustrates the natural boundary between East and West and so was appropriate for the Trans-Mississippi Issue. All of the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi stamps were printed in a single day's run on June 3, 1898.

There are perhaps three imprint and plate number blocks of six in existence. The imprint and plate number block of four format is also extremely rare.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables