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56 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 6
General/Issue
Date
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, deep rich colorFINE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WITH THE BOTTOM STAMPS IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
Scott Retail as singles
This is the only $2.00 Trans-Mississippi plate number block of six--one other plate block of 25 is known to survive--making it the rarest of all non-error United States commemorative plate blocksDESCRIPTION
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293), block of six from top of left pane with “BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING” imprint and plate number 613, original gum, previously hinged, astoundingly well-centered, deep rich color
PROVENANCE
* “Ambassador” collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/2/1966, Sale 300, lot 337
* Arthur J. Kobacker, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 9/25/1991, lot 536, to Weills for Dr. Test
* Dr. Charles E. Test, “Westport” collection, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 2/2/1994, lot 24, to William H. Gross
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1994)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine; very slightly oxidized color at left and right
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/98.pdf
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Top imprint and plate no. 613 block of four, original gum, bottom right and top left stamps h.r., rich color, selvage reduced, few expertly rejoined perfs between left stampsFINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE FROM THE TOP POSITION.
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 William 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 scarce, especially from the top position.
With 2017 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, bottom right stamp barest trace of hinging and bottom left stamp stands a decent chance of a Mint N.H. certificate, top pair small h.r, strong color and impression, nice centering and marginsVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Scott Retail as hinged block
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, strong color and impressionFINE AND ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Scott Catalogue assigns only a $400.00 premium for a block versus four singles.
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, bright color, top pair well-centered (the top right stamp particularly so), few tiny edge tears at bottom of bottom pairA SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE WITH TWO SOUND VERY FINE STAMPS.
Scott Catalogue assigns only a scant $400.00 premium for a block of four versus four singles. This block will likely not stay intact
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, magnificent centering, few perf separations at right expertly reinforcedVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Scott Catalogue assigns only a paltry $400.00 premium for a block of four versus four singles.
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, strong color, reperfed at right, top stamps each with a faint thin speck, Fine-Very Fine appearance, a scarce block, with 2014 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, choice centeringVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Bottom imprint and plate no. 613 block of four, original gum, very lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY 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.
56 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 6
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