Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT ONE-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STAMP, WHICH HAS ACHIEVED THE COVETED P.S.E GRADE OF SUPERB 98.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,450.00). according to the P.S.E. Population Report this is just one of only nine Mint N.H. 1c Trans-Mississippi's to have been awarded this grade with none higher
















EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARDED TO DATE. THIS IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STAMPS IN ANY DENOMINATION TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
The 1893 Columbian Issue contains 16 different denominations, and at the time of their issue for the Columbian Exposition there was a backlash among collectors, who had to pay $16.33 to purchase a complete set (the equivalent of $372.36 in 2007 dollars). For the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition, held in Omaha Nebraska, the issue was restricted to nine denominations, with no denominations issued above $2.00. The $3.80 cost for the set, while still expensive ($93.53 in 2007 dollars), was at least more manageable.
The Trans-Mississippi plates were laid out with narrower space between the horizontal rows than the space between the vertical columns. The mathematically balanced margins necessary to achieve a Gem 100 grade require extra space between the horizontal rows of perforations. Anyone who has examined Trans-Mississippi sheets and multiples can testify to the rarity of stamps with perfectly balanced margins all around.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced above the grade of 98; SMQ $15,600.00 as 98). This is the only example to achieve this grade, which is the highest awarded to date. The only other denomination represented by a Mint N.H. Gem 100 stamp is the 8c (one awarded). One previously hinged $1.00 is graded 100, and it realized $45,000 hammer in our September 2008 auction.


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,450.00). Only four have graded higher to date.




EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER TO DATE AND ONLY TWO OTHERS SHARE THIS DESIRABLE GRADE.
Collectors in pursuit of superb 19th Century commemorative stamps are well aware of the challenge in locating the 8c Trans-Mississippi with wide margins and choice centering. An examination of 8c multiples will reveal the fact that the space between horizontal rows was narrower than the space between vertical columns. Wide top and bottom margins that match the sides could only occur when the horizontal perforations were misapplied to a row, thereby impinging on the space allocated to the rows above and below.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $33,000.00). The most recent realization for a Superb 98 was $47,500 hammer (this Fall season)


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,150.00). Only five have graded higher to date.










EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1952 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates.



EXTREMELY 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. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO A MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE.
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 extremely rare examples combining everything that could be desired. It is one of only six examples that have achieved the grade of XF-Superb 95 in the P.S.E. Population Report (the highest grade ever certified), and in our opinion it is certainly one of the better ones, bordering on a 98.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $38,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date to a Mint N.H. stamp, and only five others have achieved this grade.










EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $3,550.00)


