Sale 1122 — The Hanover Collection of Superb-Quality U.S. Stamps-Part One
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 April, 2016
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., deep shade and detailed impression, beautiful centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $625.00)
2c Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H., radiant color, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a surprisingly difficult issue to find in such a high grade, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,500.00), only five have graded higher (four at 98J and one at 100) and only six others share this grade, this is a very small population of high-grade stamps considering how plentiful the 2c stamps are; this demonstrates how difficult they are to find in such superb condition
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., deep shade and marvelous impression, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $11,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only six others share it. This is the first we have offered since our 2012 Merlin sale.
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H., rich color, proof-like impression, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAY WELL BE THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE ON RECORD AND ONLY THIS STAMP HAS ACHIEVED IT.
The design of the 50c Trans-Mississippi is based on a drawing by Frederic Remington titled Gold Bug, which was published in 1897 in New York as part of a series of drawings. It depicts a single prospector in a barren landscape, hammer in one hand and a gold prospecting pan in the other, with his dog and two pack mules. The design was originally considered for the $2.00 (an essay is known) but it was ultimately used for the 50c.
The 50c Trans-Mississippi is extremely scarce in well-centered condition. It also seems that fewer 50c stamps exist in Mint N.H. condition, relative to the dollar values of the set. The combination of Extremely Fine centering and Mint N.H. condition is exponentially rarer.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $57,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded, and this is the only stamp to achieve it.
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., detailed impression on post-office fresh paper, unusually wide and balanced margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO A MINT NEVER-HINGED COPY. THIS IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE STAMP EVER ISSUED..
The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi is widely considered to be the most beautiful design in U.S. philately. According to Brookman, the picture is supposed to portray cattle in the American West and is labelled "Western Cattle In Storm" at bottom. However, the subject of the original painting by J.A. MacWhirter, who specialized in romantic landscapes and first exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy at the age of 14, was of cattle in the West Highlands of Scotland.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $75,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade (the other was offered in our Merlin sale). Accompanied by note from master grader William A. Litle "After ten years finally a 98 NH 292. Yea!! Pretty safe to assume there won't be a bunch of these"
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centering for this difficult issueFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
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 makes it difficult to fit the collecting criteria of most Gem-quality collectors. The stamp offered here, which is Mint Never-Hinged with choice centering and fresh color, is a true condition rarity.
Ex "Piedmont" where it realized $9,000 hammer in our Sale 842 in 2002. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate. With 1989, 1998 and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF 90)