Cost of US Stamp Scott Cat. #293: 1898 US$2.00 Trans Mississippi Exposition: Mississippi River Bridge. Page 23

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Bold strike of New York duplex cancel, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 729

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Mint N.H., detailed impression, well-proportioned margins A FINE AND ATTRACTIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 1997 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 722

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, bright color, faint gum soak at top center, otherwise Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 723

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Wide beautifully balanced margins, bright color, bold circular datestamp cancel, guide line at top, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 724

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Choice centering with wide margins, duplex cancel, dark color, Extremely Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 725

United States 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue 1898 $2 orange brown, well centered for this notoriously difficult stamp, rich color, h.r., v.f., with 1986 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Mar 2010, Sale 201003, Lot 162

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, deep rich color on bright paper, well-proportioned margins VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 1981 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2010, Sale 983, Lot 188

o U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. Used, black ink marks on face, centered Very Fine. Scott $1,050. Estimate $200-300.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2010, Sale 84, Lot 1506

o U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. Used, very well centered for issue, Extremely Fine, PF (1999) cert. Scott $1,050. Estimate value $700-800.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Feb 2010, Sale 84, Lot 1505

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Block of four, original gum, nicely centered for this challenging issue, rich color, clear impression FINE-VERY FINE BLOCK OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. In response to the demand for high-grade singles of the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi, almost all perfectly-centered blocks have been broken. This well-centered block is probably the best that survives.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5659

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression showing every nuance of the engraving, post-office fresh paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. The $2.00 Trans-Mississippi Issue is widely regarded as being the most difficult denomination of the series to obtain with any decent-size margins. The margins are almost always narrow on the $2.00, making it difficult for collectors of Gem-quality stamps to fill this space in their albums. P.S.E. encapsulated (OGph, XF-Superb 95, SMQ $5,600.00). Only one example has graded higher to date in the P.S.E. Population Report.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5655

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, unusually wide and balanced margins, deep rich color without any oxidation as sometimes seen on this value EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90, SMQ value $2,700.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5656

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, small h.r., nice margins and attractively centered, rich color, Very Fine, with 1971 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5657

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, lightly hinged, natural s.e. at left, strong color on fresh paper, Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5658

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, as fresh as the day it was printed, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins all around EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT — THE COLOR IS BEAUTIFUL, THE PAPER IS FRESH, THE IMPRESSION IS INTENSE AND THE GUM IS ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI TO ACHIEVE THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95. Looking at this stamp, we are compelled to ask the question, if this is a 95, what is a 98 or 100? The $2.00 Trans-Mississippi 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 stamp essentially achieves that unnatural effect, which could only occur when the horizontal perforations were applied in such a way that the holes impinged on the space allocated to the rows above and below. Ex Scarsdale. 1978 and 2000 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $55,400.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 978, Lot 1094