US Stamp Value Scott 289: 1898 8c Trans Mississippi Exposition: Troops Guarding Wagon. Page 4

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H. with wide right selvage, deep shade and impression, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ value $1,250.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2013, Sale 1062, Lot 473

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, Jumbo margins are seldom found on the 8c Trans-Mississippi, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ price $1,150.00 as 98, unpriced in any higher grade), only one hinged stamp has been graded higher and no others share this grade

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1061, Lot 3788

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Original gum, lightly hinged, with bottom plate no. 609 selvage, exceptionally wide margins for this difficult Trans-Mississippi value, nearly perfectly centered, rich color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ value $590.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1061, Lot 3789

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H. with wide top imprint selvage, rich color and proof-like impression, part of adjoining stamp at bottom, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent Mint Never-Hinged imprint example of this challenging commemorative issue, we consider this stamp to be far more desirable than its numerical grade would imply, with 1998 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,250.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1061, Lot 3787

289, 1898 8c Trans-Mississippi, top margin imprint single, rich color, NH, fresh and Very Fine (Scott $450)

H.R. Harmer, Nov 2013, Sale 3004, Lot 1207

289, 1898 8c Trans-Mississippi,top margin single, P.O. fresh, NH, Very Fine and choice, 2013 PF certificate (Scott $450)

H.R. Harmer, Nov 2013, Sale 3004, Lot 1206

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Original gum, wide beautifully balanced margins, fresh color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OG, XF-Superb 95; SMQ price $590.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1057, Lot 875

8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Top left corner selvage block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, top left stamp natural gum crease, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, the bottom stamps are especially nice, Scott Retail as singles

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 357

8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 356

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Bottom imprint and plate no. 609 block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, unusual pale shade, fresh and Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 331

8c Trans-Mississippi, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (Scott 289a). Top imprint and plate no. 609 block containing two error pairs, original gum, deep rich color, detailed impression, wide margins, light natural gum wrinkles, light horizontal crease at top above the stamps VERY FINE. THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCKS OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY, AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE FROM THE TOP OF THE SHEET. THIS PLATE BLOCK IS ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF UNITED STATES PHILATELY. According to the Neil-Rosenthal book (pp. 115-118), one pane of 50 was discovered by Robert Watts, a stamp clerk at one of the sales windows at the Philadelphia General Post Office, who found it between the wrapping paper of a bundle of stamps. He sold it for double face value ($8.00) to Herman Lewis, a locksmith in Philadelphia. Lewis soon sold it to William S. F. Pierce, who broke it into three pieces: a vertical strip of ten with sheet margin and full arrow at right, a vertical block of 20 containing both plate blocks, and a vertical block of 20 with natural straight edge at left. The block of ten was reportedly sold for $15.00 and was taken to Europe when the owner moved there. It returned to the U.S. in the 1930’s, when it was broken. The vertical block of 20 with straight edge at left was sold to Arthur E. Tuttle, a Philadelphia stamp dealer, who retailed them for $10.00 per pair. The block of 20 with both plate numbers was retained by Pierce, who later sold the top and bottom plate blocks to Albert Batchelder of the New England Stamp Co. for $175.00. The bottom imprint and plate number block has original gum, narrow selvage and usual gum wrinkles — ex Colonel Green, Eno, Hetherington and Kobacker, currently in the William H. Gross collection. The wide top margin plate block offered here is in superior condition. Ex Watts (discoverer), Pierce, New England Stamp Co., U.S. Trust Co. sale (H. R. Harmer, Feb. 17-18, 1970) and Rosenthal. Illustrated in the Neil-Rosenthal book on p. 117. With 1994 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 330

8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 643 pair, bright color, right stamp small fingerprint on gum, Fine, unpriced in Scott in Mint N.H. condition, Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the position

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 340

8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Bottom imprint and plate no. 609 pair with wide selvage, right stamp Mint N.H., left stamp lightly hinged, rich color, choice centering, Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 342

8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Top imprint and plate no. 643 pair with wide selvage, stamps Mint N.H., h.r. in selvage, pretty shade, tiny thin spot in selvage only, Fine, Scott Retail as singles

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 341

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1981 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 311