Cost of US Stamp Scott 293: 1898 US$2.00 Trans Mississippi Exposition: Mississippi River Bridge. Page 10

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression, choice centering EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 2007 P.F. (XF 90) and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $2,900.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1061, Lot 3801

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, single hinge mark, beautiful warm shade, wide and well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate (85 OGph)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1061, Lot 3802

293, 1898 $2 Trans-Mississippi, lovely bright color, regummed over small thin, a couple tiny wrinkles at top, Fine centering (Scott value $875)

H.R. Harmer, Nov 2013, Sale 3004, Lot 1218

293, 1898 $2 Trans-Mississippi,crisp impression, regummed over filled thin, tiny scuffs at upper left,Very Fine centering (Scott $875)

H.R. Harmer, Nov 2013, Sale 3004, Lot 1217

293, 1898 $2 Trans-Mississippi,unused, a shorter perf at bottom, Fine and affordable example for your album (Scott $1,900)

H.R. Harmer, Nov 2013, Sale 3004, Lot 1216

293, 1898 $2 Trans-Mississippi,crisp detail, o.g., a few gum soaked perfs, Fine (Scott value $1,900)

H.R. Harmer, Nov 2013, Sale 3004, Lot 1215

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, remarkable centering with well-balanced margins EXTREMELY FINE. THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI IS THE MOST DIFFICULT VALUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION. With 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1057, Lot 879

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Top left corner selvage imprint and plate no. 613 strip of five, natural s.e. with part arrow at right, original gum, barely hinged (a few appear Mint N.H.), choice centering, deep rich color and proof-like impression, few sensibly reinforced perf separations VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF FIVE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. The $2.00 Trans-Mississippi Issue is very difficult to obtain in traditional plate block form. Only one plate block of six (ex Ambassador and Kobacker) and one contained in the half-pane of 25 are known. Collectors usually settle for an imprint and plate number block of four. With 1995 P.F. certificate. Undercatalogued in Scott as an imprint and plate number strip of three at $8,000.00; the plate block of four catalogues $90,000.00, and the plate block of six catalogues $175,000.00. This is the only imprint and plate number strip contained in Power Search, which covers all of our Rarities sales since 1964 and regular auctions since 1994.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 351

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Top imprint and plate no. 613 pair with wide selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER PAIR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE FROM THE TOP PLATE POSITION. The Scott Catalogue premium for an imprint and plate number pair versus two singles seems inadequate ($4,750.00 vs. $3,800.00). The premium for a plate block of four versus a block of four is more than ten times. A review of Power Search found only three others offered since 1998, and all of those were from the bottom plate position. With 1987 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 350

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Block of four, original gum, h.r. at top, bottom stamps barely hinged (if at all), rich color FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 1984 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 361

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Top imprint and plate no. 613 block of four, original gum, lightly hinged with pristine gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. 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 scarce, especially from the top position. With 1987 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 335

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Rich color and proof-like impression, tied by “Heusler Ind. Dec. 5, 1898” circular datestamp on registered cover from Dr. Ernst H. C. Heusler to Rev. Ferdinand Busser, Mansfield O, purple “Registered, Dec. 10, 1898, Mansfield Ohio” three-line receiving backstamp VERY FINE. A RARE SINGLE FRANKING OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. Our Levi records contain seven covers with single frankings of the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi Issue. This cover is part of a group prepared by Dr. Ernst Heusler of Heusler, Indiana. According to web sources consulted, the town was probably named for Dr. Heusler, who was the first postmaster when the post office was established in 1893. Ex Rosenthal. Illustrated in the Neil-Rosenthal book (p. 161). With 1985 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 438

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins for this difficult issue EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 1980 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 317

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, fresh and Very Fine, with 1973 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 319

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, intense shade and impression, unusually wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1973 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 318