US Stamp Prices Scott Catalogue # 289: 8c 1898 Trans Mississippi Exposition: Troops Guarding Wagon. Page 8

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Top right corner imprint and plate no. 643 block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp small gum disturbance, rich color and choice centering, Very Fine-Extremely Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1643

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color, choice centering for this difficult Trans-Mississippi denomination, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $1,300.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1642

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 609 selvage, choice centering with wide margins, intense shade and proof-like impression EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 1995 and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ value $5,750.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1641

U.S.; General Issues, 1898, 8¢ Trans-Mississippi, plate block of 4, #289. O.g., large top #609, perf separations, crease in top margin and lower left stamp, Fine. Scott $1,950. Estimate $250.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 91, Lot 247

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Top imprint and plate no. 609 block of four with wide selvage, most recent certificate indicates previously hinged along a few perfs between the top right stamp and plate no. selvage, intense shade and impression, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, with 2004 and 2011 P.F. certificates, the former as Mint N.H.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1011, Lot 651

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H. with huge bottom left corner sheet selvage, choice centering with wide margins, intense shade and proof-like impression EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 1988, 2004 and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1010, Lot 96

United States 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue 1898 8c violet brown, bottom margin and part imprint single, well centered, rich color, n.h. and post office fresh, with 2005 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Jun 2011, Sale 201106, Lot 62

1898, 8¢ Trans-Miss. (289), bottom margin imprint and plate no. pair, pristine, never hinged original gum, fresh and Fine. Scott value $1,050 as singles

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2741

1898, 8¢ Trans-Miss. (289), excellent centering, choice color and impression, spotless never hinged original gum, choice Very Fine. Scott price $525 Expertization: 2010 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2740

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Bottom imprint and plate no. 609 pair, original gum, lightly hinged, outstanding centering and deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful plate number pair

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2546

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H. with huge bottom left corner sheet selvage, beautifully centered with unusually wide side margins, intense color and clean impression, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous corner-margin single, with 1988 and 2004 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1007, Lot 2545

United States 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue 1898 8c violet brown, upper left corner vertical strip of five, n.h., fine

Cherrystone Auctions, Feb 2011, Sale 201102, Lot 83

8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H., absolutely eye-catching color in a soft shade, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with well-proportioned margins EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, IN A DISTINCTIVE SHADE. TRULY A CONDITION RARITY. The two most challenging Trans-Mississippi denominations to obtain in Extremely Fine grade are the 8c and the $2.00. The spacing between horizontal rows on the sheet is narrower than the spacing between vertical columns, making it difficult to obtain stamps with balanced margins. The stamp offered here is likely from the fourth and final printing in October 1898 as identified by Randy Neil in his book on the Trans-Mississippi Issue. He identifies the color as Dull Brownish Purple, which is not listed as a sub-shade in Scott Catalogue. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate as normal shade (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $5,750.00). Only eight have graded higher to date and only three others share this grade.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 1000, Lot 1158

United States 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue 1898 8c violet brown, top margin plate no. and imprint block of six, selvage slightly reduced at top, three stamps hinged, balance n.h., fine-v.f.

Cherrystone Auctions, Nov 2010, Sale 201011, Lot 144

8c Trans-Mississippi (Scott 289). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 609 block of four with wide selvage, intense shade and impression, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2010, Sale 997, Lot 5805