Costs of US Stamp Scott Cat. # 292: 1898 US$1.00 Trans Mississippi Exposition: Western Cattle in Storm. Page 19

Scott #292, $1.00 Trans-Mississippi, brilliantly fresh right sheet-margin mint example, exceptionally strong prooflike color and impression on pristine paper, exceptionally well centered and margined, full clean flawless o.g., never hinged, extremely fine; a remarkably handsome example of this ever-popular commemorative; 1984 PF certificate and a 2006 PSE certificate (VF 80; SMQ $3,100.00); an extremely conservative grade, in our opinion, given its exceptional centering and overall choice attributes.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2012, Sale 140, Lot 202

1898, $1 Trans-Miss. (Scott 292), very fresh with wide margins and deep, intense black shade, o.g., lightly hinged, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,050. Estimate $600 – 800. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1670

1898, $1 Trans-Miss. (Scott 292), sharp impression with near-perfect centering, o.g., slightly disturbed from hinge removal; tiny pinpoint thinspeck, still Extremely Fine and one of the most popular commemorative stamps. Scott $1,050. Estimate $300 – 400. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1671

1898, $1 Trans-Miss. (Scott 292), deep rich impression and color, redistributed o.g.; reperforated, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,050. Estimate $300 – 400. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1672

1898, $1 Trans-Miss. (Scott 292), o.g., lightly hinged, tiny gum bend, Fine. Scott $1,050. Estimate price $250 – 350. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1673

1898, $1 Trans-Miss. (Scott 292), magnificent top margin plate no. 606 single, Jet-Black color printed on bleach white paper, a sensational example of what is considered to be our most beautiful United States commemorative stamp, o.g., very lightly hinged, Extremely Fine, 1984 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,000. Estimate value $1,000 – 1,500. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1669

$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 292). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, Very Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80, SMQ $1,100.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1353

$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 292). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide margins with intense shade on crisp white paper, Very Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1352

$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., intense shade on post office fresh paper, incredibly detailed impression which highlights every minute detail of this wonderful engraving EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE STAMP EVER ISSUED. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful designs 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. The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi’s long-time popularity with collectors led to hinging of the vast majority of singles. Although blocks have been broken over the years to supply Mint N.H. singles, it seems that grading is always a compromise between perfect centering and margin width. Only in a few instances do we find the combination of Mint N.H. condition, Extremely Fine Gem centering and wide balanced margins. This stamp is one of those rare examples combining everything that could be desired. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $20,000.00). Only two have graded higher to date (at 98) and only five others share this grade.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 201

$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide margins EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $3,250.00). Only two have graded higher to date.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 203

$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 292). Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp proof-like impression which shows every nuance of this remarkable engraving, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE ONLY UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE, AND, IN FACT, IT IS CURRENTLY ONE OF ONLY TWO UNUSED DOLLAR-VALUE COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS WITH A P.S.E. GEM 100 GRADE FOR ANY ISSUE. The focus on stamps with a Gem 100 grade is growing more intense as collectors strive for the highest possible ranking in the P.S.E. Set Registry. Remarkably, only two unused dollar-denominated stamps have achieved a Gem 100 grade (the other is a $2.00 Columbian). With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ price $8,850.00 as 98). This is the only unused $1.00 Trans-Mississippi to grade Gem 100 (followed by one 98). The highest Mint N.H. grade is 98. The SMQ value for a 98 seems conservative, and the premium for Gem 100 should be a multiple of the 98 value.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 202

$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, intense shade and proof-like impression, neat strike of circular datestamp leaves entire design clearly visible EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE GRADING CHART, AND THIS STAMP IS THE ONLY $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI TO ACHIEVE THIS ULTIMATE GRADE. A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE STAMP EVER ISSUED. The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful designs 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. The dollar-value Trans-Mississippi stamps are rarely found with centering that would qualify for a high numerical grade, but in used condition they are further handicapped by heavy registry cancels, which almost invariably knock points off the final grade. With 1999 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ value $11,700.00 as 98). This is the only dollar-value stamp of either the Columbian or Trans-Mississippi issues to be awarded the highest grade possible of Gem 100 Jumbo in any category (used, hinged or Mint N.H.).

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 204

o U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $1 Trans-Mississippi, #292. Used, thin and tear at right, short perf at upper right, Fine appearing. Scott $650. Estimate value $100.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, May 2012, Sale 93, Lot 326

U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $1 Trans-Mississippi, #292. O.g. (h.r.), small thin, centered, Fine to Very Fine appearing. Scott $1,050. Estimate price $250.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, May 2012, Sale 93, Lot 325

U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $1 Trans-Mississippi, #292. O.g. (h.r.), small thin, Fine to Very Fine appearing. Scott $1,050. Estimate price $300.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, May 2012, Sale 93, Lot 324