Price of US Stamps Scott # 293 – US$2.00 1898 Trans Mississippi Exposition: Mississippi River Bridge. Page 14

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Intense color as fresh as the day it was printed, bright paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with well-balanced margins, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp cancel leaves entire design clearly visible EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP, WITH GORGEOUS COLOR, CHOICE CENTERING, UNOBTRUSIVE CANCEL AND OVERALL FRESHNESS, IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. 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. The $2.00 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. Brookman notes “the $2.00 is not easy to obtain well-centered as many of these stamps seem to be perforated close to the top and its color is such that it cancels rather badly. This combination makes fine used copies difficult to obtain. I consider it more difficult to obtain in choice used condition than any of the high values of the Columbian issue.” Ex Rubin. With 1997 and 2009 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $8,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this grade.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2012, Sale 1027, Lot 167

1898, $2 Trans-Miss. (293), exceptionally well centered with deep, rich color and lightly hinged original gum; Extremely Fine and choice. Scott $1,800 Expertization: 1984 APS, 1996 PF and 2003 PSE Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 346, Lot 773

United States 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue 1898 $2 orange brown, neat registry pmk, well centered, v.f., with 1988 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Sep 2012, Sale 201209, Lot 71

1898, $2 Trans-Miss. (293), mathematically centered with uncommonly large, perfectly balanced margins, rich color and lightly hinged original gum; a wonderfully fresh and choice, Extremely Fine to Superb Gem. SSV $5,250. Scott $1,800 A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY MINT $2 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI; TO DATE PSE HAS GRADED ONLY A SINGLE EXAMPLE HIGHER—THAT BEING A 98. Expertization: 2006 PF Certificate graded XF-Sup 95.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 345, Lot 291

1898, $2 Trans-Miss. (Scott 293), o.g., previously hinged, attractive well margined example, bold rich shade, a very handsome stamp; minute hinge thin spot shows in fluid, otherwise Very Fine. Scott $1,800. Estimate price $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2012, Sale 631, Lot 1024

1898, $2 Trans-Miss. (Scott 293), neat black cancellation, well centered copy of this popular stamp, brilliant color, Very Fine. Scott $1,100. Estimate price $600 – 800.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2012, Sale 631, Lot 1025

1898, $2 Trans-Miss. (Scott 293), black cancellation, choice example with deep rich color, sound and choice, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $1,100. Estimate price $500 – 750.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2012, Sale 631, Lot 1026

1898, $2 Trans-Miss. (Scott 293), light black cancellation, extremely attractive example with wide margins and vivid color, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $600. Estimate $500 – 750.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2012, Sale 631, Lot 1027

1898, $2 Trans-Miss. (Scott 293), neat black cancellation, nicely centered example, gorgeous rich color, great appearance; ironed out vertical crease, and perforation scuffs at top, otherwise Very Fine, 2012 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,100. Estimate price $400 – 600.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Aug 2012, Sale 631, Lot 1028

U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. O.g., rich color, Just Fine. Scott $1,800. Estimate value $400-500.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2012, Sale 94, Lot 1443

U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. O.g., Fine. Scott $1,800. Estimate $400-500.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2012, Sale 94, Lot 1444

() U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. Regummed, tiny perf tip thin at top, Fine appearance. Scott $825. Estimate price $200-250.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2012, Sale 94, Lot 1445

o U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. Used, well centered, overall Very Fine, PSAG (2012) cert. Scott $1,100. Estimate value $650-750.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2012, Sale 94, Lot 1447

o U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. Oval cancel, centered for this, Very Fine, PF (1992) cert. Scott $1,100. Estimate value $500-600.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2012, Sale 94, Lot 1448

U.S.; General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. N.h., centered, Fine to Very Fine, PSAG (2012), PF (1978) certs. Scott $5,750. Estimate value $1,600-1,800.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2012, Sale 94, Lot 1440