Prices of US Stamps Scott Cat. # 293 – 1898 US$2.00 Trans Mississippi Exposition: Mississippi River Bridge. Page 24

() U.S. General Issues, 1898, $1 Trans-Mississippi, #293. Regummed, Fine. Scott $1,000. Estimate price $250.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2009, Sale 83, Lot 419

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Block of four, original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, magnificent centering, few perf separations at right expertly reinforced VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. Scott Catalogue assigns only a $600.00 premium for a block of four versus four singles.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1833

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, intense shade and impression, much better centering than normally found, tiny thin spot at top, Extremely Fine appearance, a pretty stamp, with 2009 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1831

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Unusually precise centering, deep rich color with oval registry cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1643

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, intense shade and impression, much better centering than normally found EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. The $2.00 Trans-Mississippi is rarely found with wide balanced margins.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1642

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi, Large Die Proof on India (Scott 293P1). 72 x 59mm, deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1031

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi, Specimen Ovpt. Ty. E (Scott 293SE). Original gum, h.r., rich color and nicely centered, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1030

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95, SMQ $7,050.00). Only one has graded higher to date.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 179

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Horizontal pair with wide bottom imprint and plate no. 613 selvage, original gum, faintly hinged, excellent color and impression, left stamp has a few black fibers on gum from mount and tiny trivial thin speck VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER PAIR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. The Scott Catalogue premium for an imprint and plate number pair versus two singles seems inadequate ($5,000.00 vs. $4,100.00). The premium for a plate block of four versus a block of four is nearly nine times.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 177

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, intense shade and proof-like impression on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with unusually wide margins for this difficult issue, long and full perforations all around EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS STUNNING STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE IN ANY CATEGORY TO ACHIEVE THIS DESIRABLE GRADE. Collectors in pursuit of superb 19th Century commemorative stamps are well aware of the challenge in locating the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi with wide margins and choice centering. An examination of $2.00 multiples will reveal the fact that the space between horizontal rows was narrower than the space between vertical columns. Wide top and bottom margins that match the sides could only occur when the horizontal perforations were misapplied to a row, thereby impinging on the space allocated to the rows above and below. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98, SMQ $14,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date in any category and it is the only example to achieve this grade. The next-highest grade is a 95 — knowledgeable collectors know how difficult it is to find the $2.00 Trans-Mississippi in such superb condition. SMQ does not price the 98 in Mint N.H. condition, as it may not even exist.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 178

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Original gum, lightly hinged, warm shade and detailed impression, wide margins for this difficult issue VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. With 1995 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3276

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Bottom imprint and plate no. 613 block of four, stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged towards bottom of selvage where few perf separations expertly reinforced, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, well-balanced margins throughout EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WITH THE STAMPS IN PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. THIS IS BY FAR THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. 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. With 1971 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged plate block

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 971, Lot 1244

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (Scott 293). Top imprint and plate no. 613 block of four with wide selvage, original gum, rich color, detailed impression FRESH AND FINE-VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. 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 copy of 1972 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 971, Lot 1243

o U.S. General Issues, 1898, $2 Trans-Mississippi, #293. Used, sound, Average. Scott $1,050. Estimate value $100.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 81, Lot 587

UNITED STATES 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue 1898 $2 orange brown, beautiful color, usual centering, small h.r., fine, with 2009 PSE cert.

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2009, Sale 200904, Lot 57