Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
5c Dull Blue, Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Ex "Vaquero". With 2006 and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (both XF-Superb 95). Only nine grade higher.
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, wide and beautifully balanced margins, deep shade and impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
With 1994 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). SCV $1,200
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, Very Fine
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, large h.r., deep shade, Fine
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Disturbed original gum, choice centering, Extremely Fine
1c-$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (285-293). Unused set, mostly original gum with h.r., dollar values both original gum with $1.00 slightly disturbed, 8c and 10c regummed, small faults on a few including small thins, overall Fine appearance and presentable set, Scott value as original gum
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (293). Bottom "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 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 THE FINEST PLATE BLOCK OF THIS ISSUE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
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 William 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 high denomination was too much for most collectors, and sales were disappointing.
Only two plate blocks of six are known to exist, including the ex "Ambassador" and Gross plate block, with hinged stamps (Sale 1188, lot 98, realized $135,000 hammer). Plate blocks of four are also very rare and this plate block with four Mint N.H. stamps and choice centering is in a separate class from the other plate blocks of four. It is the finest plate block that we have encountered.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Getlan ("MLG" collection) and Zoellner. With 1971, 2009 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value as hinged plate block.
Certificate
2024 PSE No. 01449503 View Cert
2009 PF No. 477409 View Cert
1971 PF No. 35828 View Cert