Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
1c Dark Yellow Green, Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H., fabulous margins and centering, wonderful rich color and proof-like impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only two examples grade higher (at 98J and 100J).
(Image Magnifier)
2c Copper Red, Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 630 selvage, rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
(Image Magnifier)4c Orange, Trans-Mississippi (287). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, gorgeous color without a hint of the oxidation that can sometimes plague this issue, bright and fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BRILLIANT AND FRESH MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 2024 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only nine grade higher.
(Image Magnifier)5c Dull Blue, Trans-Mississippi (288). Mint N.H., with top plate no. 618 selvage, deep rich color and crisp impression on bright paper, wide margins and precise centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex "Golden Oak". With 1996, 2014 and 2020 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). SCV $290.
8c Violet Brown, Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H., crisp impression, near perfect centering with beautifully balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 XQ BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Collectors in pursuit of superb 19th Century commemorative stamps are well aware of the challenge in locating the 8c Trans-Mississippi with wide margins and choice centering. An examination of 8c 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.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 1999 and 2021 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality". With 2023 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only nine grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report.
ADDENDA: THIS HAS A 2023 P.S.E. CERTIFICATE GRADED XF-95.
10c Gray Violet, Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., remarkable color and detailed impression, gorgeous centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 XQ BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Lanza. With 1995, 1999 and 2012 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality". By way of comparison only seven grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (all at 98).
50c Sage Green, Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H., rich color, proof-like impression, exceptional centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
The design of the 50c Trans-Mississippi is based on a drawing by Frederic Remington titled Gold Bug, which was published in 1897 in New York as part of a series of drawings. It depicts a single prospector in a barren landscape, hammer in one hand and a gold prospecting pan in the other, with his dog and two pack mules. The design was originally considered for the $2.00 (an essay is known) but it was ultimately used for the 50c.
The 50c Trans-Mississippi is extremely scarce in well-centered condition. It also seems that fewer 50c stamps exist in Mint N.H. condition, relative to the dollar values of the set. The combination of Extremely Fine centering and Mint N.H. condition is exponentially rarer.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Morton. With 2007 and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only two stamps grade higher (both Superb 98, one is the ex "Hanover" stamp which realized $47,500 hammer in Sale 1122) and five share this lofty grade. The SMQ value of $13,125 is out of date in our opinion. This Gem realized $17,500 hammer in our 2020 sale of the Morton collection.
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., wonderfully well-centered, deep intense shade and proof-like impression on fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HIGHLY DESIRABLE CENTERED, MINT NEVER-HINGED $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Lanza. With 1985 and 2016 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality". With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). Only 11 grade higher at P.S.E. and ten share this desirable grade. These are ridiculously low population numbers for what is widely regarded as the most beautiful United States commemorative stamp.
$2.00 Orange Brown, Trans-Mississippi (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 HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
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.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Merlin and Morton. With 2008 and 2021 P.S.E. certificates (both OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded in any category and only two others share this rarefied grade. For Mint N.H. the highest grade awarded is a 95.