Sale 1351 — The Vaquero Collection of Gem-Quality 19th and 20th Century United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 May, 2025
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue (Scott 285-293)
$1.00 Black, Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., detailed impression on crisp paper, unusually wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO A MINT NEVER-HINGED COPY. THIS 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.
Ex Merlin. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and only three others share this grade, an extremely low population for such a popular stamp. This is the first we have offered in this grade since 2016.
