The Edward Morton Collection of Outstanding Quality United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,850.00). Only seven grade higher (all at 98) (Image)

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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.

With 2007 and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $14,000.00). Only two stamps grade higher (both Superb 98, one is the ex "Hanover" stamp which realized $47,500 hammer in Siegel Sale 1122). We have not offered another in this grade since 2010. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS STAMP IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE 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 cattle in the West Highlands of Scotland.

This issue's long-time popularity with collectors led to hinging of the vast majority of singles. Although blocks have been broken over the years to supply Mint N.H. singles, it seems that grading is always a compromise between perfect centering and margin width. Only in a few instances do we find the combination of Mint N.H. condition, Extremely Fine Gem centering and wide balanced margins. This stamp is one of those rare examples combining everything that could be desired.

Ex "Beverly Hills". With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $19,000.00). Only four Mint N.H. stamps grade higher (at 98 -- the last we sold, in 2016, brought $62,500 hammer) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.

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 cattle in the West Highlands of Scotland.

The dollar-value Trans-Mississippi stamps are rarely found with centering that would qualify for a high numerical grade, but in used condition they are further handicapped by heavy registry cancels, which almost invariably knock points off the final grade.

With 2000 and 2009 P.F. certificates. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $11,750.00). Only one used stamp grades higher (the Gem 100 Jumbo offered in our 2012 Rarities sale). The P.S.E. Population Report also lists one other Superb 98, but that stamp has a P.F. certificate calling an ink covered scrape (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

The $2.00 Trans-Mississippi Issue is widely regarded as being the most difficult denomination of the series to obtain with any decent-size margins. The margins are almost always narrow on the $2.00, making it difficult for collectors of Gem-quality stamps to fill this space in their albums.

Ex Bakwin. With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). (Image)

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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 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 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 $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."

With 2018 P.F. (XF-Superb 95), 2017 P.S.A.G. (95 used) and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a used $2.00 Trans-Mississippi, with only five others equal (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM PLATE NUMBER EXAMPLE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

With 2012 and 2017 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85) (Image)

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