The Scarsdale Collection, Part One continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE. A STAMP WITH REMARKABLE VISUAL APPEAL.

Everything about this stamp -- its color, paper, centering, size of margins and gum -- combine to make this one of the most striking 4c Trans-Mississippi stamps extant.

With 1982 and 1999 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $2,600.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

Ex Floyd. With 1984 and 2001 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $2,600.00). Only one stamp has graded higher than 95 in the P.S.E. Population Report. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP STANDS ALONE IN HAVING ACHIEVED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 FROM PROFESSIONAL STAMP EXPERTS, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY 8-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STAMP.

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.

We have never seen another Mint Never-Hinged example of the 8c Trans-Mississippi with the dimensions and centering of this stamp.

With 2001 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $8,500.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STAMP IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES--AND ARGUABLY THE FINEST EXAMPLE-- OF THE 10-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.

With 2000 and 2002 P.F. certificates, the former as part of a strip of three. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $7,900.00). This is the highest grade awarded to any Scott 290 (only two listed in the P.S.E. Population Report). (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI.

With 1991 and 2000 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85, SMQ $3,050.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE, WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE STAMP EVER ISSUED.

The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi'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 extremely rare examples combining everything that could be desired. It is one of only two examples that have achieved the grade of XF-Superb 95 in the P.S.E. Population Report (the highest grade ever certified).

With 1999 and 2001 P.F. certificates, the former as a pair. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $19,800.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. A WONDERFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- THE COLOR IS BEAUTIFUL, THE PAPER IS FRESH, THE IMPRESSION IS INTENSE AND THE GUM IS ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI TO ACHIEVE THE EXALTED GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95.

Looking at this stamp, we are compelled to ask the question, if this is a 95, what is a 98 or 100? The $2.00 Trans-Mississippi 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.

With 1978 and 2000 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $26,500.00) (Image)