Universal Postal Congress Postal Stationery Specimens. 59 entires with "Universal Postal Congress" overprint, including 11 of the 1c, 38 of the 2c, six of the 4c and four of the 5c, range of different sizes with no duplication, pristine condition, with original box labelled "One set of Specimens of Stamped Envelopes of the United States of the series in use June 1897, Prepared for presentation to members of the Universal Postal Congress of Washington, U.S.A., beginning May 5, 1897 and ending June 15, 1897", the box with slight wear

VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE COMPETE SET OF ALL 59 POSTAL STATIONERY ENTIRES WITH "UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION" OVERPRINT. VERY FEW INTACT SETS ARE KNOWN, AND EVEN FEWER ARE KNOWN WITH THE ORIGINAL BOX.

According to a note from Postmaster General Gary, "As a gesture to the delegates attending the Universal Postal Congress held in Washington, D.C., in 1897, the government overprinted the stamps of the current series of envelopes with the inscription "Universal Postal Congress". A complete set of these overprints consists of 59 envelopes and were originally presented to the delegates, and others, in a card board box covered with black paper..."

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