1c-10c Trans-Mississippi (285-290). Bright colors, tied by "Washington D.C." registry ovals, purple "Registered, Jun. 17, 1898, Washington D.C. Sub-Station No. 29, No. 766" five-line datestamp (with registry number in manuscript) on First Day of Issue cover to Metz, Germany, typewriter address to Hermann Appel, New York registry label, New York (June 18) and Metz (June 26) backstamps, barely reduced at left

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED FIRST DAY COVER BEARING ALL SIX VALUES OF TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE THROUGH THE 10-CENT. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CLASSIC COMMEMORATIVE FIRST DAY COVERS EXTANT.

The Trans-Mississippi Exposition was open to the public from June 1 to November 1, 1898. The stamps were not ready in time for the opening, and the official First Day of Issue was Friday, June 17. On this day, John Murray Bartels, a 26-year old German born stamp dealer, walked the half mile from his office on 14th Street N.W. to the post office sub-station number 29 at 9th and F Streets, carrying three small envelopes addressed to Germany. His task was to buy the new "Omaha" stamps and put them on three envelopes he had carefully addressed with his typewriter.

On the envelope to Hermann Appel in Metz, Germany--the cover offered here--he neatly arranged one each of the six values from the 1c through the 10c. The two other envelopes were addressed to Hermann August Kah in Baden-Baden. On one he affixed the 50c Mining Prospector stamp, and on the other the beautifully engraved $1.00 Cattle in the Storm. We cannot be sure Bartels did not have other covers prepared for the first day of the Trans-Mississippi issue--perhaps one with the $2.00 Eads Bridge--but the three with eight of the nine values have survived to tell us that he spent at least $1.80 that day to create a unique trio of First Day of Issue covers.

First Day covers with the Trans-Mississippi Issue are rare. The following quantities are recorded or estimated by Henry Scheuer: 1c: 4-5 used alone (plus 4 in combination); 2c: 12+ used alone (plus 3 in combination); 4c: One used alone (plus 3 in combination); 5c: One used alone (plus 3 in combination); 8c: Two used alone (plus one in combination); 10c: One used alone (plus one in combination); 50c: One (used alone); $1.00: One (used alone); $2.00: None known; Combinations on First Day Covers (one known of each): a) 1c and 2c; b) 1c, 2c, 4c, 5c (offered in lot 92); c) 1c, 4c, 5c (offered in lot 93); and d) 1c, 2c, 4c, 5c, 8c, 10c (the cover offered here).

Ex McCoy and "World's Fair". With 1987 and 2013 P.F. certificates. Scott value $75,000.00

E. 15,000-20,000

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