DESCRIPTION

50¢ Trans-Mississippi (291), left straight edge margin with centerline, rich color, tied by “collector friendly” lightly struck Washington, D.C. oval cancel, five-line purple “REGISTERED/JUN 17 1898/WASHINGTON, D.C./Sub-Station No. 29/No. 768” registry datestamp with manuscript number struck on June 17, 1898, First Day of Trans-Mississippi Issue cover, manuscript return address “J. M. Bartels, Washington”, typewriter address to “Herrn Hermann August Kah., Baden-Baden, Germany”, red “23679” handstamped registry number, New York “Exchange” registry label (number 59442), backstamped with “New York, N.Y., Regy. Div. 6-18 1898” double-oval datestamp and purple “6/18/98” in circle registry datestamp over flap, Baden-Baden receiving backstamp (Jun. 26, 1898), blue crayon “337” on flap

PROVENANCE

* Fred Langford, Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, 1/24-27/2012, Sale 45, lot 1377, to William H. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

* Henry Scheuer, “The King of First Day Covers,” Virtual Stamp Club http://www.virtualstampclub.com/king_fdc.html

CERTIFICATION

* The Philatelic Foundation (2011)

CONDITION NOTES

* Very Fine

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/99.pdf

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