Sale 1260 — 2022 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 28 June, 2022
Category — 1898 Trans-Mississippi Issue
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 leftVERY 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
1c-5c Trans-Mississippi (285-288). Two each of 2c and 5c, tied by four strikes of "Camden N.J. Jun. 17 6PM 98 Recd" First Day of Issue circular datestamp on registered 4c Carmine entire (U324) to Nilgiri Hills, Ootacamund, India, New York registry label also ties one 2c stamp, backstamps include New York (Jun. 18), Sea Post Office (Jul. 10), and receiving (Jul. 11), 4c and 5c stamps tiny flaws, reduced at leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI FIRST DAY COVER BEARING THE FIRST FOUR VALUES AND SENT BY REGISTERED MAIL TO INDIA. THIS IS THE ONLY SUCH COMBINATION.
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 June 17.
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). Combinations on First Day Covers (one known of each): a) 1c and 2c; b) 1c, 2c, 4c, 5c (the cover offered here); c) 1c, 4c, 5c (offered in lot 93); and d) 1c, 2c, 4c, 5c, 8c, 10c (offered in lot 91).
Ootacamund, India, is currently called Ooty and is in the state of Tamil Nadu. It came under the rule of the East India Company at the end of the 1700s. It was a popular summer destination, and was the summer capital of the Madras Presidency.
Ex Berkun. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott value $75,000.00 E. 10,000-15,000
1c Dark Yellow Green, 4c Orange, 5c Dull Blue, Trans-Mississippi (285, 287, 288). Tied by "Washington D.C." registry ovals, light strike of "Washington D.C. Registered Jun. 17, 1898" First Day of Issue circular datestamp on legal-size cover with Post Office Department Official Business imprint, to Mr. D. S. Farrington in Wrentham Mass., handstamped registry number, 5c pulled perf at bottom, cover with vertical file folds at left not affecting stampsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE FIRST DAY COVER WITH THREE DENOMINATIONS OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
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 June 17.
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); 4c: One used alone (plus 3 in combination); 5c: One used alone (plus 3 in combination); 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 (the cover offered here); and d) 1c, 2c, 4c, 5c, 8c, 10c (offered in lot 91).
With 1978 P.F. certificate. Scott value $75,000.00 E. 7,500-10,000
1c Dark Yellow Green, Trans-Mississippi (285). Two, tied by clear strikes of "New York Jun 17 5PM 1898" First Day of Issue duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel on locally addressed cover, docketed at left "From E. R. Ackerman #1 Broadway", light strike of receiving backstampVERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE FIRST DAY COVER OF THE ONE-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
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 was June 17. The 1c June 17 First Day Covers are known from Washington D.C., New York and Pittsburgh, but none are known from Omaha, the home of the Exposition. This was sent by Ernest Ackerman, the famous senator and philatelist, prior to his taking any political office.
With copy of 1978 P.F. certificate. Illustrated in the Neil book on p. 86.
2c Copper Red, Trans-Mississippi (286). Tied by "Baltimore Md. Jun. 17 10:30AM '98" First Day of Issue machine cancel on buff cover with printed address to The Turner Looker Company in Cincinnati Ohio, back of cover with printed distiller's coat of arms and "Old Larabie is Better"VERY FINE FIRST DAY COVER WITH THE 2-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
Henry Scheuer estimates that 12-20 First Day covers are known with the 2c Trans-Mississippi Issue, plus three covers with the 2c used in combination with other denominations.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
4c Deep Red Brown & Black, 8c Violet Brown & Black, Pan-American (296, 298). Tied by "Boston Mass." registry ovals, purple boxed "Registered, Boston Mass. May 1, 1901" First Day of Issue datestamp with pencil registry number, to noted philatelist George Worthington in Cleveland Ohio, printed return address from B. L. Drew & Co., a prominent stamp dealer in Boston, receiving backstamp (May 3), some edgewear including a few cover tears of little consequenceVERY FINE. A RARE FIRST DAY COVER BEARING THE 4-CENT AND 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE STAMPS. ONLY TWO COVERS OUTSIDE OF THE SETS ARE KNOWN WITH THE 8-CENT USED ON THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE.
Ex Fisher. With 1972 AFDCS certificate. Scott value $27,500.00 E. 3,000-4,000