Wetlands Pair "Covers" All Ten Stamps and Species

In October 2006 the USPS issued the eighth over-all design mini-sheet in its wonderful ‘Nature of America’ series. Featured this time was the ecosystem known as the Southern Florida Wetlands, a diverse biosphere represented by the Everglades National Park.

Depicted in John Dawson’s gorgeous and large painting are 10 species of wetlands denizens:

Cartoonist and cachetmaker Dave Bennett has depicted all 10 of these creatures living happily (if not unnaturally) harmoniously. The cover, when folded fits a standard album sleeve for #6 3/4 envelopes . . .

. . . becomes, when unfolded, a 12-inch long assemblage of beasts and birds! It’s so long my scanner can’t accomodate it all!

••••• Please be aware that the stamps are cancelled somewhat unconventially --the USPS decided one cancel wasn’t enough to strike the 5 stamps on each cover, so there is a partial bullseye cancel on the lower 2 stamps in addition to the official pictorial cancel on the upper 3.

This auction is for two FDCs of the same design - each bearing five stamps from the 10-stamp set.