You are bidding on a 1990 Jelly Roll Morton Postal Cachet.

This is the most rare of all the Postal Cachets produced for Jazz Fest. Jelly Roll Morton is venerated as one of the best purveyors of both Ragtime and Jazz. Although Morton claimed to have invented Jazz (he did not), he is credited as the first to publish and write Jazz music. The cachet features a classic photo of the pianist, 25 cent stamp with a steamboat, and the foil has ripples of blue, purple and green.

Total Production: 2,000

Estimated Value: $500

The U.S. Post Office issues specialized commemoratives for important cultural contributions that are uniquely American.  In 1989, the U.S. Post Office issued its first Jazz Fest commemorative "cachet" featuring Professor Longhair, one of New Orleans formative characters known for his piano stylings across the United States and the world.  every year since, a new cachet has been produced, each featuring a New Orleans original.  The cachets are highly sought after, and the value as a collectible and framed piece for any home or office increases every year.  Details are also unique each year on the cachet reflecting both New Orleans and the featured musician from the postmark to the stamp.  Cachets after 1994 are numbered.  Cachets are preserved through a cardboard insert to keep them rigid, and a clear cover to keep out moisture.