C1101s

Fish

Largemouth Bass

Fred Collins Signature

Collins Cover Announcement 

FISH

EXPLODING UP OUT OF THE WATER IS AN AWESOME LARGE-MOUTH BASS -- HAND-PAINTED IN BEAUTIFUL NATURAL COLORS. HE LEAPS HIGH, ARCING TOWARD A DOOMED DRAGONFLY. AN INCREDIBLE FDC -- STARK, SIMPLE, COMPLEX, EXCITING, NATURAL, DIFFERENT.

I hope the above simple description will encourage you to obtain this cover. As you know, I love nature subjects, and I know that this cover will be near or at the top of all produced for this issue. The Bass stamp is unofficially canceled on First Day at Lakebay, Washington. A COLLINS cachet different from any ever done before. Item #C1101. $7.50

After affixing the stamps to my covers, it was on out west, across Puget Sound at Henderson Bay, through Gig Harbor and way out to the penninsula village of Lakebay. I chose Lakebay as my unofficial because its name can encompass both fresh and salt water habitats -- and its location was perfect as ocean meets land.

Upon completion of getting the covers canceled, I decided to keep going to the tip of the penninsula. The majestic beauty of this relatively unpopulated area really struck me, and I wanted to experience as much as I could. The ensuing vistas were incredible. I would recommend that if and when you are ever in the area, spend some leisure moments here.

The perfect ending to the day came as I was ready to start back. Having seen an inviting sign, I stopped at Blundell's Long Branch Chowder House for dinner. In fact, the dining room was the converted living room of their house. My seat was by a bay window overlooking the sparkling water brought alive by the activity of many wild ducks. Mrs. Blundell tended the stove while at the same time playing a board game with her grandchildren. The combination of the senses was incredible -- the beauty of the scene out the window, the aroma of the cooking food and the sound of the children's laughter. It was one of those rare moments when you know everything is "right" with the world.

A few hours later I was back at the busy Seattle/Tacoma Airport ready to begin my night time journey (against the clock) that would get me home in the wee hours as a new day was just breaking on the east coast. The bottom line of this memorable trip is a couple of fine, hand-painted COLLINS FDCs which were serviced on the actual First Day on the beautiful shores of Puget Sound. Item #C1102 (set of two covers with two stamps each). $15.50