G1102s

Arctic Explorers

Elisha Kent Kane, Adolphus W. Greely

Fred Collins Signature

Collins Cover Announcemnt 

ARCTIC EXPLORERS 

Elisha Kent Kane Robert E. Peary 

Adolphus W. Greely Matthew Henson

Vilhjalmur Stefansson

It was off to Alaska for this issue of four stamps. As you can imagine, not too many cachetmakers made the long journey to the land of the Northern Lights.

The stamps themselves are quite attractive, being a brilliant blue. On each, individual explorers are depicted. The Postal Service is to be complimented on these stamps. The designs are well planned and executed.

I decided to do two covers for this issue. The first is a large hand-painted portrait of Robert E. Peary. It dominates the center of the cover with Peary gazing at you through intense, cold eyes. Exposed flesh, brows and mustache reflect the Arctic climate. To protect from sub-zero temperatures, he wears a fur-lined parka which is painted in natural colors. My cachet on this COLLINS cover is intended to do one thing -- present and honor the man. When you receive this FDC, just stare at the cachet for 15 continuous seconds. It is a powerful and realistic experience.

For the second cover I decided to capture one of the most feared events that faced Arctic explorers -- their ship becoming trapped by the freezing water. Icebound! The hand painting on this cachet is different from any COLLINS offered before. It is the dawn of a new day, and the cloud-filled sky is brightened by the indirect light of the rising sun. Interspersed with the brightness, however, are dramatic shades of blue created by shadows and light shafts penetrating the heavens. A party of four, pulling a supply sled, is setting out over the frozen terrain, leaving their ship which is caught in the relentless clutch of nature's icy grip. A very different and effective hand-painted FDC for your collection. "ICEBOUND".

In deciding on an unofficial cancel, I concluded that "North Pole" was indeed an appropriate choice. On both covers, I opted for this cancel with killer bars that was only available for the actual covers being canceled in person on the First Day. On the "Icebound" cover, the Greely and Kane explorer stamps are used and both are tied by the unofficial North Pole, Alaska cancel. On the Kane stamp, an icebound ship is seen in the background which fits in nicely with the theme of the cover. On the "Robert Peary" cover, the Peary/Henson and Stefansson explorer stamps are used. This is a duo-cancel FDC with the Stefansson stamp being tied with the official bullseye cancel and the Peary/Henson stamp having the unofficial North Pole cancel.

These two covers are among the relatively few actuually done in Alaska on Day of Issue, and I am pleased to offer them. Robert E. Peary, Item #G1101 - $8.00. Icebound, Item #G1102 - $8.00.

Spring 2023 Mail Sale Commentary

Lot 23 G1101 — Robert Peary and G1102 — Icebound — a two-cover lot (5-28-86)

This Arctic explorer led several expeditions — one of which in April 1909 claimed to be the first to reach the North Pole. My hand painted cachet shows Peary in his fur parka. The stamp shows both Robert and his black associate and assistant, Matthew Henson, who was a prominent member of the expeditions. It has a strong North Pole, Alaska, postmark with killer bars. This two-cover lot also shows an expedition ship frozen in the ice which was a constant danger for early explorers. The two remaining stamps are tied to the envelope with the North Pole cancel.