T1101

Christmas

Madonna, by Perugino

Collins Cover Announcement 

1986 CHRISTMAS

RELIGIOUS

From the beginning of my producing First Day Covers

(1978), I have most often used the tremendous Bethlehem, Pennsylvania pictorial for my Unofficial on the Religious Christmas stamp. It shows wisemen and camels as well as the North Star.

I decided that I should at last really do justice to this great cancel, so this year I designed the cachet concept upon this theme. I give you fair warning, the colors used on this hand-painted cachet are very bright and vibrant -- especially the clothing of the wisemen and the accessories on the camels. The trio is proceeding single-file across the desert sand following the North Star which hovers above Bethlehem, which is seen in the distance. A touch of bright oasis green, contrasted by the mundane desert colored buildings, draws the viewer's attention immediately to the approaching destination of the regal travelers. Then, the eyes go back to the equally bright colors of the lavish wardrobes worn by the mounted wisemen. These bright colors are even more intensified when viewed against the surrounding sand dunes.

A nice FDC bringing together the pictorial cancel and hand-painted cachet. Item #T1101 - $7.50