C1701

Black Heritage

Ida B. Wells - Journalist

Collins Cover Announcement 

IDA B. WELLS 

This cover is one that I'm very pleased to offer for your collection. I think it typifies why COLLINS continues to rank so highly in the eyes of First Day Cover collectors. This stamp did not have a "heavily collected" subject matter such as Baseball or Wildlife. This stamp was not a high-value denomination. This stamp was not a unique item such as a Duck or Express Mail. The stamp was a 25 cent first class commemorative. The stamp does honor a real life heroine who worked diligently for human rights and fair employment. The stamp did honor someone with whom most Americans are not familiar with -Ida B. Wells.

The point I wish to stress is this -- if many cachetmakers perceive that a particular stamp will not be in popular demand, they may skip doing it. Certainly the mass producers will do it because their production costs are relatively low and fixed. The presses keep humming. But...how many small, custom cachetmakers will "go the extra mile" in terms of effort and cost. Not very many. And that, I think, is what separates the milk and the cream, if I can use that old cliche.

Ida Wells was founder and editor of the "Memphis Free Speech" newspaper. It was one of her major accomplishments. After picking up the stamps in Chicago on Day of Issue, it was on to Memphis, Tennessee for a fine unofficial (real) First Day cancel. This cover has two stamps -- one officially canceled in Chicago and the other unofficially in Memphis. How many other cachetmakers traveled to Memphis to obtain a real First Day cancel in the city where Ida published her newspaper? Zero. As far as I can determine, COLLINS was the only one.

The hand-painted cachet is one of beauty and dignity. A large portrait of Ida Wells takes center stage. She is holding a copy of her paper. The portrait is flanked by the two stamps with the respective postmarks. In the background, a pressman works over period printing material. The colors of the cachet and stamps blend nicely together.

The true First Day Cover collector will cherish this COLLINS . It embodies all of the elements of a fine collectible. A stately, quality hand-painted cachet. Official and exclusive unofficial First Day postmarks from Chicago and Memphis. Produced in limited numbers. Other collectors will pass on this cover. Mostly because it doesn't meet their requirements as outlined in the first paragraph. Deciding which covers to collect is part of the fun.

My final point is quite simple. Whether or not you decide to acquire the Ida B. Wells is not the important thing. The point is that it exists. It was produced. It is "out there" as a quality collectible for present and future generations. That is what I try to accomplish in producing COLLINS covers.

A not so famous lady as presented on a FDC that is also destined to be a not so famous COLLINS. But.. .the stamp and the lady and the cover are what collecting is all about. Ida B. Wells. Item #C1701. $7.75.