P301

American Flag

For Amber Waves of Grain

Collins Cover Announcement 

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

Faced with a wonderful theme for hand painted covers, I decided to do a set of three covers for the America the Beautiful stamps. Each of the cachets portrays the theme on the stamp used:

Amber waves of grain...

A loaded hay wagon pulled by a team of horses crossing an amber field.

Sea to Shining Sea...

A lighthouse and smaller buildings picturesquely depicted at the ocean's edge.

Purple Mountains Majesty...

High peaks thrusting upward symbolize the country's strength and demonstrate the nation's natural beauty.

The second cancel was suggested by long time collector Lee Waterman. The unofficial is Falmouth, Mass which is the birthplace of Katherine Lee Bates, composer of "America the Beautiful". To get there from Portland, Maine after servicing the covers, I took a taxi to the airport and then a flight to Boston. This historic city figured so prominently in early struggles to establish our country and passing through with these particular covers seemed most appropriate. Then I drove down the Pilgrim Highway passed Plymouth Rock to the quiet, quaint and lovely village of Falmouth.

Item #P301 "Amber Waves of Grain" - $5.50

Item #Q301 "Purple Mountain Majesties" - $5.50

Item #R301 "Sea to Shining Sea" - $5.50

All of the above covers are hand canceled "First Day of Issue" at Portland, Maine and have second unofficial hand cancel at Falmouth, Mass.

Winter 2022 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 7 P301 — America the Beautiful — Amber Waves of Grain — (4-24-81)

This American flag stamp was issued in Portland, Maine, and it depicted the "Amber Waves of Grain" made famous by the song America the Beautiful. It was written by Katherine Lee Bates who had been born in Falmouth, Massachusetts. As soon as I had obtained the official first day of issue cancels in Portsmouth, it was off on a quick flight to Boston. Here a little over two centuries before, Paul Revere and the Minutemen began our War for Independence. In my rental car, I drove past Plymouth Rock on my way to Falmouth. The postal people were great, and my covers soon had their special first day postmarks. The hand painted hay wagon cachet is a tribute to Bates and her "Amber Waves of Grain." America the Beautiful!