F401

Migratory Bird

Ruddy Ducks

Spring 2017 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 9 F401 — 1981 Ruddy Duck "The First Coffins Duck"

This historic cover was produced in 1981 which was the first year that the U.S. Postal Service officially canceled federal "Duck" stamp first day covers. Only four cachetmakers, including myself, serviced "Duck" FDCs in that first year, and of those, only Collins had a hand painted cachet. As you can imagine, having such a distinction it has become a prime migratory waterfowl collectible which is eagerly sought.

The large, attractive stamp showing a pair of ruddy ducks is at the upper right. To meet the postal requirements, I used the 6-cent Woodduck Waterfowl Conservation stamp and the 18-cent Blue Heron Save Wetland Habitats stamp. All three are tied to the cover with a crisp jumbo bullseye first day of issue postmark from Washington, DC. The hand painted cachet shows a ruddy pair with layers of earth-tone brown plumage in front of green reeds and swimming in swirls of multi-blue waters. This Collins began what is now the most continuous cachet for United States "Duck" stamps. Something special.