L301

Everett Dirksen

U. S. Representative and Senitor

Collins Cover Announcement 

EVERETT DIRKSEN

This was a rough issue to obtain unofficials on because the First Day took place on a Sunday. I did manage to find a 24-hour Post Office that was perfect - Everett, Washington. I arrived in Pekin Saturday evening and should have suspected trouble when I had no appetite for dinner. The flu bug had bit, and I was ill throughout the night and got virtually no sleep. In the morning I made it to the Post Office with no small effort. (The regular post office had its roof cave in the previous year, and the Pekin P.O. is now in a converted food market.) I managed, with help, to get the covers serviced but did not think I could make it to Washington State. Taking a chance, I called one of my customers in the Seattle area (it was early Pacific time) and hastily explained the situation and my sub-par condition. He agreed to meet the covers and take them to Everett. So my covers went west and I returned east--very grateful for a helpful collector.

When I received the covers back, they were serviced perfectly and are really a nice looking FDC. The hand painted cachet shows Dirksen and the marigolds he took such an interest in.

Item #L301 - Everett Dirksen - hand canceled "First Day of Issue" at Pekin, Ill. Additional unofficial hand cancel from Everett, Wash. Hand painted cachet. $5.50