O401

American Bicentennial

Battle of Virginia South Capes

Collins Cover Announcement 

YORKTOWN/VIRGINIA CAPES 

Please read, with care, the descriptions of the four Yorktown-Capes FDCs. As a collector first and a producer second, I am very pleased with these covers which are the result of finely detailed hand painted cachets and the lovely unofficial postmarks that were available on the First Day of Issue. As Bicentennial items, they are destined to become "hot" soon due to their limited numbers and because they are, in my opinion, outstanding First Day Covers and a credit to the hobby. Professor Planty recommends laying out a cover on a table - studying it, contemplating it, reflecting upon it - and then writing a short

appreciation of it. This is his method for cover enjoyment. I can honestly say that these covers will lend themselves extremely well to that exercise in terms of both attractive cachets and meaningful cancels.

Virginia Capes - O401 

This cover has a nautical cachet showing ships of the British and French navies engaged in the Battle of the Virginia Capes. Under full sail, they are exchanging cannon fire at close range. Admiral DeGrasse was commander of the victorious French fleet that was allied with Washington's army. The unofficial is special - a ship cancel from the United States Navy's U.S.S. DE GRASSE. I believe that "COLLINS" FDCs are the only ones with this super related naval cancel. In addition to the postmark, which is in black, each cover has the rubber-stamped coat of arms from the U.S.S. DE GRASSE in magenta. In adds a great touch. My thanks to San Jose collector Bill Ahrens for his-assistance and inspiration in making this cover a reality. In addition, on a second single, there is the hand cancel "First Day of Issue" from Yorktown. Item O401 - $5.50

Spring 2020 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 9 O401 — Battle of the Virginia Capes — U.S.S. DeGrasse variety (10-16-81)

This exceptionally early Collins is the only cover I've ever done to have a first day cancel obtained on board a U.S. Navy ship, which makes it a very unique item for your collection. The ship is the USS DeGrasse which is named in honor of the French Admiral whose blockade of Yorktown, Virginia, helped secure the surrender of Cornwallis to Washington. The "U.S. Navy — USS DeGrassse" day of issue postmark (a Collins exclusive — no others exist) is fabulous and, as if that was not enough, there is also a large, magenta rubber stamp cachet from the ship's post office showing the "coat of arms" of the USS DeGrasse. It adds a magnificent touch of philatelic history to this wonderful Collins First Day Cover. Also on the cover is a second single Virginia Capes stamp with the official Yorktown, Virginia first day postmark. The hand painted cachets shows British and French ships under full sail engaging in cannon fire at close range. I am proud to have produced for our hobby a cover of this high philatelic caliber.