O402

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 - O402 

After servicing at Yorktown where "First Day of Issue" hand cancels were obtained, these covers were taken to Virginia Beach on the Atlantic Ocean which is just south of Cape Henry Inlet and across the Chesapeake Bay from Cape Charles. These are shown on the stamp. At Virginia Beach, a Bicentennial Station was established, and the resulting pictorial can only be described as magnificent. It is a stately sailing ship almost as large as the cachet. Over and under the ship are "Bicentennial Station" and "Battle off the Virginia Capes" respectively. The dates 1781-1981 are shown on the hull. The cachet is the same as on 0401 with its vibrant red border framing the sea battle. I suggest you add this one to your collection now - it will be a sure sell out in short order. Item O402 - $5.50

Autumn 2019 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 12 O402 — Battle of the Virginia Capes — 10/16/81

This special postmark variety has one of the nicest unofficial pictorial first day of issue postmarks I've ever obtained. After getting the official day of issue cancel at Yorktown, Virginia, it was off to Virginia Beach. There, just south of Cape Henry Inlet and across the Chesapeake Bay from Cape Charles (both shown on the new stamp), my covers received the truly remarkable sailing ship pictorial postmark exactly two hundred years after the French fleet ensured America's victory at Yorktown. As I drove away from the Bicentennial Postal Station, I knew the covers were something special. The hand painted cachet shows English and French ships engaging in battle.