R301

American Flag

From Sea to Shining Sea

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 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 13 R301 — America the Beautiful (Sea) — 4/24/81

This is one of three covers that I produced for the America the Beautiful issue which was a theme I was very excited about. Each of the cachets portrays the theme on the stamp used. This cover represents "From Sea to Shining Sea." A lighthouse and smaller buildings are picturesquely depicted at the ocean's edge. All three of the covers are hand canceled "First Day of Issue" at Portland, Maine. After purchasing the stamps and servicing the covers, I took a taxi to the airport and then boarded 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 past Plymouth Rock to the quiet, quaint, and lovely village of Falmouth, Massachusetts for a second unofficial hand cancel. Falmouth was the birthplace of Katherine Lee Bates, composer of "America the Beautiful."