X301

Space Achievement

Exploring the Moon, Understanding the Sun, Probing the Planets, Comprehending the Universe

Collins Cover Announcement 

SPACE ACHIEVEMENTS

This issue of 8 stamps presented a real challenge in terms of deciding number of covers for issue and set-up of stamps on each. I considered doing 9, 8, 4, 2 or 1 cover and finally decided on two, with four stamps on each. One hand-painted cover shows the shuttle on the launching pad with the booster rockets. The four small stamps are used on this cover. At the upper right are (1) Understanding the Sun; and (2) Exploring the Moon, and they are hand canceled "First Day of Issue". At lower right are (1) Probing the Planets; and (2) Comprehending the Universe. These were unofficially hand canceled at Houston, Texas, home of Mission Control for all U.S. space flights. I coordinated the stamps by placing side by side the two with yellow bottoms and the two with orange and yellow tops.

The other cover was carefully thought out so as not to lose the pictorial continuity of the four large stamps. The two upper stamps were affixed with a margin left at top of envelope. These tao stamps were then hand-canceled "First Day of Issue". The two lower stamps were then affixed with an ever so slight space between them and upper stamps. This arrangement of stamps allows the design to remain intact. The water-colored cachet on this cover shows the Columbia in flight with the earth below.

These are two very attractive and very colorful First Day Covers. They were produced in limited quantity and each cachet is hand-painted in beautiful watercolors. They were serviced on first day of issue at Kennedy Space Center, Florida and then hand carried to Houston, Texas. They have a good chance, based on history of other "COLLINS" covers, to become the most desirable and sought after FDCs of this popular issue.

Item No. X301 - Space Shuttle (Pad)  $5.75 each 

Item No. Y301 - Space Shuttle (Flight)  $5.75 each

Winter 2021 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 13 X301 — Space Shuttle — Blasting off Pad

These four stamps were issued on May 21, 1981 at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Their colors are bright and vivid with the designs being well executed. I wanted to do them justice for President Kennedy's Space Program legacy so decided to take them to Houston, Texas — home of Mission Control — for the second related first day of issue postmark. A large bullseye with killer bars was secured. I believe that Collins was the only cachetmaker to get both cities' day of issue cancels on one cover. The hand painted cachet depicts the shuttle blasting off with the large booster rocket and the two smaller fuel rockets. This early Collins was produced just two weeks after my third cachetmaker anniversary.