Y301

Space Achievement

Space Shuttle

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

Autumn 2019 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 11 Y301 — Space Shuttle — 5/21/81

This exciting space cover features four large stamps devoted to the shuttle program. Each of the stamps pictures the shuttle blasting off or in orbit. Two have the official first day of issue postmark from the Kennedy Space Center. The covers then traveled to Houston, Texas home of Mission Control, where a large bullseye cancel tied the remaining pair to the cover. The hand painted cachet shows the Challenger shuttle. A wonderful "space" Collins cover.