D1901

Flora and Fauna

American Kestrel & Cardinal

Collins Cover Announcement 

AMERICAN KESTREL

This is the third and final of the June 1991 Bird First Day Covers. It joins the recently offered cardinal and bluebird issues. Afer picking up the stamps in Denver, it was off to the west and the mountains. A great First Day unofficial (real) First Day postmark from the small community of Black Hawk ties the stamp to the envelope. This cancel is a good one as another name for the kestrel is sparrow hawk. Actually, it is a small member of the falcon family and has beautiful blue and brown markings.

You will love the hand-painted "entire" cachet for this wildlife/nature First Day Cover. A proud, alert kestrel perches on a stump in mountainous terrain. Peaks jut upward in the distance providing a backdrop for a green, dense conifer forest. Directly behind the kestrel is a mountain lake and the smooth surface mirrors the colors of sky, mountains, and forest. In all honesty, you will feel like you are in the Colorado Rockies watching this magnificent diminutive hawk. I'd dare say that this COLLINS Cover has to be the best of any done for this stamp--it's that good.

As with all of my wildlife covers, the chance of an early sell-out exists, so be sure not to miss this one. A wonderful hand-painted cachet and a fine philatelic item with its Black Hawk, Colorado First Day cancel. Item #D1901. $9.75.