R1801s

Love

Fischer's Lovebirds

Fred Collins signature

Collins Cover Announcement 

LOVE STAMP

(Tropical Birds - 52 cents)

This issue had its First Day of Issue in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Following the theme on the stamp, my hand-painted cachet is such a burst of bright colors that it will surely evoke a comment from anyone who views it in your collection.

Two parrots are perched in a palm tree. Their feathers are brilliant red, yellow, green, blue, gold and turquoise. These plumes are especially beautiful against the green palm fronds and the blue Pacific sky. But there is more. Their extremely long tail feathers descend from their perch into a color explosion of tropical orchids. Pink, purple, and lavender blooms intermingle with the colored tail feathers. Very different. But there is more. Below the cachet, the individual letters of the word "Love" are each hand painted in the parrots' colors of blue, yellow, green and red. Adjacent to these bold letters of love is the blue stamp with cuddling birds that inspired this COLLINS cachet.

To add a philatelic stroke to this outrageous FDC, an actual First Day postmark was obtained from Royal Hawaiian Station, Honolulu, Hawaii. Yes, it took a trip to obtain this cancel (and the one for the other 1991 Love stamp which will be offered soon) but I knew that Love stamps are very popular and I wanted this COLLINS to be the very best of all FDCs produced

for this issue.

It will get your attention. The two multicolored parrots in their palm tree perch. The South Pacific orchids with shades that at the same time complement and clash with the bright feathers of the birds. The vividness of the hand-painted letters and the color of the stamp itself. The Royal Hawaiian First Day cancel actually obtained on Day of Issue. A slightly higher cost to offset the expense of the trip to the Islands. If you like intense color, don't miss this one. Item #R1801. $10.50.