S1906

Space Exploration

Jupiter, Pioneer 11

Collins Cover Announcement 

SPACE EXPLORATION

Jupiter/Pioneer 11

Neptune/Voyager 2

A monster planet that is two and a half times as massive as all of the other planets combined, Jupiter is a fury of atmospheric activity and reigns supreme over a system of 16 moons. Curtains of lightning crack constantly above its surface that is shrouded by a turbulent cloud cover. Its beautiful coloring in swirling bands has been compared to an abstract painting, and this visual serenity as seen from distant telescopes is actually caused by violent weather patterns. In fact, its famous great "red spot" is an incessant storm so large that it could cover three earths. In my hand-painted cachet, the spacecraft Pioneer 11 flies past the huge planet on its quest pf discovery.

Neptune is far away and very cold. The light from this planet takes an incredible four hours to reach the earth. Two hundred and forty minutes at the speed of light. A long way. Its temperature is frigid at minus 357 degrees F. Very cold. The coloring of the planet is quite dramatic as it appears as a distinctive blue ball. Passing by Neptune on its path of exploration is Voyager 2.

As are all of the stamps on this set of COLLINS FDCs, these two are canceled with the Pasadena, CA First Day bullseye. Two beautiful additions that join the previously offered Saturn. Two more covers that eventually will grow into the set that will show our entire solar system family of planets. Juiter (S1906) and Neptune (S1909). $8.75 each.

Winter 2026 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 20 S1901 — S1910 — Solar System Space Stamps (set of ten covers) — /0/1/91

The USPS "Space Exploration" stamps, issued October 1, 1991, featured the nine planets and Earth's moon with their respective spacecraft, celebrating the solar system and kicking off National Stamp Collecting Month. The heavenly bodies shown are Mercury, Venus, Earth, (Earth's moon), Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The USPS partnered with Paramount Studios to promote the stamps. The studio was celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Star Trek movies and television series. The stamp designs were unveiled on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, the space vehicle featured in the series.

These stamps show some of the spacecraft and the images of the planets they captured as they flew by. Discoveries continue to be made with the space probes that still travel our solar system."

Each of my ten hand-painted first day covers depicts one of the nine planets plus the Earth's moon. Since Pluto had not yet had a fly-by or been explored by any manmade craft, I depicted the US.S. Enterprise from the show Star Trek.