W2001

Wild Animals

Giraffe

Collins Cover Announcement 

WILD ANIMAL SERIES 

The Giraffe

It is very exciting for me to offer the first COLLINS Cover in this colorful five-stamp set. Nature and animals are loved by many collectors, and I wanted to make this series something really special. It is.

First and foremost, let me say that I set out to obtain five really super First Day cancels that would be self-evident in their relation to the individual stamps. I let my younger son Ryan play hookey from school and we did two of the stamps in the metropolitan New York area and had a blast. The same day, our friend Maureen, who has done trips for us in the past, did the remaining three stamps in the Carolinas and had a full day working against the clock. The final result was a tremendous set of five Wild Animal COLLINS First Day Covers which are yet another example of my commitment to being the best in the hobby. In the weeks ahead, I'll be offering the other four but today I'll start with..... the Giraffe.

The hand-painted cachet takes us to Africa. A tall mother giraffe stands alert as her baby scampers nearby. Leafy trees are in abundance offering the long-necked animals a diet of tasty vegetation. The giraffes and trees stand out nicely against a vivid blue sky. If you ever take the hand painting of your COLLINS Covers for granted, consider this example of patience. Each and every spot on the giraffes is hand painted as are, of course, all the colors on all COLLINS Covers. This cachet is very realistic and very beautiful.

Early in the morning, Ryan and I took off for New York City. We crossed the Hudson River via the Tappan Zee Bridge and then drove through the Bronx and on to Long Island. We reached our destination and by morning's end had put the stamps on and secured a wonderful First Day postmark for a giraffe. Great Neck, New York.

This is a set that will be very popular with present and future COLLINS collectors, so start out now and the next four will be offered soon. A realistic hand-painted cachet. A perfect "Great Neck" First Day postmark adding philatelic interest and authenticity. First of the COLLINS Wild Animal set of five. The Giraffe. Item #W2001. $10.75.