Y2102

National Postal Museum

Pony Express Rider

Collins Cover Announcement

National Postal Museum Series 

The Civil War - Mail Call

The fourth and final cover in my National Postal Museum set of four is now ready. The stamp predominantly features a Civil War soldier writing a letter leaning on his drum. Also pictured on the stamp are a stagecoach and a Pony Express rider representing the movement of the mail across the western frontier. It has the First Day of Issue postmark from our national capitol -- Washington, D.C.

Speaking from first-hand knowledge, I know how important mail is to those in the military. While in basic training and later during my time in Vietnam, there was nothing quite as heart-warming as a sergeant bellowing "Mail Call". It was the link with loved ones and home. For the hand-painted cachet on this COLLINS, I depict five Union soldiers assigned to the Western Theatre of operations. In the background, two teepees set the locale as the Great Plains, and also visible are two covered wagons -- the widely recognized symbol of the pioneering settlement west of the Mississippi.

At this remote outpost, mail call has just been completed and the five comrades huddle around a campfire. Three hold treasured pages from home while two look on with pained envy. Overcoats protect against a cold wind and the two soldiers without letters seem a bit more discomforted than do the lucky three warmed more by their messages from home than the flames of the modest cook fire.

This set was a nice one to work with for a couple of reasons. First of all the topic of the stamps was the postal history of the United States and, accordingly, they should be of interest to all stamp and First Day Cover collectors. Secondly, the note-worthy subjects of first Postmaster Benjamin Franklin; Civil War and western expansion postal history; famous United States stamps including the Graf Zeppelin; and, early airmail pilot and national hero Charles Lindbergh. With all due modesty, I believe that this COLLINS set of four will be recognized as the premier covers for this attractive issue. All are now available with my offering of Civil War Mail Call. Item #Y2102. $10.75.