B2301

Migratory Bird

Fred's Anecdotal Note

1994 FEDERAL DUCK

This hand-painted COLLINS First Day of Issue Migratory Bird Cover features a pair of the distinctive red-breasted merganser ducks. Most note-worthy is the attractive green crest of ragged head feathers. In this year's COLLINS cachet, the male perches on the above-water portion of a submerged tree branch. His mate is in the background and her ragged crest is a perfect camouflage with the near-by reeds. In the water, two northern pike lurk in the shallows searching for food.

A pictorial First Day cancellation ties the new high-value fifteen dollar duck stamp to the cover.

Collins Cover Announcement

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

1994 COLLINS Duck

It's time again for the "once-a-year- COLLINS First Day Cover for the annual Federal Migratory Bird stamp. This "Duck" will ONLY be produced for collectors obtaining them at this time. What this means is that collectors obtaining this item will have an instant "sold-out" COLLINS in their holdings and you can count on an instant appreciation of value as has happened to all of my COLLINS Ducks since I started doing them in 1981.

This hand-painted cachet is as superb a Duck Cover as you'll ever see. The artwork is based on photographs I took of a pair of redbreasted mergansers while on a fishing trip with Tim and Ryan in northern Ontario. These ducks are extremely handsome with the male having a glossed green head. With a distinctive ragged crest--a beautiful characteristic. Its breast is a dark reddish separated by a white collar marking at the neck. The female has a crest that is a wonderful rust color, and swimming together they make a sight to behold. Breathtaking! The high value $15 stamp (high denomination covers are always premium collectibles because relatively few are produced) was created by Nebraskan wildlife artist Neal Anderson. I met him several years ago in Lincoln and he is a nice guy and very talented. This 1994 stamp shows a nesting pair. With a fine pictorial First Day postmark and Anderson's terrific stamp design, I've added a magnificent large and detailed hand-painted "entire" cachet that will make this Federal Duck the best by any cachetmaker.

I urge you not to miss owning this COLLINS. Since it will not be available from me after this announcement, the only source for future collectors will be from those who obtain it now. For this reason, I suggest that, in addition to acquiring one for your personal collection, you consider an extra for future sale or trade. To repeat, I'll only be producing covers for those who order now.

The deadline is Wednesday, June 29th for order acceptance. I suggest that you return the enclosed order form in the next day or two. You won't want to miss this one as each year it is one of the eagerly awaited, premier COLLINS Covers, and you can be sure that it will join my previous "Duck" FDCs as a very sought-after collectible.

May I offer a final word of caution. A couple of you will put off ordering now and then forget to do it. Also, a few will delay their decision and when finally deciding "YES" will find that the deadline has come and gone. Please don't be included in the small group that will be disappointed with their inaction. Order yours in the next day or two so that you'll be sure. The superb artistic detail and lovely cachet design in this year's hand-painted cachet is just

great. This is your one and only chance to obtain my 1994 Federal Migratory Bird Stamp First Day Cover. The hand-painted cachet will be a true gem. The Duck postmark will add philatelic interest. The instant "sold out" status will provide immediate appreciation. 1994 Red-breasted Mergansers by COLLINS. Don't miss it. $32.50.

6