N2302

Cranes

Whooping Crane & Black-Necked Crane

Great Wall of China Cachet

Subscriber-Only Edition

Fred's Anecdotal Note

United States / China Joint Crane Issue

This limited edition Collins hand-painted cachet was produced for subscribers only, with no extras made. As such, it will not be available on the open market every much making it an exceptional FDC colletable. The two crane stamps represent a joint issue with China. This cover features the black-neck crane which lived in that country. Changing agriculture practicies there have reduced the food supply for this species and numbers of this scarce craine continue to decline. I show one flying over the Great Wall of China. The art work on both stamps is the creation of Zahn Gengxi -- China's foremost wildlife artist.

Collins Cover Announcement 

BLACK-NECKED CRANE

Special "Subscribers' Only" Edition

This limited-edition cover was produced just for subscribers with no extras. As such, it means that none are available for non-subscribers and also, of course, that you can only receive the enclosed with no option for additional copies. The bottom line is that you are obtaining a COLLINS that will be extremely scarce and will rarely find its way to the open market. The two "subscriber only" FDCs that I do each year are one of my ways of saying thanks for collecting COLLINS.

Whooping cranes live in the United States. A successful protection policy has brought it back from the verge of extinction in the 1940's. This bird is featured on one of this cover's two stamps. The second stamp depicts the black-necked crane, a Chinese species, and chosen for this joint philatelic issue with China.

Since I'm always dealing with United States stamps, usually I'm handcuffed to domestic subjects for my cachets. This is fine because I certainly love America and in this country "variety is the spice of life," so I'm constantly challenged with cachet topics. But, at times it is fun to be able to choose a familiar subject outside our boundaries and this is such an occasion.

On this special cover, I give you the Great Wall of China as it winds snake-like across the hilly countryside. Flying over the wall is the scarce black-necked crane. Estimates are that only about 5,000 plus of these long-necked birds still exist. Changing agricultural practices in China have reduced the food supply and thus numbers continue to dwindle. The artwork on both stamps is the creation of China's foremost wildlife artist -- Zhan Gengxi. This factor, combined with the rare opportunity to do a subject such as the "Great Wall" on cachet weighed heavily in my decision to feature the black-necked crane on this limited-edition cover. A most interesting item to add to your COLLINS collection. Item No. N2302.  $10.00.

Spring 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 16 N2301 — Whooping Crane and N2302 — Black-Necked Crane (subscriber-only) — 10-9-94

This is a very interesting two-cover lot. Whooping cranes were thought to be extinct as early as 1923. Somehow a small group of these remarkable birds managed to survive hidden in the wild, and by 1957 their numbers had risen slightly to only 30 birds. The current population continues to increase, and today there are approximately 500 of these unusual birds in existence. The whooping crane is America's tallest bird reaching a height of five feet and having a wingspan of more than seven feet. They have loud, resonant calls which they emit both on the ground and during flight. The most spectacular habit of the crane is its elaborate dance ceremony which is performed before mating. Also of interest, the whooping crane pairs for life.

The black-necked crane is featured on one of this cover's two stamps. This bird is a Chinese species and was chosen for this joint philatelic issue with China. The cachet on this unique cover shows the black-necked crane flying over the Great Wall of China as it winds snake-like across the hilly countryside. Estimates are that only about 10,000 of these birds still exist, and they are protected by China, India, and Bhutan. The artwork on both stamps is the creation of China's foremost wildlife artist — Zhan Gengxi.