C2401

Earth Day

Earth Clean-Up, Solar Energy, Tree Planting & Beach Clean-Up

Collins Cover Announcement 

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

"Kids Care" Theme - Block of Four Stamps

A meandering blue brook flows gently through a grassy woodlands meadow. Wild purple irises and colorful waterlilies add a cheerful touch to the scene. A delicate dragonfly lands on a small rock island in mid-stream. Kneeling at water's edge is a young boy who examines a small discovery with a magnifying glass. Nearby, his hiking companion, with walking stick and backpack, extends her arm and a monarch butterfly alights on her hand. Watching the peaceful goings-on from the opposite bank (and from the opposite bottom corners of the cover) are a painted turtle and a large bullfrog. At the far end of the meadow, a pair of deer graze in the sunlit grass near the tree-line. Fruit laden branches of a wild apple tree crown this hand-painted COLLINS cachet that will become a hobby favorite for this issue.

A couple of personal observations about the stamps. First of all, I will only be doing this one cachet for the issue. All four stamps are used on this cover. As I've indicated, I will use my discretion to balance what is sometimes an over-zealous stamp program in terms of numbers. In this case, the block of four with "Kids Care" cancel provides a perfect complement to my "Woodland Stream" cachet.

Second, I'm not a fan of children designing stamps. I think art contests are great for youngsters, but awards could be made other than stamp images. These were issued on "Earth Day" and I believe that, as strongly as Americans feel about protecting natural resources, undoubtedly a much more appealing statement could have been made by an accomplished artist.

Accepting the dual challenge on this cover was a difficult task. First, by using the block of four, there was less space for my cachet. Second, the individual designs were not inspirational, but the subject matter itself (nature and the environment) was very important to me. The final COLLINS Cover that I am now offering is one that you will love to include in your collection. IT HAS AN ENCHANTING CHARM AND WARM APPEAL THAT YOU MUST SEE AND APPRECIATE FOR YOURSELF. The very colorful block of four "Kids Care" stamps. The custom First Day of Issue postmark. And, most of all, the hand-painted cachet that portrays the spirit of youth by capturing that special magic of kids enjoying the simple pleasures of nature and the great outdoors. Earth Day Awareness. Block of Four Stamps. Item #C2401. $12.00.