L2501

Christmas Religious

Madonna and Child

Summer 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 22 L2501 — Christmas Carolers — "A Spirit of Caring and Sharing" — 10-19-95

When planning the cover for this religious Christmas stamp, I decided to head in a new direction. I wanted to emphasize the human spirit in terms of holiday sentiment. The result was the creation of a Collins Christmas first day cover that has become a personal favorite. It is the turn of the last century, and the time of day is early evening. Living alone with no one to share the holiday warmth, the elderly mistress of the house and her adorable kitten are summoned to the door by a knock and singing voices. Attired in period night cap, the delighted woman holds aloft a lighted glass chimney lantern and is greeted by a family of carolers. It is a traditional scene brought to life by hand painting. Two factors that make this cachet so appealing are the period clothing and the border of green pine and red ribbon that encircle the entire cover. This is a Collins cachet that portrays two gifts that will never grow old — caring and sharing. It is being offered in one of my mail sales for the first time.