Y2301

Definitive Issue

Flag Over Field

Collins Cover Announcement 

...An Irish Leprechaun and His Pot of Gold!

FLAG OVER FIELD - A Special COLLINS

This unique FDC will acquire within the hobby an identity of its own and certainly will be one of the highlights of your collection.

As the morning sun peeks over an Irish hillside, it shines on a farmer eiready hard at work in his fields. In the-foreground, a benevolent leprechaun watches approvingly from his seat on a stone wall. Soon the industrious farmer will be rewarded for nearby is a large pot of gold coins just waiting to be discovered. You will love this "entire" cachet. The old country farmhouse. The amber crop of grain being harvested. The detailed stone wall with shamrocks growing along its base. The impish leprechaun, dressed in green and sporting a full red beard will capture your imagination. The pot of gold will capture your attention. A superb cachet but there is more to this COLLINS.

I wanted to make this cover extraordinary so here is what I did. Ninety percent of the face of the cover I printed a light green before the cachet was added. In other words, I started with a light green envelope. On this I printed the cachet design in the usual black with a big exception. The leprechaun, the text, and my COLLINS logo are printed in two shades of green. After this, the cachet is entirely hand painted as usual and the result is terrific. Note the green outline of the leprechaun's features and the soft and special effect it creates. Notice the "true green" of his clothing. A green wreath of smoke from his clay pipe encircles his head and jaunty black hat. The green text stands out nicely against the strip of white I left on the face of the envelope for that purpose. This is an exciting addition for your collection.

From a philatelic standpoint, the new "Flag Over Green Field" stamp is postmarked in New York City on the First Day of Issue. The date is March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, which gave me the incentive to create this Irish theme. Make no mistake. This COLLINS will become one of my more sought after items. It may become known as the Leprechaun Cover. Or the Pot of Gold Cover. Or the Green Ireland Cover. Whatever the future brings, you can add the Pot of Gold to your holdings now. And with the gold coins comes the old Irish farm and the special "Little Person" who will contribute something unique to your collection. The COLLINS Leprechaun Cover. Item #Y2301. $10.75.