O2701

Pacific 97

George Washington

Collins Cover Announcement 

Pacific 97

George Washington

High Value 60-Cents

Special reproduction of the historic ten-cent 1847 Washington Stamp

Several exciting factors combine to make this hand-painted Collins First Day Cover a sure winner. Perhaps most unusual is the severe limitations that the Postal Service put on the sale of this stamp and the companion Benjamin Franklin which I will be offering soon. Put on sale at the Pacific 97 exhibition and show in San Francisco on May 30, 1997, this stamp was available for purchase for only ten scant days. It was available only in a sheet of twelve format with a face value of $7.20. And most importantly, it was not available at all across the country at local post offices. Ask yourself, do you have this stamp in your collection? I would guess that most of you would have to answer no. It is a very scarce item in terms of modern U.S. postage stamp issues. This, in turn, will make it a fairly elusive stamp to locate on First Day Covers, and I'm certain that many, perhaps most, cachetmakers skipped this issue - making those produced even more desirable.

Another factor is the "high value" term that many collectors take special stock in. Back when the first class rate was three cents, high-value issues were established at fifty cents and higher. They had a tremendous appeal to collectors. Despite the fact that the first class rate has escalated to the current 32-cents, old habits die hard, and the fifty c,ent and higher designation lingers on. So, not only is this a very scarce item, but it has the "high value" appeal (solidified by the fact that it could be purchased only in a $7.20 sheet of twelve) that will make it quite desirable.

The historic design of the stamp is another nice feature of this cover. Many collectors are somewhat dismayed (myself included) over the inconsistent quality and content of today's stamps. Some are wonderful and others are severely lacking. The 1847 legendary designs for the Franklin and Washington issues are at the very roots of our U.S. stamp collecting hobby, and I am delighted that they are reproduced on these 1997 issues.

Taking all of the above into account, I must suggest with all due modesty that having this stamp (and the Ben Franklin to follow) on cover with the Collins cachet will be the "best" way for you to personally collect this issue. There is no doubt in my mind that I am 'coking at a sure-bet "sell out" witEn a short time, and that, once it is gone from my stock, the value on the open market (when it can be found) will jump very quickly. It simply has too much going for it and will definitely become one of the "key" Collins Covers for the 1997 collecting year.

My hand-painted cachet is a dynamic "entire" taking up the full face of the envelope. General George Washington is shown riding into New York City accepting public congratulations for the victory of his Continental Army over the British. He was chosen as Commanding General in 1775 and in 1781 won the decisive Battle of Yorktown and secured America's independence. After the Revolutionary War, he became Chairman of the Constitutional Convention and later our first President. He was indisputably the "Father of his Country."

It is with much personal satisfaction that I announce this Collins FDC. It has a stamp that was only sold a very short time and not nationally making it a "must own" on cover. It is a "high value" stamp with a historic legacy celebrating the 150th Anniversary of its reproduced 1847 design. It has my individually handpainted cachet capturing the essence of the life and times of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson said, "Never did nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make a great man." In the tradition of Collins Cachets, I am pleased to present my cover for the Pacific 97 sixty-cent George Washington design of 1847. Item #O2701. $12.50.