E3001

Love

Victorian Heart - Lovebirds Cachet

Collins Cover Announcement 

Victorian Valentine

55-Cent Stamp 

"Lovebirds Cachet"

I'm very pleased to present the next cover for the Victorian Love issue. This stamp is also of the cutout shape variety which forms the top of the floral heart and is the very first to be so designed by the U.S Postal Service. Tying this new stamp to my cover is a black First Day cancel that is different from the D3001 previously offered. This E3001 cancel has Loveland, CO 80537 on top and Valentine Station on the bottom whereas the D3001 postmark was exactly the opposite. Jim Jones was at Loveland on issue date for me, and it was his discovery of the different cancel devices that made these two distinct varieties possible. I'm always pleased to obtain philatelic subtleties such as this for my Collins collectors.

Also appearing again on this cover in magenta is the great Postal Service rubber stamp cachet that Jim was able to get by being there. It really gives this cover an "extra touch" because you just don't see Postal Service cachets very often.

The hand painted cachet is quite delicate and lovely. A love letter is sealed with a heart and is being passed amid a Victorian framed oval of ornate flowers and ribbon. Below, two lovebirds perch on a floral branch and cuddle up to each other. All of the beautiful watercolors jump out at the viewer because the designs are painted on a jet black background. An excellent Victorian Valentine First Day Cover with many elements combining to make it a fine collectible. "Lovebirds" - Item #E3001 - $12.50.

2025 Spring Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 17 E3101 — Billy Mitchell: World War I Ace — 7-30-99

The beautiful stamp honoring Billy Mitchell is a tribute to that famous World War I fighter pilot. The dramatic and very colorful hand-painted cachet is based on a recruitment poster showing an American eagle overpowering a German hawk. A squadron of bi-planes is passing overhead, and the poster message says, "Join the Army Air Service — Be an American Eagle!" Mitchell is depicted on this cover in his uniform of that era with the distinctive campaign hat. He makes a handsome figure on this first day cover which is a gem!