F3001

Love

Victorian Love – Stamped Envelope 

Tea Time/Roses Cachet

Collins Cover Announcement 

Victorian Love

The final First Day Cover in my Victorian Love series is an unexpected treat that came into existence b y the on-site decision of Jim Jones in Loveland on the day of issue. He felt that the envelope preprinted with a stylized lavender "Love" stamp had the potential to make a great FDC. His vision was based on a beautiful magenta hand postmark canceling the lavender stamp and the postmark in turn being tied to the cover by the Loveland Post Office cachet in black ink. The unusual and appealing combination of triple postal originated colors (lavender, magenta, and black) was just too rare an opportunity to pass up. Of the several different covers that Jim did in Loveland, this is the only one that has the postal cachet in black ink.

A superb hand painted cachet graces this beautiful cover. Since Victorian love had its origin in England, a traditional tea time setting seemed to be a perfect design subject upon which to build. A plate of dainty heart shaped cookies is the dessert of choice and sets the mood for a valentine get-together. Ornate English china tea cup and teapot bring a sense of the Victorian period to the cachet. Delicate roses on the tabletop surrounding the china pieces and the floral design on the cup and teapot add a sentimental flavor to this particular tea time ritual.

This lovely collectible has it all. A stunningly beautiful hand painted cachet that expresses feelings of the heart through a Victorian English tradition of tea and cookies - in this instance heart shaped. A lavender printed stylized stamp tied by a magenta postmark from Valentine Station, Loveland, Colorado. A seldom seen post office cachet that is a final "extra touch" making this a cover that is strong in philatelic appeal in addition to the hand painted Collins artwork. A must-have item. An invitation to a traditional English Victorian tea. Item #F3001 - $12.25.