H3101

Universal Postal Union

Worldwide Postal System

Spring 2021 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 27 H3101 — Pony Express/Early Airmail Cachet — 8/25/99

The hand painted cachet for the Postal Union stamp is a beauty. Using a split cachet design and choosing movement of the mail as my theme, the resulting artwork conveys exactly the intended postal images. To the left, an early airmail plane is being readied for flight. The pilot is poised to climb aboard with the sacks of U.S. mail. To the right, a Pony Express rider gallops at full speed across the open range. The specially designed mail pouches are prominently shown beneath the saddle of the running horse. As a truly unique touch, I had a rubber stamp reproduction of the famous Pony Express cancel made with the August 25th issue date. This custom cancel, which mirrors those in actual use on Pony Express mail, ties the stamp to the envelope as does the first day postmark. This cover sold out very quickly, and I've rarely seen it offered for sale. To find an early airmail plane and a Pony Express rider on one well designed, hand painted first day cover is a combination that will make this Collins more and more difficult to locate.