W3001

California Gold Rush

150th Anniversary - 1849 to 1999

The Forty Niners – “Panning for Gold”

Collins Cover Announcement 

THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH OF 1849

In the middle of the last century, gold was discovered in the waters of Sutter's Creek. Thousands flocked to the area overland and by sea. All of these prospectors - known as "forty-niners" - spread across the countryside seeking their fortune.

My hand painted cachet is a beauty and captures this historic time in American history. Hopeful prospectors are "panning" for gold in a small stream. This was a favorite way of searching for tiny granules and pieces of gold. Occasionally, larger nuggets would be discovered. This "entire" cachet spans across the whole envelope and in future years will become one that will be actively searched for on the open market. It captures the excitement of the American West at the time of one of the most memorable events in our nation's history - the California Gold Rush!

An early sell-out is a possibility as many collectors have been waiting for this issue. The hand painted cachet is magnificent and one you have to experience firsthand. Western art is very popular, and this philatelic miniature painting will become a most desirable item to own. Don't miss it. The Gold Rush of 1849. Item #W3001 - $12.25.

Spring 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 27 W3001 and W3002 — California Gold Rush (set of 2) — 6-18-99

In the middle of the last century, gold was discovered in the waters of Sutter's Creek. Thousands flocked to the area overland and by sea. All of these prospectors — known as "forty-niners" — spread across the countryside seeking their fortune. My W3001 hand painted cachet is wonderful and captures this historic time in American history. Hopeful prospectors are panning for gold in a small stream.

This was a favorite way of searching for tiny granules and pieces of gold. Occasionally, larger nuggets would be discovered. This cachet captures the excitement of the American West at the time of one of the most memorable events in our nation's history. The hand painted cachet is magnificent, and since western art has become popular, this philatelic miniature painting caused the issue to sell out quickly.

W3002 is a wonderful cover that was made only for subscribers. It shows a framed photograph of a young "forty-niner" holding a huge nugget that he had discovered in his quest for wealth. This "find" was a real discovery, and my cachet is based on the actual photograph of the fortunate prospector. Also shown is a large bag of gold dust, a "pan" used for finding and retrieving gold from streams, an assay office scale used for weighing nuggets, a pick and shovel used for searching rock formations for veins of gold, and a jug of moonshine which helped many prospectors pass the long and lonely California nights. These covers have not appeared in my previous mail sales.