G1001

Great Americans

Henry Knox U. S. Secretary of War

Collins Cover Announcement 

GENERAL HENRY KNOX

(8-cent Famous American)

The "cannon" saga of General Knox is one of my favorite Revolutionary War stories, and I just knew that this COLLINS would have to be a fitting one that paid tribute to his Herculean effort.

Although it came nowhere near the Knox effort, my own First Day trip was of monumental proportions so that I could offer you this cover. I traveled in four states to obtain this unofficial cancel -- five if you count my return to New Jersey that evening.

On the dawn of July 25th, I was driving along the beautiful Maine coast through the towns of Bath, Wiscasset and Newcastle. Maine at daybreak on a summer morning. America -- I love you. Finally I arrived at the small town of Thomaston and quickly purchased my stamps. Back I headed for the Portland Airport. From there it was on to Boston, Mass. (state number two). Of course, I was licking and sticking in the air. At Boston, it was via commuter line Provincetown Air to Burlington, Vermont (state number three). Then, south through Vermont I headed to my destination -- the historic village of Ticonderoga, New York (state number four).

Let's go back a couple hundred years. George Washington had laid siege to Boston but he lacked the cannon necessary for success. The Colonial forces had the guns...but they were at the distant Fort Ticonderoga. Henry Knox volunteered for the impossible task of getting them to Washington.

His contingent of men and oxen struggled over untamed mountains using sleds to drag the guns and their wheel mounts to Boston. Against all odds, Knox succeeded. The "entire" hand-painted cachet shows the Knox party as it enters the mountains leaving Fort "Ti" below. The men are ankle-deep in snow. You can see their frozen breath. A mist hangs over the barren forested slopes. Oxen trudge in their yokes. Man and beast inch forward with their precious cannon destined for the Colonial forces. This is a COLLINS cachet that I think could become a classic -- it's a hand-painted beauty.

And, contributing to the final appearance, is the fruit of my long journey. A strip of three Henry Knox stamps with the very special Ticonderoga, New York unofficial First Day cancel. Item #G1001. $7.50

Autumn 2019 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 20 G1001 — General Henry Knox — War for Independence — 7/25/85

During the Revolution when George Washington laid siege to Boston occupied by the British, he lacked the big guns necessary to maintain control. An unlikely hero, Knox, became one when he led an expedition to the captured Fort Ticonderoga by Lake Champlain. There in severe winter weather and deep snow, he accomplished the near impossible by transporting the captured British camion over steep, mountainous terrain to Washington's waiting army. This hand painted Collins has a special artistic appeal. A mounted Knox, with icy breath frozen in the morning air, watches his men and their oxen teams struggle up the snowy hills. In the distance, Fort Ti is barely visible against the white snow fields. A wonderful Ticonderoga, New York first day postmark (obtained only by Collins) gives great philatelic presence to this first day cover. This cachet even looks cold and is a remembrance for the unsung heroes of our War for Independence — General Knox and his hearty detachment of winter warriors who would not be denied.