M1001

Horses

Quarter Horse, Morgan, Saddlebred, Appaloosa

Summer 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 14 M1001 — Horses — Indian Ponies cachet — 9/25/85

This early Collins cover is spectacular in every respect — cachet design, paint colors chosen, cancels, and a striking overall appearance. The hand painted cachet stretches the entire width of the cover, and the strip along the bottom is used for all four of the Horse stamps side by side (Quarter Horse, Morgan, Saddlebred, and Appaloosa). The cachet and stamps together use all of the available space, and as you view this cover, you will experience an explosion of color. The Nez Perce of the Northwest developed the Appaloosa breed. The name was derived from the Palouse River Band of the tribe which lived on the Washington-Idaho border. A hunting party of four warriors rides along a hillside trail. Two of the four are mounted on Appaloosas. Below them, a lush valley of green, gold, and rust creates a panoramic sweep. Beyond, towering mountains with jagged peaks climb high into the crystal blue sky. The colors of the stamps and the paint colors in the cachet work together in bright and cheerful harmony. In philatelic terms, this FDC is a winner. It has all four different Horse stamps. Two are canceled officially at Lexington, Kentucky, and the other two are canceled unofficially (after a flight by a chartered plane) at Horse Shoe, North Carolina. This was a very popular cover with collectors. Still in stock are a few of each of the individual horse covers, but this special cover with all four horses sold out very quickly.