N901

American Folk Art

Duck Decoys

Broadbill, Mallard, Canvasback, Redhead

Collins Cover Announcement 

FOLK ART - DUCK DECOYS

You will find this item uniquely different from any I have ever done in regard to cachet and stamp arrangement. In addition, the coloring on the cachet is superb, and this FDC sports both the offical cancel and an excellent unofficial tying the four Decoy stamps to the cover.

After spending a restful New England night in Burlington on the shore of Lake Champlain, an early morning start found me on the  south to the peaceful village of Shelburne -- home of the  historical museum of the same name. At this official city post office I secured the four attractive folk art stamps. on each is an artistic decoy of a different duck -- Canvasback, Redhead, Broadbill and Mallard. In this order, I affixed the four along the bottom edge of the cover. The second pair (Broadbill and Mallard) has the Shelburne cancel.

Late morning found me on the road to Vermont's interior. "Sugaring time" was just about to begin, and soon the maple sap would be running throughout the state. It was a lovely drive  as I passed numerous farms and a few covered bridges. Then I was there, the small hamlet post office of Marshfield. This was a one person office and it was old -- so old that the only machine cancel on the premises was an old hand cranked model. And, the hand cancel that was used on my covers was also most unusual. It was mounted on about a 15 inch handle (reminded me of a branding iron) and is oval in shape as opposed to the usual circular ones. This super unofficial ties the first pair (Canvassback and Redhead) to the cover. Above the stamps and cancels, the brightly hand-painted cachet stretches across the entire breadth of the envelope. A dazzling sunrise bathes the sky in brilliant yellow gold and peach orange. Along a lake's shoreline marsh, a duck hunter crouches. His decoys are spread on the quiet surface, and six mallards (four drakes followed by two hens) wing overhead. In the distance, against the morning sky, a larger "V" of ducks flys over the water.

An unusual and beautiful cover. Item #N901 - $8.50.

Autum 2019 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 10 N901 — Duck Decoys — 3/22/85

This cover was for the set of four Folk Art Duck Decoys and will be a great addition to any collection or as a corollary piece for a collection of my Federal "Duck" covers. The hand painted cachet spans the top of the envelope and has a sunrise hunting scene. They were issued in Shelbourne, Vermont, and a pair are postmarked with that official day of issue postmark. I then drove to Marshfield, Vermont, and as I entered the small, old, one-man post office I was transported back in time. The only cancel machine on the premises was an ancient hand-cranked model. And the very old hand cancel was a gem. It, too, could be classified as philatelic folk art! It was mounted on a 15-inch wooden handle, worn smooth by use, and was oval in shape as opposed to the familiar round format. It felt so good to have the remaining pair get their first day of issue cancel from this back-country Vermont rustic post office treasure. Collins was the only cachetmaker fortunate enough to obtain it.

Autumn 2022 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 7 N901 — Duck Decoys (3-22-85)

This cover was for the set of four Folk Art Duck Decoys and will be a great addition to any collection or as a corollary piece for a collection of my Federal "Duck" covers. The hand painted cachet spans the top of the envelope and has a brilliant sunrise hunting scene. They were issued in Shelbourne, Vermont, and a pair are postmarked with the official day of issue postmark. I then drove to Marshfield, Vermont, and as I entered the small, old, one-person post office, I was transported back in time. The only cancel machine on the premises was an ancient hand-cranked model. And the very old hand cancel device was a gem. It, too, could be classified as philatelic folk art!. It was mounted on a 15,inch wooden handle, worn smooth by use, and was oval an shape as opposed to the familiar round format. It felt so good to have the remaining pair get their first day of issue cancel from this back-country Vermont rustic post office treasure. Collins was the only cachetmaker fortunate enough to obtain it.