Q901

U. S. Flag

Flag over Capitol Dome

Summer 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 6 Q901 — Flag Over Capitol ("Triple" first day cover) — 3-29-85

This is a most unusual Collins first day cover as it has three different first day stamp issues (coil pair, sheet single, and booklet single); two different cancels (official and unofficial; and five different hand-painted mini-cachets showing the capitol city landmarks. The cachets cover a lot of ground — the Lincoln Memorial and reflection pool by moonlight, the Smithsonian Institute in spring, the Jefferson Memorial by starlight, and the White House in autumn. Each is a miniature cachet with very nice detail. In the center of the cover, from top to bottom, is the Washington Monument with American flags ringing its base. Flanking the Monument to the left is a pair of the new coil stamps and a sheet single. They are tied with the unofficial cancel. To the right is the larger booklet single. It is tied by the official cancel. Since Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson are represented in my cachets, I decided to honor another famous forefather — Ben Franklin — in my unofficial. Thus, the official cancel is from Waubeka, Wisconsin, and the unofficial is from Franklin, New Jersey. I was pleased with the "balanced look" that was achieved with this most interesting "Triple" first day cover. First time offered in one of my mail sales.