A3201

Submarines

S Class

Collins Cover Announcement 

U.S . NAVY SUBMARINES

A Century of Service to America 1 900 - 2000

About the Covers

The spectacular $3.20 high-value stamp provides the premiere First Day Cover in this set. It is the longest horizontal stamp in my entire history, and is an absolute beauty. It pictures a submerged World War II submarine firing a torpedo, and I cannot convey how magnificent and different this stamp is. You will definitely appreciate having this hand painted Collins cachet in your collection because it is certain to become one of my most sought-after covers within the hobby. Only the collectors ordering this set will own it.

On the second cover, a sixty-cent stamp depicts the U. S .S . Holland which was the very first submarine purchased by our Navy on April 11, 1900. On her trial run, the Holland submerged in twelve seconds, ran a straight course for ten minutes at six knots, returned to the starting point, and surfaced. The performance impressed the Navy officials on hand, and the sub served from 1900 to 1910 with a crew of six plus the captain. Our elite submarine service was born.

A third stamp pays tribute to the old "S Class" submarines that served in World War I. These were improved boats both in terms of size and safety. They had a much longer range with greater fighting capabilities. The Navy had 50 subs in the fleet for World War I, and at least 33 surviving "S Class" boats actually made combat patrols in World War II.

The fourth and fifth stamps have the submarines that helped to win the Cold War and today protect our shores and freedom. The Atomic Age arrived in January of 1955 when the U.S.S. Nautilus signaled "UNDERWAY ON NUCLEAR POWER." These magnificent boats could go anywhere - even under the North Pole.

The modem attack submarines in the "Los Angeles Class" began prowling the seas in the 1970s. Their weapons include smart torpedoes and cruise missiles. My fourth cachet captures this modem fighting machine that employs state-of-the-art technology.

The fifth and final cover subject in this superb set is truly a sea monster of the deep and is the ultimate deterrent against enemy attack. It is the "Ohio Class" submarine which carries 24 trident ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. With a length of two football fields, these whale-like subs are known as "boomers." The boat and crew can stay submerged for two months at a time and can silently penetrate any of the world's oceans. Such awesome and unstoppable deterrent power has hopefully made future world wars unthinkable.

This marvelous set will quickly sell out as did my "All Aboard" and "Space Discovery" sets. Please order yours within the next day or two so that you will not be disappointed. From the U.S.S. Holland of 1900 to the "boomers" of 2000, I am pleased to offer my five hand painted First Day Covers that celebrate a century of service by U.S. Navy submarines. Item numbers A3201 - 22-cent "S-Class" from World War I; A3202 - 33-cent "Los Angeles Class" Nuclear Attack Sub; A3203 - 55-cent "Ohio Class" Nuclear Trident Deterrent Sub (the "Boomer"); A3204 - 60-cent "U.S.S. Holland" First Navy Submarine; and A3205 - $3.20 "GATO Class" from World War II.

"Within just the last few weeks, the whole world witnessed a tragic reminder as to just how dangerous submarine duty can be. On August 12, 2000, the Russian nuclear submarine KURSK sank within moments in the Barents Sea, and all 118 crewmembers

on board were lost. May their souls rest in peace."

Winter 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 34 A3201- A3205 — U.S. Navy Submarines (set of 5) — 3-27-00

This mini-set was one of the quickest to ever sell out. The popularity of these lovely stamps was almost unbelievable. My subscribers, of course, received their covers as did customers who ordered immediately, but the interest in the issue in general and my covers in particular made it impossible for many people to find the set at that time or since.

The five stamps are really nice. The World War I S-Class (22-cents); the World War II Gato class (high-value $3.20 face); two nuclear subs — the Ohio class (55-cents) and the Los Angeles class (33-cents); as well as the U.S.S. Holland (60-cents) which was the very first U.S.

Navy submarine. All of the hand painted cachets are wonderful, and collector reaction to them was excellent. It should also be noted that the size of the magnificent Gato class stamp is very large and it's well designed