A3302

California Statehood

150th Anniversary

Vineyards/Spanish Mission Cachet

Subscriber-Only Edition

Collins Cover Announcement 

California Statehood

Subscriber-Only Edition

This lovely cachet is one of two that I produced in 2000 exclusively for my subscribers. The other one, using four stamps from the "Legends of Baseball" issue, will be announced at a later date. As a reminder to my newer subscribers, these two special covers each year are not offered to non-subscribers, and also subscribers cannot purchase extra ones. As a result, they are very limited and are only rarely seen on the open market - ensuring their desirability and value. They are my way of saying thank you to my most loyal and steadfast collectors.

When I first started producing First Day Covers in the late 1970s, I traveled to California for the John Steinbeck issue. One of the cancels I obtnined was Monterey. During my visit to the area, I was fortunate to visit the charming town of Camel and to take a side trip to the nearby enchanting and historic Spanish Mission. It remains a fond memory as related in my recent book.

Done in pastel watercolors, this cachet presents Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo. Early Spanish missionaries founded a series of beautiful missions along the California coast, and, as they oversaw the construction, they combined functional usefulness with high artistic aspirations. Vineyards were started by the padres and, of course, the wines of California have evolved to their present day excellence. Fruit-laden vines are shown with grapes in the various stages of ripening - green, red, and deep purple. The large leaves frame the abundant bunches.

Picturesque is a single word which aptly describes this hand painted cachet. With the bountiful grapes in the foreground and the historic mission close by, this very limited Collins FDC provides a perfect artistic work that captures an important part of California's history and beauty. No extras are available. Item #B3301.