M3801

Lewis & Clark Expedition - Bicentennial

Lewis & Clark

Cachet shows Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea, Keelboat, Bison, Pronghorn, and Prairie Dogs

Cover Announcement 

Two hundred years ago under the direction of President Thomas Jefferson, captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a small military unit from Saint Louis to the Pacific Ocean. The vast territory was unknown, and as the Corps of Discovery departed in 1804, no one knew what might lie ahead. The winter of 1804/05 was spent with the Mandan tribe in North Dakota.

In the spring, the expedition headed west with a newly hired guide called Charbonneau and his young Indian wife Sacajawea. As fate would have it, the young woman turned out to be a major asset to the explorers as she helped secure horses for crossing the mountains, saved the captains' precious joumals when a canoe overtumed, helped secure various foodstuffs from the land and, by her mere presence (and that of her infant son), helped demonstrate that the expedition was on a peaceful mission.

The Corps of Discovery pushed west across Montana portaging around the great falls of the Missouri. With horses secured from the lndians, they crossed the formidable and perilous Rocky Mountains. Finally, it was down the Columbia River, and, in November of 1805, the triumphant band of adventurers reached the Pacific Ocean. Choosing a location with fresh water and abundant game, Lewis and Clark had the men construct Fort Clatsop (named after the local Indian tribe) which would shelter them from the elements and provide protection from any potential hostiles. The fort was near present-day Astoria, Oregon. In the early spring of 1806, the Corps of Discovery headed east toward home. Late that same year, Lewis and Clark and all of their men except one retumed to St. Louis where most of the residents had long presumed them lost. Against all odds, this small group of heroes had successfully completed their incredible joumey.

This Lewis and Clark cover is a true gem and is the only one I'll be offering outside the set previously announced. It has all three of the new stamps, and each one has a different First Day postmark from Astoria, Oregon. From a philatelic viewpoint, the prize cancellation is the Fort Clatsop pictorial secured on site by my friend and Oregon postal historian Bill White. The hand painted cachet done in beautiful watercolors is a real beauty. The top features Lewis and Clark with their Indian guide Sacajawea. Included is the keelboat in which they left St. Louis in 1804. Across the bottom are examples of the many animals and plants they encountered or discovered on their journey - the

mighty bison, the fleet pronghom, the curious prairie dog, and the beautifirl bitterroot flower.

Important note: Please remember that this cover is not part of the previously announced Lewis and Clark Bicentennial set and that it's the only First Day Cover I'll be doing for this issue outside the set. I'm pleased to offer this superb philatelic tribute to Captains Lewis and Clark. Collins #M3801 - $16.50

Autum 2019 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 31 M3801 — Lewis and Clark — 5/4/04

This cover sold out as quickly as any I've ever offered. Quite a few collectors who delayed in ordering were disappointed, so this is another chance. The cachet is the only one I did for the very popular Lewis and Clark issue (3 stamps) that was not part-of my large Lewis and Clark set. (That also sold out incredibly fast.)

Let me describe this cover. It has all three of the Lewis and Clark stamps, and each is tied to the envelope with its own different day of issue postmark. All are canceled in Astoria, Oregon, where the Corps of Discovery wintered on the Pacific Coast in 1805/1806. The blue Meriwether Lewis stamp has  a superb pictorial cancel that depicts Fort Clatsop, which the expedition built as protection from the Native Americans and the elements. It was obtained by my friend and Oregon postal historian Bill White. The red William Clark stamp has the small bullseye postmark that I like to use on my covers because it allows maximum space for the cachet. The green horizontal stamp has the "First Day of Issue" slogan cancel.

The hand painted cachet displays much about the historic expedition. It shows Lewis looking out at the Pacific with a telescope, Clark with a rifle over his shoulder, and Sacajawea standing between them. It also pictures the keelboat on which they left St. Louis in 1804. Finally, it includes animal and plant life encountered on the journey, including the mighty buffalo and the fleet pronghorn.

If you're a new Collins collector or missed out when offered, this is a great opportunity to try to obtain it. If you have one already, you know how nice it is and might want to obtain an extra. The Lewis and Clark issue of three stamps was extraordinarily popular, and the first day covers created will prove to be sought-after collectibles. This Collins cover with all three stamps and three different first day postmarks will perhaps be the most actively sought of all. It sold for $64 in 2005 only a year after issue date. I would not be surprised if this goes for considerably more than the estimate. It's a lovely first day cover.

Spring 2021 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 31 M3801 — Lewis and Clark — From St. Louis to the Pacific — 5/14/2004

This cover sold out as quickly as any I've ever offered. Quite a few collectors who delayed in ordering were disappointed, so this is another chance. The cachet is the only one I did for the very popular Lewis and Clark issue (3 stamps) that was not part of my large Lewis and Clark set. (That also sold out incredibly fast.)

Let me describe this cover. It has all three of the Lewis and Clark stamps, and each is tied to the envelope with its own different day of issue postmark. All are canceled in Astoria, Oregon where the Corps of Discovery wintered on the Pacific Coast in 1805-1806. The blue Meriwether Lewis stamp has a superb pictorial cancel that depicts Fort Clatsop, which the expedition built as protection from the local tribes and the elements. It was obtained by my friend and Oregon postal historian Bill White. The red William Clark stamp has the small bullseye postmark that I like to use on my covers because it allows maximum space for the cachet. The green horizontal stamp has the "First Day of Issue" slogan cancel. The hand painted cachet displays much about the historic expedition. It shows Lewis looking out at the Pacific with a telescope, Clark with a rifle over his shoulder, and Sacajawea standing between them. It also pictures the keelboat on which they left St. Louis in 1804. Finally, it includes animal and plant life encountered on the journey, including the mighty buffalo and the fleet pronghorn. 

Spring 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 34 M3801 — Lewis and Clark — (with all three stamps) — 5-14-04

This Lewis and Clark cover is a true gem and has all three of the stamps (the blue Lewis stamp, red Clark stamp, and the green stamp with Lewis, Clark, and Sacajawea), and each one has a different first day postmark from Astoria, Oregon. From a philatelic viewpoint, the prize cancelation is the Fort Clatsop pictorial secured on site. The hand painted cachet done in beautiful watercolors is a real beauty. The top features Lewis and Clark with their Native American guide Sacajawea. Included is the keelboat in which they left St. Louis in 1804. Across the bottom are examples of the many animals and plants they encountered or discovered on their journey — the mighty bison, the fleet pronghorn, the curious prairie dog, and the beautiful bitterroot flower.

The story of Lewis and Clark and the small military unit that accompanied them from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocen is an amazing one. The vast territory was unknown, and as the Corps of Discovery departed inl 804, no one knew what might lie ahead. The winter of 1804-05 was spent with the Mandan tribe in North Dakota. From there they headed westward with a hired guide and his young wife, Sacajawea, who turned out to be a major asset to the explorers. They crossed the formidable Rocky Mountains and had many perilous adventures along the way to the West Coast where they constructed a fort which sheltered them from the elements until they could undertake the return trip. Amazingly, this small group of heroes successfully completed their incredible journey, and all survived to return east. 

Winter 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 31 M3801 — Lewis and Clark — all three stamps from the issue — 5-14-04

This cover sold out as quickly as any I've ever offered. The cachet is the only one I did for the very popular Lewis and Clark issue that was not part of my large Lewis and Clark set. (That set also sold out incredibly fast.)

Let me describe this cover. It has all three of the Lewis and Clark stamps, and each one is tied to the envelope with its own different day of issue postmark. All are canceled in Astoria, Oregon where the Corps of Discovery wintered on the Pacific Coast in 1805 to 1806. The blue Meriwether Lewis stamp has a superb pictorial cancel that depicts Fort Clatsop, which the expedition built as protection from the local tribes and the elements. It was obtained by my late friend and Oregon postal historian Bill White. The red William Clark stamp has the small bullseye postmark that I like to use on my covers because it allows maximum space for the cachet. The green horizontal stamp has the "first day of issue" slogan cancel. The hand painted cachet displays much about the historic expedition. It shows Lewis looking out at the Pacific with a telescope, Clark with a rifle over his shoulder, and Sacajawea standing between them. It also pictures the keelboat on which they left St. Louis in 1804. Finally, it shows animal and plant life encountered on the journey, including the mighty buffalo and the fleet pronghorn.