C4101

Crops of the Americas

Sunflower & Seeds

Collins Cover Announcement 

Crops of the Americas 

Sunflowers

Feasting Featfiered Friends

Food is primarily grown for human consumption, but a good portion of agriculture production finds its way to both wild and domestic creatures. The beautiful and nourishing sunflower afforded a great opportunity to portray two of our feathered friends partaking in an abundant feast.

A blue jay and a chickadee share a large flowering bloom, and friction between them is not apparent due to an endless supply of seeds. The bright golden flowers combine with the natural colors of the birds to create a really visually pleasing hand painted cachet.

On August 27, 1979 as I drove in the early morning hours towards Devils Lake, North Dakota for the first day of issue for the American Schools stamp, I passed mile after mile of sunflower fields with their heads all facing east toward the morning sun. That afternoon as I was heading back to the airport to journey to my unofficial postmark, I passed the same fields, but this time, the flowers pointed toward the now-westerly sun. The magnitude of that moment for me was overwhelming as I marveled at the beauty and power of nature. Ever since, the appeal of sunflowers has been special to me.

I'm pleased to present the next cover in the Crops of America mini-series — Sunflowers. Collins #C4101 — $13.25.