Z4001

Butterfly

Common Buckeye Butterfly

Collins Cover Announcement 

The Common Buckeye

This attractive butterfly is named for the large eyespots on its wings. Each primary wing has two of the distinctive "eyes" and a lovely patch plus two bars of orange-tangerine color. The buckeye's hind wings also have two eyespots, and it is believed that these bold markings are nature's way of providing a defense mechanism to scare away predators.

This butterfly is found throughout the United States except for the Northwest. Its preferred habitat is open sunny areas with low vegetation, and my individually hand painted cachet places a pair in that location. This Collins cover goes back 300 years in time to the era of Nathan Allen's gristmill. The two buckeyes flutter amidst colorful flowers in an open meadow. Across the mi1l pond a waterwheel continuously powers the grinding stones that convert grains into flour.

Taking advantage of the nationwide First Day of Issue release, I obtained an Allentown, New Jersey First Day cancellation on a pair of the stamps. The postmark is a lovely magenta color, and the fonuat is a double bullseye with outer and inner circles.

The watercolors are superb, and the cachet presents a nice combination of wildlife and Americana themes. The Allentown, N.J. First Day postmark that I obtained on Day of Issue provides both a nice linkage to Nathan Allen's mill, which was the beginning of the village, and Collins cachets which now call the community home. This item has a lot going for it, and I'm pleased to offer the Common Buckeye Butterfly. Collins #Z4001 — $13.75.