B5102

 War of 1812 Bicentennial

Captain Stephen Decatur

The Frigate United States

Subscriber Only Edition

Collins Cover Announcement 

The War of 1812 Captain Stephen Decatur

 Subscriber-only Limited Edition

A few times each year, I produce special cachets that are made exclusively for my subscribers. No other collectors can obtain them from me. Subscribers cannot obtain extras and, of course, they are always immediate sell-outs. As such, they will always be elusive Collins cachets and extremely hard to obtain.

The historical significance of the new USS Constitution/War of 1812 stamp motivated me to produce this cachet honoring naval officer Stephen Decatur. His father was in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War and was a personal friend of George Washington and James Monroe. Young Stephen was engulfed by the world of ships and sailing due to his father's career and at age 19 in 1798 joined the U.S. Navy as a midshipman. Decatur went on to serve under three presidents and played a prominent and important role in the growth and development of the American Navy.

Decatur was the youngest man in the history of the Navy to reach the rank of captain. He served during both Barbary Coast Wars as well as the War of 1812, and his career was filled with exceptional wartime performance and many acts of bravery. Victories against Britain, France, and the Barbary pirates made him a national hero in his own lifetime.

My hand painted cachet shows Decatur and the Naval frigate United States which he commanded. During his distinguished career, he also commanded the USS Constitution for a short time. After the War of 1812, this dedicated and accomplished officer emerged as an icon of American naval history. I am honored to pay tribute to Captain Stephen Decatur— Collins #B5102.

Winter 2023 Mail Sale 

Lot 29 B5102 — War of 1812 — U.S.S. Constitution — 8/18/12

This subscriber-only limited edition commemorates the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812. The US. S. United States was a wood-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy and the first of six authorized by the Naval Act of 1794. She was launched on May 10, 1797. The ship carried a complement of fifty-five cannon. During the War of 1812 the U.S.S. United States under the command of Captain Stephen Decatur patrolled the Atlantic Ocean from America to England. He remains the youngest naval officer (25) to reach the rank of captain and played a major role in the development of the U.S. Navy.

Decatur served with distinction under three presidents.  This is the first time B5102, a limited-edition subscriber-only cover, appears in my mail sales. Hand painted to perfection.