C5203

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Narwhal Whale – Maine in Autumn

Collins Cover Announcement 

All Seasons

Marine Mammals Set of Four

Narwhal Whale

The Postal Service issued a set of four stamps entitled "All Seasons" with spring, summer, autumn, and winter all being represented. Also, on each stamp ah American flag appears, so I knew that my ultimate theme should be national in scope. The creative cachetmaking process led me to each of the four corners of our wonderfully diverse country: Alaska in winter; Southern California in spring; Florida in summer; and Maine in autumn. All seasons are represented on these awesome individually hand painted Collins cachets featuring marine mammals.

The Narwhal is a medium-sized whale that lives primarily in the Arctic. It is usually found in Canada and Greenland waters and on rare occasions as far south as the Canadian Maritime Provinces and northern Maine. The male is distinguished by a long, straight tusk. It feeds mostly on flatfish. and they have been hunted for over a thousand years by the Inuit people for meat and ivory.

The colors on this cover capture perfectly the mottled sheen of the Narwhal as he rises out of the frigid water. His grooved spiraling tusk makes this magnificent creature truely unique, and this is the first time (and most probably the only time) that one appears on a Collins First Day Cover. To complete this stunning hand painted wildlife set, I'll soon be announcing Alaska's walrus. California's sea lion and Florida's manatee. Marine mammals for all seasons.

The unusual and beautiful tusked Narwhal is now ready. Collins #C5203 at $14.00