A102cpm

American Quilts

Basket Design

John G. Hutchinson

Charleston, WV Postmaster Signature

Spring 2021 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 1 A102 — Ouiltmaking — West Virginia Blue Ink Pictorial — 3/8/78

While at the Charleston, West Virginia Post Office on March 8, 1978 having my very first cachet (Quiltmaking — A101) serviced, I noticed an open door off the main area. There was a flurry of activity in that room, and the cause was a stunning pictorial first day cancel being offered. It is an outline of the state of West Virginia in beautiful blue ink and says, "Mountain State Philatelic Center." Only 48 covers received this gorgeous postmark, and it is a true rarity. You had to be there and also discover the side room to get this postmark, so you know relatively few exist. A crown jewel of my number one cachets. It is difficult to estimate a price for such a premium and scarce cover. 

Winter 2026 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 38 A102 — Quiltmaking — First Collins Cachet — SIGNED by Charleston Postmaster — Only 2 Exist! — 3/8/78

While at the Charleston, West Virginia Post Office on March 8, 1978, having my very first cachet (Quiltmaking —Aloi) serviced, I noticed an open door off the main area. There was a flurry of activity in that room, and the cause was a stunning pictorial first day cancel that was being offered! It is an outline of the state of West Virginia in beautiful blue ink and says, "Mountain State Philatelic Center." Only 48 of my covers received this gorgeous postmark, and it is a true rarity. You had to be there, and you also had to discover the side room to get this postmark, so you can imagine that relatively few exist. It's a crown jewel of my number one cachets. A plate number is tied to the envelope with the incredible blue ink pictorial. Then I flew to New York City and got a large bullseye cancel on the opposite pair. What makes this particular lot so rare and special is the addition of the signature of the Charleston postmaster, who signed just two of my A102 covers while I was getting them canceled.