
Collins FDC Catalog
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K1201
K1201 / Scott 2276
U. S. Flag
Flag With Fireworks
Collins Cover Announcement
U.S. FLAG/FIREWORKS
The two-part hand-painted cachet of this FDC plus the terrific show quality unofficial First Day cancel combine to make this cover worthy of your consideration.
A large segment of the cover was printed with a midnight black sky. Against this night sky, a colorful (all hand painted) array of exploding rockets and bursting fireworks provides a visual sensation. And, against this background of excitement and color, a large American flag is in the foreground and, like the fireworks, is hand painted against the dark night sky.
Beautiful. In fact, for this Flag/Fireworks stamp, the foregoing COLLINS cachet as described would make this a fine collectible.
But...there is much more. Utah collector Jim Jones (the stamp was issued in Colorado) advised me of a planned show cancel that was to be in use. It would pay tribute to an 1889 Railroad Post Office (R.P.O.) of the old Leadville and Aspen Line. I thought it would add a great deal to the cover if part of the cachet was dedicated to this railroad theme. Thus, a smaller, separate hand-painted cachet shows an old engine and train steaming into Leadville about to pick up the mail sack. This concept of designing a cachet to correspond to an unofficial First Day cancel is a subtle but very important part of enhancing this FDC.
You will enjoy this issue. A fine Denver, Colorado unofficial First Day cancel with the old "Leadville and Aspen R.P.O." postmark. The related hand-painted railroad cachet identifying the "Leadville" connection. And, the impressive large handpainted flag and fireworks display set against the coal black sky which relates beautifully to the theme of the stamp. A fineCOLLINS FDC. Item #K1201 - $7.50