G1401

Migratory Bird

Snow Goose

Collins Cover Announcement 

SNOW GOOSE 

Migratory Bird Stamp - 1988

Ten Dollar High Value

This year's COLLINS "Duck" cover features the elegant Snow Goose, and I'm delighted to announce a couple of features that make this FDC a real stand-out. First, due to the subtle white tones of the feathers, I decided to do the cachet on a colored envelope -- my choice was continental blue. Second, I traveled to Minnesota for a fine pictorial Snow Goose cancel, and it is fabulous. It has one of the lovely birds in flight and says "Snow Goose Station, Eden Prairie, MN". Also, extended text in the cancel says "Federal Duck Stamp, July 1, 1988". This is really a great cancel, and I am glad I decided to travel out to the prairie to obtain it.

For my cachet, I placed five Snow Geese in various positions in flight -- a true explosion of beauty against the blue background. The goose in the cancel and the goose on the stamp are flying in the same direction and in the same size scale, so all together the face of the cover portrays seven of these magnificent migratory birds.

To meet the postage requirement, I chose the 22-cent Canvasback stamp and the 5-cent Audubon stamp. Both have white backgrounds and fit nicely into the harmony of the cover's design. The $10 Snow Goose stamp is a wonderful rendition by Eden Prairie artist Daniel Smith. The bird skims over the serene surface of a woodland pond against a backdrop cf a misty shoreline. All three stamps are tied to the cover with the special one-day cancel.

The trip to Minnesota was enjoyable -- wonderful people at the Post Office, and I especially appreciated the hospitality of Ed, Marilyn and Rich. All three are friendly and professional postal employees, and it was my pleasure to meet them. Every trip has a bottom line, and this time it is another COLLINS Duck Cover -- the 1988 edition -- that you will be pleased to include in your collection. Item #G1401 - $23.