Z1301

Red-Breasted Grosbeak

Collins Cover Announcement 

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

The hand-painted cachet for this cover is positioned in the center of the cover as is its Saw-Whet Owl counterpart. This FDC is the companion cover for the recently offered Saw-Whet.

Unusual markings make this songbird a beautiful creature. The ruby breast is the dominating feature that makes this bird lovely to observe. In this cachet, I've placed the Grosbeak among vines of wild grapes. The resulting color combinations are really nice. Its habitat includes dense woods along rivers, orchards, and gardens, so picturing it with clusters of wild grapes is a fitting pose.

The Owl stamp was issued at the same time so I've included both on this FDC. They are tied to the cover with the Arlington, Virginia First Day postmark.

As an added touch, a bunch of grapes hanging fron a leafy vine is the subject of a mini-cachet that is included outside of the main cachet area. A nice cover completing the Saw-Whet/Grosbeak pair. COLLINS #Z1301. $8.00.

Summer 2020 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 11 Y1301 and Z1301 — Saw-Whet Owl and Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 5-28-88

This is an unusual two-cover set that is crisp and attractive. Each cover has both of the stamps — each with its own first day postmark. The Y1301 cachet has the distinctive and diminutive saw-whet owl perched atop a pine tree, and the Z1301 has the beautiful and solitary rose-breasted grosbeak sitting in a vineyard amid clusters of grapes. On both covers, the hand painted framed cachet is in the center of the envelope with a stamp and cancel flanking it on each side. The owl has a cachet vignette of pine needles and cones while the grosbeak has a vignette of grapes.