M1301s

Ratification of the Constitution

Massachusetts

Fred Collins Signature

Collins Cover Announcement 

MASSACHUSETTS STATEHOOD

Shown in the hand-painted cachet is a map of Cape Cod flanked by Nantucket Sound and Cape Cod Bay. Also, sea related are the "Mayflower" of Pilgrim fame and the lobster which is the wildlife species for this cachet.

Alexander Graham Bell's fabulous invention, the telephone is represented, as are shoes -- symbols of the importance of manufacturing in Massachusetts and throughout New England. Finally, a minuteman stands at the ready with his musket, and the Indian chief Massasoit (the state's namesake) stands with a peace-pipe.

The hand-painted lettering and the cachet border are done in a crimson red -- very eye-catching and coordinated with a Harvard University banner in the cachet.

As with the other Statehood covers, this one has two stamps and cancels. One is canceled officially in Boston, Massachusetts, and the other is canceled on the Day of Issue in Philadelphia with the Colonial style postmark from the historic Franklin Post Office.

A fine FDC for the Bicentennial of Massachusetts. Item #M1301 - $7.75.

Spring 2021 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 1 4 M1301 — Bicentennial of Massachusetts Statehood — 2/6/88

This cover is the result of a project I embarked on over thirty years ago for the Bicentennial stamps issued for each of the original 13 states. I endeavored to not only get the official postmark in each state on issue date but then to travel back to Philadelphia on the same day to secure the fantastic "B. Free Franklin" pictorial cancel done in the Colonial format at the Historic Post Office on Market Street. The bottom line is that I completed all 13 covers, and I consider it a major accomplishment. It is a Collins exclusive. This Massachusetts hand painted cachet contains a map of the coast including Cape Cod, the Minuteman Statue, a pennant from Harvard, shoes representing industrial manufacturing, Old Ironsides, a lobster, a telephone, and a Native American. It is enclosed by a bright red hand painted border. The same red was used to paint the large letters in "Bicentennial" and "Statehood" at the upper left. What an eye-catcher this cover is! The new stamp at the lower left has the bullseye day of issue postmark from Boston. The stamp at the upper right is tied to the envelope with the awesome B. Free Franldin signature day of issue cancel from Philadelphia. The only way to have accomplished this was to have acquired the stamps in Boston earlier in the day.