R1301

America the Beautiful

Buffalo Bill

Collins Cover Announcement 

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL POSTCARD 

and

BUFFALO BILL - 15-CENT FAMOUS AMERICAN SERIES

A "Dual" First Day Cover

A buffalo roams the western plains with lodgepole pine forests in the distance. Beyond, the slate blue peaks of the Rocky Mountains rise from the earth to meet the golden sky of a Wyoming sunset. This was the content of the stamp area of the

"America the Beautiful - Plains" postcard issued in March in Wyoming. Thrilled with the acceptance by collectors of my first postcards -- Timberline -- and armed with the knowledge that more "America the Beautiful" postcards lay ahead -- I decided to do this issue. Weighing heavily in my decision was the prominent buffalo shown on the stamp and knowing that William Cody -- "Buffalo Bill -- was to be issued a few months hence. The possibilities were incredible to combine the two First Day of Issues into one quality COLLINS FDC.

First step was to acquire the postcards on March 28th. To establish them as "true" First Days, a bullseye with killer bars was obtained from Buffalo, Wyoming. With just this fine cancel tying the Buffalo and Plains stamp to the postcard, it was already a worthwhile collectible.

The next step was creating an appropriate hand-painted cachet that would lend itself to both the postcard stamp and the still

to be issued "Buffalo Bill Cody".

My cachet coordinates the elements of the postcard stamp. The glorious sunset sky. The Rocky Mountain range. But...instead of a lone bull bison grazing on a serene prairie, my cachet captures a thundering herd of buffalo as they stampede across the plains. In the distance, a train can be seen to symbolize both the imminent encroachment of "civilization" and the train crews for which William Cody was contracted to feed -- with buffalo steaks. It was thus he became known throughout the United States as Buffalo Bill. Finally, a full-length portrait of Cody, attired in his plains buckskin outfit and holding his rifle, puts the finishing touch on the cachet. Watercolors used in the painting were chosen to coordinate with the shades in the postcard stamp. Now, instead of a "worthwhile" cover, a truly fine FDC was ready to be collected. But...the final

touch was yet to be added.

For my Buffalo Bill Cody cover (A1401 at $8.50) with the already acclaimed triple cancel, I knew that Bill, Wyoming would be an important stop. I concluded my plans for this postcard by adding a Buffalo Bill Cody 15-cent Famous American

stamp on its First Day of Issue (June 6th) and having it postmarked at the unofficial city of Bill, Wyoming. It, too, is a black bullseye with killer bars. The card with Buffalo, Wyoming unofficial cancel was in itself a worthwhile collectible. Once the hand-painted cachet was completed,it became a fine item, indeed. Ultimately, with the addition of the William Cody stamp on its First Day and the securement of the Bill, Wyoming unofficial postmark, it had become an outstanding FDC. Featuring a double First Day of Issue with the "Buffalo Bill" cancels and the action-packed hand-painted cachet, this is one you won't want to miss. Item #R1301. $7.25