Z1401

Christmas

One-horse Open Sleigh

Collins Cover Announcement 

1988 CHRISTMAS - CONTEMPORARY

To those who like to document interesting occurrences relating to their collections , this COLLINS FDC is unique and all odds say I ' ll never have another like it. This October 20 , 1988 was serviced during an earthquake ! And  the epicenter was actually in the First Day City of Berlin, New Hampshire with tremors being felt two hundred miles away.

Since the First Day was relatively close to home but still necessitating an "over-nighter" , I decided to take my youngest son Ryan, age 9 , to "assist" me . It was his first cover trip, and it was fun for just the two of us to get away together .

Our motel was in Gorham and after breakfast on the morning of the 20th , it was a short drive up to Berlin. We purchased the new Christmas stamps and drove to a local coffee shop where I began putting them on the covers . After a short time I heard a loud rumble and the table began to rock. My first thought was a large piece of machinery must be in the basement. Then I looked over to where Ryan was sitting and he and his chair were shaking. Right then I knew EARTHQUAKE which was the farthest thing from my mind on a crisp fall New England morning in New Hampshire. Immeditely my thought was of a potential building collapse and I was about to grab Ryan and head for the door when the quiet returned. It was over in about twenty seconds , but those seconds will forever live in our memories . I finished putting on the stamps and we headed out to our "unofficial" First Day cancel .

Wanting to take advantage of a stamp being issued in beautiful and largely unspoiled New Hampshire , I searched for a cancel that would fit both the state and the Christmas theme . The result was a wonderful cancel from Northwood, NH, and it proves that these COLLINS covers were actually serviced on Day of Issue .

Finally comes the hand-painted cachet, and it is different from all of my previous Christmas FDCs . I picked up on the "Grandma Moses" type style of the stamp design and carried this style to the cachet. A New England homestead is in the grip of winter , but activity abounds . A one-horse sleigh glides over the snow

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as the couple anticipates a warm fire in the large, twinchimneyed farmhouse. The family dog happily trails behind the green sleigh. Noting the arrival, two youngsters take a break from their ice-skating on the farm pond. At the far edge of the pond, a team of oxen drags a timber loaded skid over a stone bridge. On the opposite side of the farmyard, a barn and surrounding area is alive with activity. Children playing with a sled, a girl gathering eggs, and an assortment of pigs, chickens, and a milk cow enjoying the bright sunny day. I've entitled the scene "White Christmas" and the artistic style expands on the design of the stamp.

Upon our return home, Ryan confided that he enjoyed sharing the stamp trip but he couldn't wait to Get back to school to tell his friends about the earthquake. I suppose that I could say that this Christmas FDC will be an "earthshattering" addition to your collection or that I would "move" heaven and earth to obtain fine unofficial (real) cancels on Day of Issue. Instead I'll just mention that this is a colorful and different COLLINS cover. Of course, servicing this cover with my young son in beautiful and inspiring New Hampshire was a "moving" experience. Item #Z1401. $7.50