F1602s

Moon Landing

20th Anniversary

Fred Collins Signature

Collins Cover Announcement 

PRIORITY MAIL STAMP

20th Anniversary - Moon Landing

High Value - $2.40

The cachet subject for this COLLINS cover is an interesting story. I knew that I wanted to do two covers -- one with an official cancel and one with an unofficial cancel. My first objective was to decide on the cachet subject matter. I knew that one would be space related of the landing itself being portrayed. This was done on the previously offered F1601 with the Landing, New Jersey unofficial First Day Cancel (still available at $13.50).

That narrowed it to one remaining cachet. And, my goodness, what a difficult decision it was to be. A second space cachet offered all sorts of possibilities. But, I expanded my thinking to the moon itself and how man has pondered its existence down through the centuries. All kinds of "moon" thoughts permeated my brain. Ancient Greek and Roman moon gods. Nursery rhymes such as "the old man in the moon" and "the cow jumped over the moon." Songs such as "Moon Over Miami" and "Harvest Moon." The moon affecting the tides. Science fiction regarding the moon. On and on the ideas flowed. But, finally one theme captured my imagination. The moon as a romantic symbol. I knew that my cachet subjects would be a girl and a boy -- a woman and a man. But where to place them. In a boat on a lake? On a back porch swing? Finally I decided -- a parked convertible. Where would it be? The site I chose was in California overlooking San Francisco and the Bay Bridge from the Oakland side. A startling contrast of the ageless combination of sky, moon, and water now viewed in a modern technological setting of steel, concrete and electricity. It is twilight and the sky is a deep blue. The full moon hovers above the San Francisco skyline and casts its reflection on the waters of the Bay. The bridge is two tier with cars on each level traveling in opposite directions. The convertible is seen in lavendar tones of twilight time. The tail-fins are the high type of the 50's and early 60's. The couple huddles in the front seat looking at the moon. Enjoying the moment. Dreaming about the future. Moonstruck.

A few short months after this cover was designed and produced, the devastating earthquake hit the Bay area. Buildings crumbled.

Portions of the Bay Bridge so prominent in my cachet collapsed.

Little did I realize that the serenity of nature in my moonlit night would be replaced by the violence of nature with the California Quake of '89 in that exact spot. Sombering.

The $2.40 high value stamp is officially canceled at Washington, D.C. The dreams and aspirations of man as he has gazed at the moon and beyond has carried him to that close neighbor and soon will carry him beyond. This cover (and F1601) combine the elements of aspirations and accomplishments in celebrating the 20th Anniversary of man's first trip to the moon. Item #F1602 - $11.50.

Winter 2020 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 18 F1601, F1602 — First Moon Landing — (7-20-89)

This lot has much going for it, and I am pleased to offer both of these Collins first day covers. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo Lunar Module "Eagle" piloted by Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon's surface. On July 21st Commander Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon. Nineteen minutes later, Aldrin joined him. President John F. Kennedy's stated goal of landing on the moon before decade's end had been accomplished The "01" shows Armstrong saluting the planted American flag. The "Eagle" sits nearby as the earth is visible in the black sky of space. The large, high value $2.40 stamp depicts both astronauts planting the flag. I obtained the perfect day of issue cancel from "Landing," New Jersey, The "02" shows a couple in a high-fm convertible viewing the New York City skyline with a full moon overhead. The new lunar priority mail stamp is tied to the envelope with the first day of issue bullseye postmark from Washington, D.C. I believe that this is the first time these two covers have been offered in one of my sales.