P1504s

Steamboats

Washington, 1816

Fred Collins Signature

Collins Cover Announcement 

EARLY STEAMBOATS 

"Washington - 1816"

This is the fifth and final COLLINS FDC for the popular Early Steamboat issue. This is another cover that exhibits the "soft look" of watercolor art. In this hand-painted cachet, the bank of the Mississippi River is a hub of activity. A family enjoys the spring day with a picnic -- the father fishing, a toddler chasing a butterfly, and the mother preparing lunch on the grassy shore. In the background, another couple seeks a little solitude to enjoy the peaceful afternoon. The small boats by which they reached this secluded spot are pulled up on the land at water's edge.

With twin stacks blowing smoke in to the sky and a mighty blast of the ship's whistle, the steamboat "Washington" churns by in the middle of the river. In this era of the dawn of the Age of Steam, a passage such as this was a sight to behold. The paint colors chosen coordinate nicely with those in the stamp which has a New Orleans First Day cancel.

In case you missed any or all of the previous covers in this set, they are listed here:

P1501 - Phoenix   $ 7.50 

P1502 - Experiment   7.25 

P1503 - New Orleans   7.25 

P1504 - Washington   7.25 

P1501 - Walk in the Water   7.25

It's nice to see this set come to its conclusion. My trip to New Orleans on Issue Date was a good one and I like the way the cachets came out. This set and the one for the Early Locomotives (C1301) really give a nostalgic look back to the days in our country when travel was quite an adventure.

The Early Steamboat "Washington" - COLLINS #P1404. $7.25.