O1601s

Christmas Religious

Madonna & Child by Caracci

Fred Collins Signature

Collins Cover Announcement 

CHRISTMAS - RELIGIOUS

1989

This was a special day as my eleven year old daughter Amanda accompanied me on her first trip to assist me with a stamp issue. We had a great day, flying down to Washington, D.C. on the earliest Trump Shuttle. The weather was a little dismal but our spirits were high. Mandy is very enthusiastic when tackling any project and this one was no exception.

In Washington it was a quick turn-around. A cab to the main Post Office to purchase the stamps and then back to the Airport. While we waited for our American Eagle commuter flight to Allentown Airport, we licked and sticked. We continued to do the covers on board. In Allentown, we rented a car and drove to the Bethlehem Post Office.

In the past, I've used the tremendous "Wisemen on Camels" pictorial cancel. This year there was another cancel with the Christmas star and a gigantic bullseye. This is the postmark I decided on and it is very nice with the bullseye -- silver dollar size -- reading "Christmas City Station -- Bethlehem, PA".

The hand-painted cachet is precious. A young girl kneels by her bed to say her evening prayers. A colorful quilt covers her bed and curled up on it is a pet kitten. Mandy loves our two cats dearly and fosters much affection on them. The curled up cachet cat is painted to be our own "Mittens". Colorful toys are scattered on the floor, a miniature Christmas tree adorns a side table and a cheerful candle casts a warm glow on this Christmas scene.

This is a wonderful FDC and it will always afford me a wonderful memory as the first that Mandy and I did together. 

Item #01601 - $7.50.

Winter 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 17 01601 — Christmas Religious stamp with Praying Child cachet — 10-19-89

The hand painted cachet on this first day cover is precious. A young girl kneels by her bed to say her evening prayers. A colorful quilt covers her bed, and curled up on it is a pet kitten. Colorful toys are scattered on the floor, a miniature Christmas tree adorns a side table, and a cheerful candle casts a warm glow on this Christmas scene. One of my daughters accompanied me on this trip, and after picking up the stamps we flew to Pennsylvania where we rented a car and drove to the Bethlehem Post Office — after licking and sticking the stamps onto the envelopes during our flight. The cancel we selected for the covers is a star and gigantic bullseye that reads "Christmas City Station, Bethlehem, PA." It's a very sweet cover with lots of hand painted details and fond memories of the day.