Z1601

Space Station & Shuttle

First Hologram Stamp

Winter 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 31 Z1601 — First U.S. Hologram stamp on long envelope (An image that appears to be three dimensional) — 12-3-89

This is an amazing Collins cover, and I invite you to consider all of the elements that combine to make this such an exciting first day cover. Since it is a number ten envelope, there was room to achieve all the components of orbital flight. The objective of this cachet was to show the linkage of the U.S. astronaut and the Russian cosmonaut. The hand painted cachet shows the two men greeting each other. To the lower right, the two space capsules are shown, and at upper edge, Mother Earth dominates.

Since this hologram was issued at the massive, U.S. Expo Stamp Show, I also created a customized Collins logo just for items issued there. The stamp has a fantastic day of issue pictorial first day of issue circular postmark and the usual Collins logo. The total visual impact of this cover achieves the "WOW" factor.