K301

Sequoyah

Created the Cherokee Syllabary

Collins Cover Announcement 

SEQUOYAH

Arriving in Tulsa, Oklahoma the evening before the First Day, I settled down in anticipation of the next day's activities. Before dawn, I left the city's skyline behind and headed through the countryside toward Tahlequah. For the second First Day in a row, fog was a factor although this time it was a heavy morning mist. About half way to Tahlequah, out of the mist, six stray horses galloped across the road in front of me. At the Post Office, it was a little before opening time, and I thoroughly enjoyed a chat with a retired Army officer/collector who was originally from Franklin, PA.

After servicing the covers at Tahlequah, I headed for my unofficial city, Broken Arrow. On the way I passed, by chance, Sequoyah State Park. With hope of a "Sequoyah" cancel I took an unplanned detour to the Park lodge. Unfortunately the park did not have its own postal facility so no cancel, but I did get to see the beautiful scenery. On to Broken Arrow where clear, bold unofficial cancels were added to the covers.

The dignified cachet shows the Cherokee Sequoyah against a backdrop of the written alphabet he invented. It's hand painted in watercolors and compliments the stamps very well.

Item No. K301 - "First Day of Issue" hand cancel at Tahlequah. Unofficial cancel from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on additional single, $4.95.

Spring 2017 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 6 K301 — Sequovah 

He was a famous Native American chief who devised the Cherokee alphabet. This was a popular cover, and it sold out very quickly. A single is canceled at Tahlequah, OK with the official first day of issue slogan postmark. A second stamp has a beautiful magenta first day postmark from Broken Arrow, OK. The hand painted cachet has a colorful portrait of Sequoyah with his alphabet as a backdrop. The story of my trip to service this cover appears on book pages 206 and 207