R1702

Indian Headdresses

Assiniboin

Collins Cover Announcement 

INDIAN WAR BONNETS 

We gathered around the dinner table in Cody, Wyoming. The four of us, about 2,000 miles from home, were enjoying a final few moments of relaxation before starting on a day-long cover project which had been carefully planned and now had to be executed. We had just returned from visiting the charter flight service that we would need the next morning. Everyone knew his job but once again we talked it over.

Skip, a good friend and veteran of the '87 CAPEX Wildlife project, would drive to the south through the Wind River Canyon. His First Day cancel objectives would be Shoshoni and, on the Indian reservation south of the Owl Creek Mountains, the village of Arapahoe. Hank, a good neighbor who has been helping me on some trips, would take the charter flight at dawn to Cheyenne. Once there, he would obtain that unofficial postmark and then strike out to the northwest to the small community of Medicine Bow. Finally, my son Tim and I would head due west from Cody toward Yellowstone and, after obtaining one unofficial, would double back and head due east for another. The master plan was ready but would we be able to pull it off?

At one minute after midnight, the Cody Post Office put the stamps on sale at an all-night restaurant This temporary postal station would only be "open" for 30 to 60 minutes and at the stroke of 12, Tim and Skip picked up the stamps. In the meantime, Hank and I prepared the various covers in neat piles and awaited their return. About 12:20 a.m. they were back and the four of us began to separate the stamps and started to lick and stick. We worked hard and steady -- one by one the various cachets had their designated stamp affixed and finally we were ready for a few restless hours of sleep before sunrise.

As the sky began to lighten we bid 'Good Luck" to Skip as he drove off toward distant Shoshoni Next, Hank was dropped off

for his private flight to Cheyenne. Each had his two covers destined for the desired postmarks. Tim and I had breakfast "on the road" as we headed west past the Buffalo Bill Reservoir, through the Shoshone Canyon, and into the Wapiti Valley. "Wapiti" is the Indian name for Elk and it was at the tiny post office in the settlement of Wapiti that we obtained our first "unofficial" of the day. This was on the same cover that has the official postmark of Cody, so it is a very nice item. After going back through Cody, Tim and I headed east through Greybull where a river of the same name meets the Bighorn River. We then turned south following the Bighorn. A quick sandwich in the hamlet of Ten Sleep (we were now headed east again) preceded our climb up into the mountains of the Bighorn National Forest. It was near Powder River Pass that the mishap occurred. After taking a couple of photos, I was climbing over a metal fence when the camera slipped from my grasp As I grabbed for it I lost my balance, fell, and put a nice sized gash in my leg. The pain was intense and my first thought was "How can I continue to drive with my right leg almost useless. A sinking feeling quickly set in as I realized that our final objective was in real jeopardy.

After stopping the bleeding I gathered myself and determined that I would just "tough it out". We headed down out of the mountains and the leg really hurt. I had to take it easy for safety's sake. Once back to civilization, I stopped at a pharmacy for some antiseptic and bandages. After that brief stop and a cold juice I felt measurably better. Soon we reached our final destination -- the Post Office at Buffalo, Wyoming. It can definitely be said that the fine quality of the cancel (plus the passage of time) made my leg feel better. One by one the covers were serviced and the goal became a reality. After getting the great postmarks completed we headed north toward Sheridan where on the outskirts we observed a huge herd of pronghorn antelope. The leg was feeling much better so we headed west over the Bighorn Mountains. As we zigzaged our way up the steep switchback road, the view back toward Sheridan was breathtaking as we climbed higher and higher. Crossing the mountain meadows at dusk we saw numerous mule deer. It was then down through Shell Canyon and the final leg back to Cody. Tim and I felt good as we rolled into the motel parking lot. Our "First Days" had excellent quality cancels and even the leg was feeling pretty good. At lights out, our final comments were wondering how Skip and Hank had made out.

The next day we all met up again at the Denver Airport for our journey home. The news was good. Skip had obtained the Shoshoni and Arapahoe cancels. Hank had gotten excellent postmarks from Medicine Bow and Cheyenne. Each of us was glad that the others had been successful and that the overall project had gone so well.

I did a distinctive set of five covers -- one for each of the stamps. A mounted war chief sits on his pony and watches the smoke signals floating upward from a forested valley. The sunset sky bathes the distant foothills in dazzling color. The chief is impressive as his headdress sports a long tail of feathers. A mini-cachet complementing the major scene depicts a hunting knife and sheath. The Cheyenne stamp is on this FOC and, of course, the unofficial (real) First Day cancel is from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

An Indian artist sits outside a large teepee and carefully paints symbols and figures on a decorated hide. You will love the detailed work on this cachet. Two children, a teen and a toddler, watch and admire as the artist goes about his work. Fringed buckskin clothing and a cluster of village teepees give this scene a very authentic look. The separate mini-cachet enlarges a few figurines as a mounted brave pursues a buffalo. The Shoshoni, Wyoming cancel appears on this cover.

On the third cover, mounted Indian squaws pull travois across the prairie. The travois was a pole-supported platform used by the Plains Indians to move their belongings. The foremost Indian mother clutches a papoose in her arms. Two light-hearted touches are the children hitching a ride on the travois and also a dog pulling his own mini-version. The small cachet shows a fancy quiver. A Flathead stamp is affixed to this FOC and the cancel is from Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

High on a rocky out-crop, two braves scout an enemy camp. Far below them, seven tents in a circle formation make up the peaceful village. Smoke from a cook-fire is slightly visible as it drifts upward in the morning air. The braves wear leggings and carry as weapons bow and arrows. A multi-colored dawn sky creates an interesting mood for this cachet. The mini-cachet shows a pair of moccasins. The Commanche stamp is postmarked at Arapahoe, Wyoming actually located on the Wind River Indian Reservation which is a very nice present-day link to the Plains Indians.

The fifth and final cover of the set of individuals shows a buffalo hunt in progress. A herd stampedes in headlong flight over the plains. A galloping horseman astride a white pony is ready to thrust his lance at the lead bull. Further back, a warrior draws back his bow and is about ready to let an arrow fly toward its target. In the foreground is a very dramatic scene as a brave on a rearing horse is about to spear a downed buffalo. This is an action-packed cachet that you will really appreciate. A war club is pictured in the mini-cachet. The Assiniboine is the stamp on this cover and the postmark is a very pretty Buffalo, Wyoming cancel.

A word should be mentioned about the type style used on this set of covers. It is very bold and really does a fine job of making each one notable and attractive. Right down to the type style, these covers were designed to be the finest for the issue.

The Wapiti cover with all five stamps will be offered in the next cycle.

EPILOGUE 

Long before a Day of Issue arrives cachets must be researched and designed. No easy task. This set of six Plains Indian cachets captures the people of the region in various poses and activities of their time. Planning for the real (unofficial) First Day postmarks is always a chore. You are working against the closing time clock for eac post office. Then there is the actual trip -- in this case four people to the wide open spaces of Wyoming. There is the pressure of "getting the job done" on the First Day of Issue. And then, there are the many hours of solitude spent in painting the cachets. In each step of cover production, the concentration necessary for quality control is a

constant companion.

You now know some of the personal history of this set. The covers traveled 2,000 miles to get there and 2,000 miles to return. They traveled hundreds of miles on the issue date to get postmarked. Through places like the Bighorn Mountains and Greybull. Through the Wind River Indian Reservation and the Wapiti Valley. Through the city streets of Cheyenne and between the boundaries of the Medicine Bow National Forest. And, in a small private plane taking off from a Cody airstrip at dawn with the sole purpose of obtaining philatelic gems.

It is with a sense of accomplishment that "our team" offers you the best set done for this issue. The Plains Indian Headdress issue, COLLINS Number R1702-R1706 Set of five. $47.50.