I2001

Voyages of Columbus

Columbus in Sight of Land

Collins Cover Announcement 

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 

500TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 

Sixteen stamp souvenir sheet set

High values: Includes six "high value" stamps ($5, $4, $3, $2, $1, and .50). Unprecedented in the history of COLLINS First Day Covers -- an extraordinary opportunity that should not be missed.

Dear Collector,

Five centuries ago this summer Christopher Columbus sailed forth on his first voyage to the then unknown New World. Five hundred years! That is an anniversary worth celebrating by the issuance of new stamps and the United States Postal Service has made, in my opinion, a fantastic decision to re-issue the fabled 16 stamp "Columbian issue of 1893".

A century ago the United States issued a magnificent set of sixteen stamps at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Virtually all stamp collectors know that these "Columbians" are among the most sought after of all U.S. postage stamps. They are as follows:

$ .01 - In Sight of Land

$ .02 - Landing of Columbus 

$ .03 - Flagship 

$ .04 - Fleet of Columbus 

$ .05 - Soliciting Aid 

$ .06 - At Barcelona 

$ .08 - Restored to Favor 

$ .10 - Presenting Natives 

$ .15 - Discovery 

$ .30 - At La Rabida 

$ .50 - Recall of Columbus 

$1.00 - Pledging Jewels 

$2.00 - Columbus in Chains 

$3.00 - Describing 3rd Voyage 

$4.00 - Isabella and Columbus 

$5.00 - Portrait of Columbus

I think that a re-issue in this 500th celebration year is a superb idea so that all of us can have these 1992 versions of the exact original designs in our collections. To find in a sixteen-stamp set values of fifty cents, one dollar, two dollars, three dollars, four dollars, and five dollars is the rarest of rare opportunities and not likely to reoccur in our lifetimes. Accordingly, this is the proverbial "chance of a lifetime" and I urge you to obtain at least one set with the modest monthly payment plan. As you know, since 1978 I have never urged that my covers be bought for speculation but with the number of high value covers included in this set, here is an opportunity that should not be missed. Enough said.

I plan to obtain an excellent First Day cancel that will be worthy of this wonderful COLLINS set. Look at my record with past and current sets.

• The "State Bird and Flower" set was issued in Washington, D.C. and only the COLLINS FDCs have Audubon postmarks.

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• The "President Souvenir Sheets" were issued in Chicago and only the COLLINS FDCs have the "Whitehouse", N.J. postmark.

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• The CAPEX Wildlife set has the Toronto "Eagle and Beaver" pictorial cancel, and I had to be there on Issue Date to obtain it for my set.

• The "World Exposition" set contains only in-person, Day of Issue cancels obtained on Days of Issue. I know of no other cachetmaker with all of these super cancels.

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• I can now proudly announce that my 1991 World War II Covers (to be shipped soon) have a superb "Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Navy Station" First Day postmark obtained only by COLLINS and only on these WWII FDCs by flying them to Honolulu on Day of Issue.

My commitment for this Christopher Columbus set will continue in the tradition of the cancels obtained for the above sets.

Speaking of tradition, my hand-painted cachets for this set of 16 COLLINS Covers will be the best I can make them. The subject matter of Columbus on his quest of discovery is great, and I promise you that my cachets will do justice to this fine set of stamps.

So, there it is. Sixteen marvelous stamps including six "high values" based on the historic 1893 Columbians. With these stamps I'll enhance their First Day status with a meaningful and related First Day postmark that you'll love. Finally, each of the sixteen covers will have a distinct and different hand-painted "entire" COLLINS cachet. It is a recipe for a First Day Cover feast.

Please return the enclosed reservation forms right away. for my WWII set, some collectors missed the deadline and ended up

on a waiting list. Some of them were fortunate to get a set, but others are still waiting. Please do not miss the deadline. Your deposit includes the cost of the stamps ($16.34) plus the first month's payment. I look forward to hearing from you

soon. Thanks.

Regards,

P.S. Even though I've mentioned it several times above, I want to stress -closing the importance of the face values of the stamps in this issue. FDCs with "dollar stamps" are always premium items. It boggles the mind to comprehend that this set of sixteen COLLINS Covers will feature five dollar, four dollar, three dollar, two dollar, and one dollar items. Honest to goodness, it is the "opportunity of a lifetime". Upon receipt of your reservation form, I will acknowledge it and send a schedule for the 15 remaining monthly payments.