J2001

Space Accomplishments

Cosmonaut, Astronaut, U.S. Space Shuttle / Astronaut, Russian Space Station / Sputnik, Vostok, ApolloCommand & Lunar Modules / Soyuz, Mercury & Gemini Spacecraft

Collins Cover Announcement

UNITED STATES/SOVIET UNION JOINT ISSUE

Space Efforts - Block of Four

This COLLINS FDC has an appearance all its own -- a little different from my usual covers. It basically consists of two rectangles -- the cachet to the left and the block of four stamps to the right. What makes this an interesting cover with a different "look" is the heavy use of blues and black as the dominant colors highlighted with various colors such as golds, pinks, rusts, greens, and others. Also, the designs of both cachet and stamps are a feast of detail. Each has a Soviet cosmonaut and United States astronaut. Each has a wide array of various and detailed American and Russian spacecraft.

The centerpiece of the block of four stamps design is the moon with earth below. Through the space around these two heavenly bodies, spacecraft and satellites zoom in orbit while hands are extended in friendship during a spacewalk. The centerpiece of my hand-painted cachet is the shuttle blasting off from the Kennedy Space Center. Flanking it are portraits of a cosmonaut and a helmeted U.S. astronaut with the earth reflecting on his closed visor. As with the stamp design, my cachet depicts a varied group of spacecraft.

The pictorial First Day postmark really adds the finishing touch to this great cover. It shows our globe with both the United States and the former Soviet Union visible. (A little history captured there.) Orbiting the globe is an American space shuttle in the foreground. Text in the cancel says "Chicago, IL., USA" and "Moscow, Russia" along with the date and "First Day of Issue". The placement of the First Day of Issue type acts as a natural division between the cachet and block of stamps.

A very appropriate and attractive tone has been achieved in this space topical COLLINS First Day Cover. It will always be one of the recognizable and hunted items within the hobby, and I am proud to present it for your collection. Item #J2001. $11.75