T2001

Minerals

Azurite

Collins Cover Announcement 

MINERALS - AZURITE

With this offering of my Azurite (T2001) cover, the set of four mineral COLLINS FDCs will be complete. I would like to say a few words about this set because it typifies the thought, effort, and execution that goes into each and every one of my cover projects. First and foremost, let me give you a brief description of T2001.

The familiar hammer used by geologists and amateur rock hounds lies on a wood board floor. Flanking the hammer are pieces of azurite--a very attractive mineral with turquoise blue center and green outer layer or shell. The pieces are split open showing the core of the samples and it is, indeed, a very attractive hand-painted cachet which complements very nicely the new stamp with similar coloring. The stamp has a strong First Day cancellation from Rock Hill, New York.

And now, a few of my observations. Ideally, I would like you to save this sheet and reread it with the four covers displayed together in a square on a table in front of you with azurite at upper left, wulfenite at upper right, variscite at lower left, and copper at lower right. The first thing you will notice is that each of the stamps is on a different corner of the respective covers providing balance while at the same time offering a different location for each cachet providing a path away from sameness.

The First Day postmarks "make" this COLLINS set all by themselves. I drove out to Minersville, Pennsylvania and obtained a traditional black cancel with killer bars. Note the relationship to copper and use of the mined ore to craft various items. Maureen went to Rocky Hill, 1\1 167 Jersey. The bad news is that. the best she could obtain was a very faint dater cancel. The good news is that it is very readable and collectors will realize that success is measured foremost in obtaining basic goals. Anything beyond is icing on the cake. My neighbor Hank went to Rock Hill, New York and Rocky Hill, Connecticut. Both the cancels he obtained were very good quality but the large, magenta bullseye on the variscite is a real treasure. When all is said and done, this COLLINS set provides a philatelic bonanza to the First Day Cover collector. Four "related" Day of Issue postmarks obtained in four different states. Cancels that offer a variety of postmarking devices, a variety of ink colors, a variety of quality and even a variety of visibleness from the faint New Jersey to the sharp New York and Connecticut to the bold Pennsylvania. Put together, a nice cross-section of current Postal Service postmarking examples.

Finally, a word about my cachets. It was difficult to decide where to go with cachet designs for this issue and I finally opted for a step back in time for various minerals certainly share a common bond--they are old. Starting with T2001 (Azurite), I started with the familiar hammer currently in use to gather rock and mineral samples. T2002 (Copper) steps back

a few years to the coppersmith in his workshop. T2003 (Variscite) moves back the hands of time to a day when early man roamed the earth. And, finally, T2004 (Wulfenite) presents a cachet from the Age of the Dinosaur. The COLLINS Mineral set takes one from prehistoric times to the modern day.

While the four covers are still on the table in front of you, just take a moment or two to exercise, in the words of FDC pioneer and expert Earl Planty, "cover appreciation". Examine them closely. Savor them. Note details you may have missed before. Rediscover the fun in the hobby.

It is probably a fair conclusion that my mineral covers, everything considered, would be judged the best set made for this issue. This is the commitment that I make in producing COLLINS First Day Covers so that you and others will have an on-going collection that will provide enjoyment now and for those that follow us in the future. Item #T2001. Azurite.