A2802B

Department of the Air Force

50th Anniversary - Four F16 Falcons - Elmendorf AFB - Collector Cancelled

Collins Cover Announcement 

A Unique Collins First Day Cover With All Proceeds Going to

The American First Day Cover Society

Priced at only $1.00 each or six for $5.00

United States Air Force

50th Anniversary

Nationwide First Day Release - September18,1997

For a long time the Society has requested that I produce a self-service cover for them to be used as a fund raiser. On one hand I've always wanted to do this but on the other hand I've never offered unserviced covers and wanted to maintain this policy. At this moment in my cachetmaking history several factors have come together to make this the one and only time that I will do such a cachet. Please read carefully the following points that I wish to make about this special Collins cover.

1. Collins cachets have become one of the most prestigious and most desirable of all First Day Covers. It is considered an honor to be requested to do a cachet for the American First Day Cover Society. I have declined in the past because I do not do self-service FDCs. Now, however, the Air Force nationwide release issue gives me the opportunity to create a special item. It is fitting that Collins Cachets be represented with those that have been done in the past for the Society. The fact that they will be "out there" will be another enhancement in the growing reputation of Collins Cachets and Collins collections.

2. On September 18th the new Air Force stamp will be released nationwide. You will be able to purchase it in your local community and obtain local Day of Issue postmarks on a Collins Cover. This attractive cachet is printed in three colors - red, blue, and black. It is a one-time opportunity because I will never produce an unserviced cachet again.

3. I will be offering a hand-painted serviced version of this cachet in the usual manner after the issue date. This means that you do not have to purchase the unserviced cachet to have it in your collection. You only need to do so if you would like to obtain your own cancels and/or would like to support the Society's fund raiser. I will be assigning a Collins number to my hand-painted version with a footnote explaining the prestigious background of this special Collins cachet and that unserviced, unpainted cachets were offered to collectors. I will not offer unpainted serviced covers for this issue.

4. I donated 100% of the artwork and the printing costs to the Society. What this means is that every penny of the proceeds from the sale of these unserviced Collins Covers at only one dollar each and six for five dollars will go directly to benefit the Society. This printed Collins cachet is very crisp and attractive. It shows a flight of four F-16 Falcon Jet Aircraft. They are shown in their actual colors of red, white, and blue. The text style is a nice script, and it indicates that this is the 50th Anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. A red, white, and blue banner provides the backdrop for the dates 1947 to 1997. The Air Force Seal is prominently displayed as is my Collins logo. Perhaps most importantly, this cover has the official logo of the American First Day Cover Society. It is the one time that it will ever appear on a Collins cachet.

A very unusual combination of factors brought this self-service Collins Cover into being.

a. It was an honor to have my cachet commissioned by the Society, and its existence will be a

further enhancement to the reputation of Collins Covers.

b. The Air Force issue holds special meaning to me as we are a three-generation Air Force

family spanning the pre-1947 years and post 1997 years. My Dad was a B-17 waist gunner in the Army Air Corps during World War II. I was in the First Air Commando Group, U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam. My son, Tim, is currently on Flight Status in the Air Force, and his service Anniversary date is September 18th - the Day of Issue for this new stamp.

c. The production costs of this unserviced cachet were donated by me to the Society. All proceeds from the sale of the self-service variety of this cover will go to the American First Day Cover Society.

d. The fact that this is a "nationwide release" on Day of Issue means that each collector can easily

obtain the new stamp and get it canceled on September 18th.

e. Later on Twill offer a hand-painted version of this cachet in the usual manner. This will be the cover that is assigned the Collins number. You do not have to obtain these self-service envelopes to acquire this cachet.

I feel good about doing this project. It helps the Society and it is another positive achievcement in the on-going history of Collins Cachets. Also, since it is the one and only time Twill do a selfservice cover, it's a unique opportunity for my collectors to create some special items meaningful to themselves. Please note that these covers will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. I do reserve the right to limit amounts per collector if necessary. Please order quickly as I expect a quick sell out plus I need the time to get back to you in time for September 18th. Price is $1.00 each or six for $5.00 plus postage.

Text From

Collins Hand Painted First Day Covers

The First 20 Years - 1978 - 1997

My Friend Chris Lazaroff is on the AFDCS Board of Directors and also is responsible for Society cachet production. He had been asking me to donate a cachet for some time, and, finally the Air Force issue provided me with the opportunity to accept his invitation.

I felt that my collectors should have a Collins cachet that was AFDCS sactioned with their logo a required part of the design. Also, my family history is entwined with the Air Force making it the "right" issue. The national release was also a factor since collectors nationwide could pursue local postmarks. They had the opportunity to purchase the blank covers from the society or me prior to the issue date. Finally I knew that I would offer a hand painted cachet with a U.S. Air Force Academy, CO First Day cancel, This would be the one that my collectors would need to fill the A2802 slot in their collections.

The cachets were printed in red, blue, and black. I think the story of this cover, done for the benefit of the American First Day Cover Society, is an interesting aspect of the Collins story and my involment with the Air Force issue.