T4001

Scenic American Landscapes

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Collins Cover Announcement 

Great Smokey Mountains National Park

High -value 75¢ Stamp

Red Wolf

This rare United States animal makes its first appearance on a United States stamp. Smaller than the familiar gray wolf but larger than the coyote, the red wolf s coat consists predominantly of red hairs on the legs interspersed with gray and a few black hairs on the rest of the body. It is usually nocturnal and makes its den -along stream banks, under stumps, or in hollow logs. Its diet consists of birds, rodents, and rabbits, but it will also hunt the white-tail deer. In the 1970s, the U.S. Forest Service trapped some individuals for a captive breeding program to save the species from extinction. Currently that program continues, and small populations have been released in Florida, South Carolina, and Mississippi. The biggest group of wild red wolves, however, continues to be in North Carolina where the habitat is perfect for their survival.

My hand painted cachet shows one of the handsome wolves in a woodland meadow with the slopes of the Great Smokey Mountains in the background. The watercolors in the cachet combined with the fine colorization of the stamp result in a very fine wildlife First Day Cover.

This is the third and final cover in this mini-series of high-value National Park stamps. Previously offered and still available are Bryce Canyon with a magnificent mountain lion cachet and Yosemite with a majestic golden eagle chosen as my wildlife artwork. Make sure you have all three as they are sure to be actively sought-after items in the years ahead. I'm pleased to offer the elusive, rare, and beautiful red wolf. Collins #U4001 — $13.75.