P5101

Tufted Puffin

Also Known as Crested Puffin

Collins Cover Announcement 

Tufted Puffin

High-Value 86¢ Stamp

Puffins are beautiful small seabirds that are found along the northern reaches of both American coasts. They breed on cliffs along the shoreline or on offshore islands. Puffins feed on fish by diving into the ocean waters, and their beaks become brightly colored during- the mating season. There are three varieties of puffins, and I seized upon this opportunity to show all three on this superb individually hand painted cachet.

The truly distinctive tufted puffin is the type shown on the stamp, and the cover has a bold, large frontal depiction of this magnificent bird. They are found on the West Coast from northern California to Alaska. Long tufts extend from above each eye backwards, making them easy to distinguish from other puffins.

Also shown on this wildlife cachet are the other two varieties of this bird. The horned is found in the same western habitat as the tufted while the Atlantic puffin inhabits coastal Maine and up into eastern Canada. All three species have dark feathers with some white plumage, and their short wings are adapted for swimming_ and flying_ underwater as well as swift flight above the ocean's surface.

Based on recent history of wildlife offerings (Birds of Prey and Glacier National Park), I think this cover could sell out quite quickly. This watercolored cachet has vivid visual impact, and I'm pleased to offer my puffin trio — the Atlantic, the horned, and the marvelous tufted. Collins #P5101 at $15.00.