B5301

Flag

Fort McHenry Flag & Fireworks

Collins Cover Announcement

The Star Spangled Banner

This individually hand painted Collins First Day Cover is dynamic and a great piece of patriotic, philatelic art. The stamp honors the national anthem of the United States of America. It shows Old Glory with bursting fireworks behind it and has the first day of issue bullseye postmark from Independence, MO.

As my long-term collectors know, I love the early years of our history, so it goes without saying that I wanted this one to be special. There axe four main components to this cachet. One of my primary objectives was to honor the man who wrote the words. A large, lifelike portrait of Francis Scott Key occupies the left side of the cachet. Key was aboard the British warship HMS Tonnant and watched the bombardment of the American forces in Fort McHenry on the night of September 13-14, 1914. At dawn he saw the stars and stripes still flying in the wind and shortly thereafter wrote the famous lyrics.

The second part of the cachet is the flag itself— always an inspiring and stirring sight. The third component is viewed in the sky as "bombs burst in air" represented by cascading and colorful fireworks lighting the night. Finally, the first few musical notes and words from the anthem complete the cachet design.

This is a lovely watercolored cachet that captures the Americana aspects of the new stamp perfectly. With a lifelong sense of national pride, I am pleased to offer this First Day Cover. "The Star Spangled Banner." Collins #B5301 at $15.00.