A1501

Christmas Wildlife

Wood Duck -- "On Winter Pond"

Collins Cover Announcement 

WINTER WILDLIFE 

CHRISTMAS 1988 

First of a continuing Series

"Woodduck on Winter Pond"

A pristine mantle of fresh fallen snow reaches ti-le shoreline of a woodland pond which is in winter transition. Extending from the snow at the pond's edge is a thin layer of new ice -sparkling crystals in the noonday sun. Here and there, miniature blankets of snow adorn the fresh ice, and clumps of reeds protrude upwards through the thin frozen sheet like tall, silent sentinels. Winter is just now beginning its firm grip on the pond, and, as of yet, most of the surface is still open water. Cold, brilliant blue water portrays a splendor of vivid azure color toned by the winter sun and makes one appreciative of the icy temperatures that the scene captures.

A majestic woodduck -- in my opinion the most beautiful of all North American ducks -- glides across the surface. He is so natural and so colorful that I will not even attempt to describe the beautiful plumage in detail. And...the mirror-like water provides an equally impressive life-like reflection of the duck. Added visual awareness is created by the slight rippled wake caused by the woody's forward movement on the still surface. The lovely hand-painted cachet is completed with a hand-painted frame which borders the scene. I am very pleased with this Wildlife offering and recommend it highly.

In the past I have done individual FDCs for the Christmas stamps. I did the same this year (to be offered at a later date) and will continue to do so in the future. Starting with "Woodduck on Winter Pond", each year I will also offer a Christmas Wildlife FDC that will have both contemporary and traditional stamps on one cover. This year both stamps are canceled with a Washington, D.C. bullseye. It is my belief that COLLINS "Christmas Wildlife" covers will, in years to come, gain an excellent collectible reputation and be among the more sought after items that I produce. It is a certainty that I intend to make them very special (I am already working on my 1989 theme). This Christmas Woodduck is very appealing -- both in appearance and the fact that it is "Number One" in my Winter Wildlife Series. Don't miss it! Item #A1501. $8.25