L1604

Prehistoric Animals

Stegosaurus

Collins Cover Announcement 

THIS IS A COLLINS EXCLUSIVE AND IT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING OFFERINGS THAT I HAVE EVER MADE. IT IS A COVER SPECTACULAR!

DINOSAURS

The First Day site for the anxiously awaited Dinosaur block of four was not announced until a relatively short time before Issue Date. One can speculate that there might have been some debate or discussion as to where the stamps should be released. The choice was a valid one. Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, Florida -- home of Disneyworld and EPCOT Center. For those of you who have experienced the awesome and realistic Dinosaur attraction at EPCOT, you can appreciate the choice. For those who have yet to visit EPCOT, I recommend it, and don't miss the Dinosaurs. Without leaving your chair (which moves) you visit a prehistoric earth and will be amazed at the animation and visual and audio effects that bring the Age of the Dinosaur to life. Well worth the visit. But...however well chosen Orlando was I felt that there was a better choice. The best choice. The only choice. For nestled in the remote corner of northwest Colorado is a small community named Dinosaur. Incredible. It is near the Dinosaur National Monument and Park which straddles the Colorado/Utah border. It is this area that has yielded the most dynamic and numerous fossilized bones and skeletons of dinosaurs that once roamed the United States. Excavations continue there on a regular basis. It is the heart of dinosaur country and with a town called Dinosaur, I felt that there is where the stamps should have been issued. With all due respect to Orlando and EPCOT -- it was an excellent choice -- I feel that it was second best. For such a lovely and long-awaited and popular issue it was a shame that none would have the Dinosaur, Colorado cancel on First Day.

As you have guessed, I decided to look into using Dinosaur as my unofficial. Two huge obstacles stood in my way -- the remote location and the fact that the stamps were to be issued on a Sunday. The distance from Orlando to Colorado is great. Luckily I would be going east to west and would gain a couple of hours. The best news was that I soon discovered Orlando had a 24-hour post office, and I would be able to get the stamps at midnight. After contacting the Colorado Postal District, I was delighted with their decision. The Dinosaur Post OFfice was cooperating with a couple of local stamp clubs and schools for Dinosaur stamp activities during the week after issue. Since a little preparatory work needed to be done, they would open on Sunday afternoon, and, if I could get there, the covers could be canceled. It was coming together. 

Quickly we decided to make it a two-person operation. Maureen, who has assisted me for awhile, went to Orlando to pick up the stamps. I took the covers to Salt Lake City, rented a car and met her the morning of October first. As we headed for Colorado, I drove and Maureen started putting the stamps on the covers. First it was over the Wasatch Mountain range and past Park City where I once did a Winter Special Olympics cover

(P901). After going through the Uintah Indian Reservation, it was a straight shot through to Vernal, Utah which proclaims itself as Dinosaur City. From Vernal it was only a short hop to Dinosaur which is located just over the Colorado State line.

The cancels are beautiful. Large black bullseyes with killer bars. They fit in perfectly to the space left for them. As a few local people came in for their mail (surprised to see the P.O. open on Sunday) they admired the covers. When finished, I had a feeling of tremendous satisfaction and accomplishment.

The fact that COLLINS is the only First Day Cover to obtain the Dinosaur, Colorado First Day cancel is, of course, significant

to me and to COLLINS collectors. But, more important, it just seemed to me that the popular Dinosaur stamps deserved to be canceled on their Issue date out by the Dinosaur National Monument despite its remoteness. There is a subtle comparison. The magnificent animated dinosaurs of EPCOT will entertain thousands upon thousands of visitors each year while the desolate excavation sites in Colorado will attract relatively few to view the discovery of real fossilized bones. And, thousands upon thousands of First Day Covers will have the Lake Buena Vista, Florida official First Day cancel. Relatively few collectors will own FDCs with a real First Day cancel from the community of Dinosaur, Colorado, Only COLLINS.

Not to be over-shadowed by the excellent cancel, let me tell you about the lovely hand-painted cachets. Each is an outstanding artistic rendition and the design has a portion of each dinosaur extending beyond the cachet border which gives the cachets a 3-D appearance.--They are magnificent, and a few words about each are in order.

BRONTOSAURUS (APATOSAURUS) edges down to a primeval swamp. A second one is already chest-deep in the water. The foreground boasts a colorful array of tropical flowers and blossoms which provide dramatic contrast to the huge creature whose name translates to" Thunder Lizard".

PTERANODON, a flying dinosaur, soars high above the coastline beach of a serene ocean. Three of the species glide with outstretched wings above rocky cliffs, palm trees, sandy beaches, and the gentle surf.

STEGOSAURUS, dragon like in appearance, pauses on a grassy plain to watch a small dinosaur run by. The subject of its attention is ORNITHOMIMUS, about the size of an ostrich, and believed by scientists to be the fastest of dinosaurs with speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Twin volcanoes erupt in a firey display in the background.

TYRANNOSAURUS was the strongest of all dinosaurs. Its name translates to "King of the Tyrant Lizards". It was vicious and fierce and was the largest meat-eater to ever walk on the earth. My cachet shows a pair of the ferocious beasts running through a lush tropical jungle in search of their next prey. A terrifying sight for the hunted.

These four covers will be a special addition to any collection. The hand-painted cachets are superb. The Dinosaur, Colorado First Day cancel is a COLLINS exclusive and you had better believe that these beauties will forever be sought by collectors in the hobby. The added travel expense necessitates a slightly higher cost, but I can only advise you that a set of these covers will be hobby funds well spent and invested. From the heart of Dinosaur country, I am extremely proud to offer the set of four. Item #L1602 - $38.00.