Maritime Prints

The following prints of my paintings are now available. Each is 11" x 14" and, when matted, suitable for a 16" x 20 " frame. All prints are limited to 200 editions, signed by the artist, and include a clear plastic sleeve and backing sheet.

Each 11" x 14" print is $35.

Two of the prints - "Former Glory" and "Tilghman Harbor" are available as 16" x 20" for $70.

All prints will be shipped flat with sleeves and backing sheets.

To order prints, go to the Mail Orders page of this site and down to Online Payments. Type in the name of the print(s) and total amount plus $7.50 for S&H (same for single or multiple print orders). Orders will be shipped by Priority Mail.

Maritime Philatelic Covers

Explanations:
Philatelic "covers" (briefly) are envelopes that have canceled postage to verify an event. First Day Issues (FDI's) are probably the best known type of covers; however, commemorative covers are prepared to observe an event for which no new stamp issues have been offered. The key item in the latter is the postmark; for this verifies the date and location where the cover was completed.

"Hand cancellations" are ones that are applied individually by a postal worker rather than the "machine cancels" to which most mail is subjected. The quality of the hand cancellation depends on many factors including: the expertise and willingness of the postal employee, the condition of the rubber stamp and ink pad, the type of envelope, etc. Due to higher security in recent years, it has become difficult, if not impossible, to find these services and most post offices only offer red ink.

The "cachet" is a design printed on the envelope that is related to the stamp or event being commemorated. Most of my cachets are pen and ink drawings that I have drawn and had professionally printed.

"Seals" are hand-stamps carried aboard larger vessels that may be applied to the covers to verify their actual presence at the postmarked location. In recent years, smaller vessels that do not have their own seals or do not wish to use them have been supplied with a basic stamp by organizations sponsoring the shows; unfortunately, the ones I have seen are unimaginative and only accepted as a last resort or not at all. In a few cases, lacking a seal, I have had a captain or crew members sign the cover for verification.

Details and prices:
I started producing these covers in 1976 and have completed hundreds of events. For each event, I generally prepare from 10 to 50 covers (20 being the average). I have tried to use postage appropriate to the event and have had to use as much as the postal rate required at the time of the event. Because of the limited number of maritime stamps produced by the US and the cost of the older mint postage, I have had to be creative in my choices. A total listing of all the covers available for sale is yet to be prepared.

Costs generally range from $2.00 to $8.00 each, depending on the quality and quantity on hand. Some covers will only be available as sets -- such as the Ports O' Call of the Pride of Baltimore's various voyages.

Cover Samples:

POB Winter Voyage & POB II	Watermen's Folklife Festival & Chesapeake Bay Appreciation Days
Lighthouse Stamp & Connecticut Statehood	Isle of Man & Island (Iceland)
Sultana Keel Laying & POB II Launch	Last RPO