Front:
Official Mail USA
Official Mail USA
20
Penalty for private us
GION
20
pvate use $300
Pena
19
1988
20066
Chuis lalle
DC
WASHI
Back:
THE SHIP'S EAGLE
First Day of Issue: May 19, 1988
First Issue Location: Washington, DC
Throughout the centuries, the sea has held a mystery all
its own. Its beauty ... its untamed fury countered only by
its soothing calm ... its solitude ... its unknown depths and
mythical creatures ... these have long lured men in ships,
into the fold of the sea. In the early days of America, com-
merce and industry developed out of the sea. The sea pro-
vided ports for the import and export of goods, fish for
food, and a livelihood for men; but also danger and the
prospect of a lonely death should things go awry. Thus,
the ships that braved the sea were crafted of the finest ma-
terials a captain could afford. For his ship would carry the
captain out into that mysterious unknown ... and, hope-
fully, would bring him home safely again. Not surpris-
ingly, the ship became for him a symbol of his life. And
thus, the eagle came to adorn it. On his return, the seaman
would tell his tales and embellish the part played by the
noble woodcarved eagle which had led his way through
the treacherous sea.
No. 88-24
©1988 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Chris Calle
