The features stamp on this very expertly hand-drawn, hand painted FDC by Robert Bolton is the PO's 1948 Century of Friendship Between the United States and Canada stamp, Scott # 961, designed on Mr. Bolton's signature 7¼ by 5-inch envelope (similar in size to Carol Gordon's envelopes.) 

About the inspiration for this cachet : as noted above in my sub-title, this cover . . . by the symbolism on the actual stamp . . . celebrates 100 years of solidarity between the two biggest and most powerful nations in North America. 

About the feature stamp, itself : to bolster the idea of the inseparable bond of friendship between both proud nations, this attractive, breezy-blue stamp depicts the 1,079-foot-long Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, an arch bridge which actually connects both nations. It starts in Niagara Falls, in the Canadian province of Ontario and ends in Niagara Falls, New York. This awesome bridge supports both 2 lanes of regular traffic on its lower deck, as well as trains on its upper deck, which is why the train chugging its way over the Niagara River is the stamp's most stand-out image on the bridge. That both nation would have such easy access to each other's borders is a testament to the friendship that binds both countries.  

About this hand drawn, hand painted cover : on this one, Mr. Bolton escorts us up to the mountains of Canada to introduce us to one of the members of the esteemed Royal Canadian Mounted Police, all decked out in his richly red colored coat, perhaps searching for some clues to solve a mystery. 

About this cover's condition : since this cover was designed on a 75- year envelope, I wanted to comment on its overall condition. And I'll say "right of the bat" that on a scale of 1 to 10, I wouldn't hesitate to grade this cover a 9.5. The 4 corners, though not needle-tip sharp, are, nevertheless, well-defined, and, and most importantly, the envelope is as snowy-white "clean," with absolutely no distracting flap marks to worry about . . . not even on the cover's reverse side. (On the reverse side, your will notice a quarter-inch blue streak, but that it not an imperfection. Rather that streak is an impression of the blue paint that adorns the cachet, itself.)  

About this cover's condition : since this cover was designed on a 76-year envelope, I wanted to comment on its overall condition. And I'll say “right of the bat” that on a scale of 1 to 10, I wouldn't hesitate to grade this cover a 9. First off, the 4 corners are very well-defined, as far as 76-year-old covers are concerned. Secondly, this cover is virtually clean. Third, there are absolutely no rips, tears, creases, or anything of that nature to worry about. Fourth, as far as flap marks are concerned, judging from the envelope's flip-side, it looks as if some flap marks wanted to come on to the scene, but then just sort of fizzled out before they could make a pronounced presence. And finally, the envelope's actual flap is unsealed, with its original glue fully intact.

About the Scarcity Factor : like all FDCs from the decade of the 1940s, this one is unnumbered, so let me just point out that this is one of the most rarely seen covers in all of Hobby Land for this particular stamp. (As you know, cachet makers from this era never revealed a production number, so as far as the Number 427 on the cover's Side-B is concerned, this most likely refers to the number of covers which Mr. Bolton had designed up to this time.)  

All in all, an exquisitely designed cover . . . and, as noted above, one of the most rarely-seen covers, by far, for the U.S./Canada Friendship stamp.