The feature stamp on this hand drawn, thermographed, and individually hand
painted, all-over FDC by the talented Dave Peterman is the PO's 1996 stamps, The Manatee stamp, Scott # 3105-C, from the PO's 1996 Endangered Species sheet, consisting of 15 different Endangered Animals.
About the inspiration for the feature stamp : As the informative selvage on the actual Endangered Species sheet explains it, “National Stamp Collecting Month, 1996, highlights these 15 species to promote awareness of endangered wildlife. Each generation must work to protect the delicate balance of nature, so that future generations may share a sound and healthy planet.” The American manatee, itself, has been recognized as an endangered species as far back as the 1970s, mainly due to the effects of climate change, but more so to the erosion of our oceans with trash, and to actual human abuse.
About the feature stamp, itself : this stamp shows us a pair of these playful creatures frolicking in their underwater kingdom.
About the hand painted cachet : on his all-over, attractively colored cachet, Mr. Peterman spotlights one of these approximately 1,200- pound creatures just “chillin” a bit in his blue aquatic home, and being accented by his peers on the feature stamp, which Mr. Peterman artfully positioned on the cachet's middle-left portion.
About the cancellation : to fully appreciated this special cancellation, please consider that the PO's official cancellation site was San Jose, California, but Mr. Peterman went that proverbial “extra mile” by obtaining an approximately 2¾ inch wide pictorial cancel from Louisville, Kentucky's Zoo Station.
About the Scarcity Factor : please note that Mr. Peterman made only 30 of these very covers, with this particular FDC having the distinction of having been numbered 1/30 . . . the very first one made.
All in all, truly, a cleverly designed FDC.
INTERESTING TIDBIT: the oldest known manatee, Snooty, who lived his entire life in a South Florida “sea-world” park, lived to be 69 years old.
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