Space Cover #620: H.N. Local Post CoverCreative, irreverent, sometimes controversial, many times risque, hilarious, odd, not necessarily politically correct... all terms that describe the large and small format covers of Detroit Michigan cachetmaker Hideaki Nakano.
Nakano produced his covers under the product name H.N. LOCAL POST covers and often pronounced his covers as the "Real and True Only Official Collectible First Day Covers!" He was indeed a character and certainly had a VERY active imagination. Most of the affixed stamps on the covers he produced had an HN perfin telling you that this is an "Official Hideaki Nakano cover!"
Most of his covers were produced in limited editions of usually 50 or less with unusual and very creative drawings which were then hand colored. Some were odd shaped, sometimes mechanical pop-ups or with sliding elements, others utilized origami and jigsaw puzzle concepts.
I met Hideaki a few times at AFDCS Americover shows, and speaking with him was always fun and entertaining.
Space covers are my major collecting interest but Nakano covers hold a cherished place in my philatelic files. Nakano passed away a few years ago but his unique covers live on.
Of course his covers related to space are especially appealing to me, so here I give you perhaps my most favorite Hideaki Nakano H.N. LOCAL POST COVER —
Scott #2419 The 20th Anniverdary of the Moon Landing $2.40 Prioirty Mail stamp. This issue is one of my favorites because I love the design, and I am the stamp designer!
In 1969 my father Paul Calle was asked to design the iconic #C76 First Man on the Moon postage stamp. In 1989 I was asked to design the 20th Anniversary Priority Mail stamp, #2419. Then in 1994 my father and I jointly designed the two stamps honoring the 25th anniversary of the Moon Landing, a 29 cent commemorative stamp #2841, and a $9.95 Express Mail stamp #2842.
Nakano produced this cover in an edition of 37 covers, and as Foster Miller of the American First Day Cover enjoys pointing out this is a rare FDC with a Chris Calle designed stamp which is NOT signed by the designer!
posted 08-30-2021 08:49 PM
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