Colton wins top honors in AFDCS cachetmakers contest

By Linn’s Staff

Kevin Colton of New York took home the top award at the American First Day Cover Society’s annual cachetmakers contest with a cachet for the Deer stamp (Scott 5822) from the Oct. 10, 2023, Winter Woodland Animals set.

Colton, a retired photographer who has been creating cachets under the trade name KSC Cachets off and on since 1998, had never before entered the cachetmakers contest.

Colton used stock images and artificial intelligence to create his Winter Woodland Animals designs in Photoshop. “I have the idea of what I want and then begin to put all the pieces together,” he said.

In addition to receiving the top award, Colton won the se-tenant (side-by-side) category, the printed artwork/design category, the multicolored category, and he took first, second and third place in the foreign covers category.

“I was totally blown away when I read the results,” Colton said. “I never expected to do so well. I love the creative process of designing covers that fit the topic of the stamps issued.”

One prize not won by Colton went to his granddaughter Marrah Reichart, who won the first-place prize in the ages 10 and under category with her cachet for the Jan. 5, 2023, 40¢ Red Fox stamp (Scott 5742).

Colton currently produces first-day covers for nearly all stamps issued by the United States and Canada. He can be reached by email at kevin@kevincoltonphotography.com or by mail at 2043 Worden Road, Seneca Falls, NY 13148-9722.

The annual cachetmakers contest judges the best first-day cover designs from the previous year. The deadline for entries is usually April 15. The entrance fee is $5 if the cachetmaker donates the cover to the American First Day Cover Society or $10 if the cachetmaker wants the cover returned.

Entrants to the contest must be members of the American First Day Cover Society, or, in the case of youth cachetmakers, related to a member of the society. More information on the contest can be found online.

The American First Day Cover Society is the largest not-for-profit first-day-cover society in the world. It publishes the journal First Days six times a year, holds fundraising auctions, is a co-sponsor of the annual Great American Stamp Show, conducts an annual cachetmaking contest, and encourages philatelic exhibiting and writing about FDCs.

More information about the American First Day Cover Society is available online, by emailing afdcs@afdcs.org or by writing the AFDCS at Box 27, Greer, SC 29652-0027.

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