Colorano "Silk" Cachets

Complete set of five #6-3/4 (6-1/2" X 3-5/8") unaddressed envelopes. “First Day of Issue” cancellations and postmarks on each.  Each envelope shows a figure dressed in dress of what I make out to be 17th, 18th, two 19th and one 20th century styles.  Closeup detailed photographs of the paintings are difficult – the grain of the acetate-rayon fabric (it's not really silk) comes through quite strongly. I have also found a set of the much rarer Maxicards, posted at the end. Each is 5.5" x 3.5".

Ray and Jennie Novak began producing covers around 1958, from their East Norwich, New York residence. The name "Colorano", a contraction of Color Ray No(vak), was introduced in 1965. In 1970 the French firm Ceres produced the first "silk" cachets, and the first Colorano example was produced in 1971 for the American Wool stamp. Colorano sometimes included stamps outside the USA - the Irish Crochet example is of interest to lace enthusiasts. The Colorano silk cachets are distinguished from other makers by the addition of an embossed gold border around the cachet. Many different artists were employed to produce the cachet designs.

The name and printing process was sold to Paul Schmid in 1995, and production continues to this day. Colorano Silk Cachets has a website at http://www.colorano.com. There is an excellent biography of Ray Novak, the basis for some of this discussion, at
http://www.knottywood-treasures.com/id64.html.

first posted 1/15/2009