Claude
The GAMM cachet features colorful artwork on a blue sky background with the word 'Ballooning' in red script lettering. The left portion depicts the Double Eagle II balloon (black and white striped) with descriptive text about its 1978 Atlantic crossing, and the Double Eagle V balloon (illustrated in engraving style) with text about its 1981 Pacific crossing. The stamps form a block of four USA 20c Ballooning stamps (Scott #2032-2035) depicting various hot air balloons including the Intrepid 1861, colorful modern hot air balloons, and the Explorer II. The machine cancel reads 'Albuquerque, NM, MAR 31 1983, 87101' with a 'FIRST DAY OF ISSUE' bar cancel across the stamps.
Mistral
This First Day Cover features a colorful cachet with artwork depicting two historic balloons, the Double Eagle II and Double Eagle V, against a blue sky with clouds. The cachet includes text describing their historic flights. The cover bears a block of four 1983 USA Ballooning stamps, each with a face value of 20 cents, depicting various hot air balloons in vibrant colors. The postmark is a circular cancellation with the text 'ALBUQUERQUE, NM MAR 31 1983' and a partial ZIP code '87101'. The condition of the cover appears to be very fine, with clear and intact artwork, stamps, and postmark.
(The automatic summaries sometimes misidentify the postmark as part of the cachet artwork.)
