M1901

Basketball

100th Anniversary

Collins Cover Announcement 

CENTENNIAL OF BASKETBALL

Wanting to create a physically challenging game that could be played indoors during all seasons and in all weather conditions, a college professor nailed up a peach basket at each end of a school gymnasium. That was 100 years ago in Springfield, Massachusetts and Dr. James Naismith had invented the game of basketball.

My hand-painted cachet pays tribute to this founder and presents a large oval portrait of Dr. Naismith holding a basketball. The cachet further shows three early enthusiasts of the 1800's enjoying and experimenting with the new-f angled sport. Of course, this was before they figured out that it was best to cut a hole in the bottom of the basket! This was probably the first backyard pick-up game of hoops.

The First Day cancel is, in itself, a reason sufficient to add this cover to your collection. Growing up I always loved following the Boston Celtics. Bob Cousy. Bill Sharman. Big Bill Russell. The Jones boys -- KC and Sam. The list of great players for the Celts goes on and on to the most recent super star Larry Bird. I felt I wanted to acquire a Boston link to bridge the hundred years from the beginning of the game to the court magic that the Celtics have achieved during the last few decades evolving to the game of today. "Dr. N" Would recognize it, but if he saw the way Michael and Larry and Magic and Patrick played he would be astonished. Well -- I did good in Boston on the Day of Issue and got the cancellation equivalent of a slam dunk. It is a large, red beautiful bullseye and is one of the most gorgeous postmarks you will ever see. No foolin' -- when I saw this one it felt like I took a shot from 30 feet and got all net. At the buzzer. In over-time.

Whether you're a sports fan or not, you'll love this cover. It's a bit of Americana. The stamp was to honor the centennial of the game and my hand--painted cachet does just that with its tribute to Professor Naismith. It also takes us back in time to before the turn of the century when the "basket" was actually still in basketball. And, if you're a true-blue cover lover you will rank this magnificent postmark as among the very very best in your collection. And, it was obtained on the actual Day of Issue and only by one cachetmaker -- COLLINS.

As with all of my major sports First Day Covers, I expect this one to "sell out" relatively quickly and become a premium collectible. Don't miss adding it to your collection now at original offering price and, in fact, you might want to purchase an extra one to put away. The type style was chosen carefully to add to the over-all appeal. The portrait of Dr. Naismith pays tribute to the beginning days of basketball's past, and the stamp with net and hands above the rim provides the link to the present and future. The action in the handpainted "entire" cachet shows the lad with red shirt and handlebar mustache taking a shot and wondering if it will go in the basket. (I'm wondering if it goes in, how will he get it out?) And, finally, the wonderful large red bullseye cancel actually obtained on the First Day of Issue provides significant philatelic merit. A real beauty. Item #M1901. $10.75.

Winter 2026 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 19 M1901 — Basketball Centennial — 8/28/91

Wanting to create a physically challenging game that could be played indoors during all seasons and in all weather conditions, a college professor nailed up a peach basket at each end of a school gymnasium. That was more than 100 years ago in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Dr. James Naismith had invented the game of basketball. My hand-painted cachet pays tribute to this founder and presents a large oval portrait of Dr. Naismith holding a basketball. The cachet further shows three early enthusiasts of the 1800s enjoying and experimenting with the new-fangled sport. Of course, this was before they figured out that it was best to cut a hole in the bottom of the basket! This was probably the first backyard pick-up game of hoops.

The first day cancel, in itself, is a sufficient reason to add this cover to your collection. I did really well in Boston on the day of issue and got the cancellation equivalent of a slam dunk. It is a beautiful, large, red bullseye and is one of the most gorgeous postmarks you will ever see.

Whether you are a sports fan or not, you'll love this cover. It's a bit of Americana. The stamp was to honor the centennial of the game, and my hand-painted cachet does just that with its tribute to Professor Naismith. The wonderful postmark was obtained on the actual day of issue and only by one cachetmaker — Collins, and that provides significant philatelic merit.