F2002

America's Pastime

Baseball

Subscriber-Only Edition

Collins Cover Announcement 

"BASEBALL IN NEW YORK"

Legends of the game have played for the high profile Major League teams in New York City. Babe Ruth of the Yankees. Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Willie Mays of the Giants. Tom Seaver of the Mets. And that, of course, just scratches the surface of all of the super stars who have stepped up to the plate in the "Big Apple" -- New York City. Four teams which over the years have provided excitement and lasting memories for baseball fans everywhere.

This limited variety COLLINS First Day Cover was produced for "subscribers only" as my way of saying Thank You. There are no extras available for purchase and none for non-subscribers. As such, this cover will be one of your prime sports collectibles due to its topic of baseball, its very limited distribution, and its status as a COLLINS.

After picking up the stamps in the First Day City of Atlanta, they were affixed to the covers on the flight home. My friend Hank then took them across the Hudson River to the city for a clear, crisp New York, N.Y. First Day postmark. (At the same time I was on my way to Cooperstown with my regular covers for this issue which will be offered to all collectors in the near future.) By traveling to Georgia to pick up the stamps and then obtaining the related New York cancel on issue date, this limited edition COLLINS produced exclusively for my subscribers has real philatelic meaning and makes it something special.

The hand-painted cachet is one that will become recognized as a premium FDC. An impressive New York City skyline stretches across the center of the cachet. Superimposed in front of it is a large baseball (note the hand-painted stitching) with the cover's title -- "Baseball in New York". To the upper left is a New York Mets uniform with a glove. The "Amazing" Mets. To the upper right is a New York Giants uniform with a pair of spikes. The Giants of the Polo Grounds and the "Say Hey" kid. To the lower right is a Brooklyn Dodger uniform with a ball. The bums of Brooklyn who were "the Boys of Summer". And, to the lower left a uniform of the New York Yankees and a bat. The Bronx Bombers with players like Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and, of course, Babe Ruth -- "the Sultan of Swat".

I am pleased to make this lovely baseball COLLINS available to my subscribers and with it I offer my heart-felt thanks for your continued support. "Baseball in New York". COLLINS No. F2002. $9.50.

Spring 2019 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 19 F2002 — Olympic Baseball — "Baseball in New York"

This very scarce "02" cover was done only for subscribers as of 1992 with no extras available. As you can imagine, my "sub-only" cachets virtually never come up for sale because collectors just don't part with them. They are among the "hottest of the hot" of any first day covers being produced. Try to fmd my "sub-only" editions at any dealer. Chances are you won't! This dynamite baseball cover pays tribute to the four Major League teams who call New York City home — the old New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers who made history by moving to the West Coast, and the tradition-rich New York Yankees, as well as the "amazing" New York Mets. The first day postmark I obtained is, of course, New York, New York, which I believe is a Collins exclusive. I can't even guess what the ultimate worth of this very scarce Collins baseball cover will be in time. It's already famous and virtually unobtainable. Now is your chance. 

Autumn 2022 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 17 F2002 — Olympic Baseball — (Baseball in New York) (4-3-92)

The hand painted cachet has a great Big Apple presentation. In the center is a large ball proclaiming "Baseball in New York." A skyline of the city is in the background. Uniforms of each team are in the four corners with realistic colors. A bat is lower left, and a ball to lower 

The hand painted cachet has a great Big Apple presentation. In the center is a large ball proclaiming "Baseball in New York." A skyline of the city is in the background. Uniforms of each team are in the four corners with realistic colors. A bat is lower left, and a ball to lower right. This was a "subscriber-only" edition, making it a very scaree Collins cachet. It pays tribute to the four teams calling New York home. The New York Yankees, The Amazing New York Mets, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the New York Giants. The last two made history be moving to the West Coast in the late 50s. The first day of issue postmark is a large New York, NY bullseye. A Collins exclusive.