B2201

American Music

Hank Williams

Collins Cover Announcement

COUNTRY MUSIC STAMPS 

Hank Williams 

This is the first cover in a set of four that I will be offering for stamps that honor famous musicians. The others that will be coming soon are for Patsy Cline, the Carter Family, and Bob Wills. It is important to note that this is a different stamp from the one for Hank Williams issued on June 9th. My cachet for this one is, of course, entirely different and the stamps themselves can easily be told apart. (For example Hank's guitar is a different color in each of the two stamps.) The previous Williams stamp was printed by the Stamp Ventures Company and the stamp on this cover (and the other three in this set yet to be offered) were produced by the American Bank Note Company.

The new stamps were dedicated at and the First Day ceremony held at the "Grand Ole Opry" Country Music Show in Nashville, Tennessee. Appearing on stage at the "Opry" was the springboard to national prominence for many Country Music stars and so I chose this direction for my hand-painted cachet. The original Grand Ole Opry Show was held in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium and it is a rendition of this famous building (probably the most important in the history and rise in popularity of Country Music) that is the central theme of this cachet. A large insert with a portrait of Hank is also an important part of this cover which takes up the entire face of the envelope.

Williams dominated Country Music from 1949 when he joined the Grand Ole Opry until his death in 1953 at the young age of 29. His classics included "Your Cheatin' Heart"; "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"; "Hey, Good Lookin'"; and, "Jambalaya". He is one of the most prominent members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

My previous Hank Williams FDC for the June 9th stamp (COLLINS #S2101) is still available at $10.75. It depicts Hank on stage behind the WSM microphone at the Grand Ole Opry. This current offering with a portrait of Williams and the historic look at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium makes a nice complementary piece to the still available S2101. Together they certainly do a nice job honoring this Country Music legend on COLLINS First Day Covers. Also, this offering is the first of the American Banknote set of four with Cline, Wills, and the Carters coming soon.

A master performer in the musical artform of Country Music that in the last year or two is again surging in national popularity. A voice that entertained America from the Opry's stage at Ryman. Hank Williams. Item #B2201. $10.75.