J2305

American Music

Ethel Merman

Collins Cover Announcement

Ethel Merman

This vibrant, colorful, and fresh hand-painted COLLINS First Day Cover is a knock-out--just like Ethel was on the Broadway stage. My cachet is done in a dynamic portrait style that will be acclaimed as a philatelic tribute to Ms. Merman and the four other fabulous popular singers who make up this stamp issue--Al Jolson, Nat "King" Cole, Ethel Waters, and the incomparable and unforgettable Bing Crosby. These four giants in the entertainment field will be offerred soon in the coming weeks.

Your first in-person glimpse of the cachet style of this group of covers as represented by Ethel Merman will show you how I decided to concentrate on the personalities themselves. Each was so great a talent and so recognizable as a popular star, it was evident to me early on that high-quality, enlarged portraits would be the appropriate cachet vehicle. I employed a technique which I've used occasionally in the past--namely, using the envelope in vertical format. This enabled me to create a much larger portrait than would have been possible with the usual horizontal position. The result is one that I think you will agree pays deserved homage to these wonderful star singers.

Ethel Merman became an instant star in her debut performance in George Gershwin's "Girl Crazy". She sang "I Got Rhythmn", and right from opening night it was a show-stopper and a legend was born. Ethel went on to be the lead performer in more than a dozen musicals including "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Gypsy". Her movies included "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Her pop music style was high-volume and up-beat. My rendition of her in this framed portrait hand-painted cachet evokes that same up-beat tempo. The stamp has the First Day cancel from Broadway's home--New York, New York.

At the end of a performance, a star is often presented on stage with a bouquet of flowers. At the lower left I present a cachetmaker's tribute to this incredible talent. A cluster of red roses. Ethel Merman. Item #J2305. $10.75.