U2203

Silent Screen Stars

Charlie Chaplin

Collins Cover Announcement 

STARS OF THE SILENT SCREEN

Charlie Chaplin

It is with great pleasure that I offer the first COLLINS Cover for the Silent Screen Movie Stars. Other covers including such stars as Buster Keaton, Lon Chaney, Clara Bow, Rudolph Valentino, and the Keystone Cops will be forth-coming in the weeks and months ahead. Noted caricaturist Al Hirschfeld designed the stamps and, I must say that when they are added to my realistic cachets, the result is a group of covers that will be second to none. I am not hesitant in predicting that this Chaplin FDC and the stars that will follow will be considered by the hobby as the finest produced by any cachetmaker. In fact, they are so distinctive and well done that I feel they are destined to be very actively sought out by future collectors. A relatively quick sell-out is a definite possibility, so keep that in mind.

For just a moment I'd like to discuss how I arrived at my concept for the cover designs. First of all, I decided that my cachets would be done in a "realistic" mode and be a contrast to the "caricature" on the stamps. The results of combining the two distinctive and different artistic modes exceeded my expectations and some very special COLLINS FDCs were created. Further, I wanted each cover to be an individual piece with its own identity, but I also wanted each to be easily recognizable as one of the COLLINS Silent Screen group. The result here, too, exceeded my expectations. I designed a "common theme border" for each cover which consists of the following: reel of film; piano (which was used in theaters to accompany the silent movies); hand megaphone used by early directors; and, period movie camera. Also integrated as part of the common border design is a text banner at the top and a text box below which nicely handles the printed captions. All of the border components above are hand painted which provides a great setting for the main hand-painted cachet.

As subject matter for each of the individual cachets, I decided to take a scene from the star's film career. Each of these large and detailed hand-painted cachets brings to life in living color the silent movie celebrity who on screen was only seen in black and white. In the final analysis, collectors such as yourself will, as individuals and as a group, decide how popular and sought-after these FDCs will become, but I can tell you right now that they are special. You will be delighted to include them in your collection.

No one was better known for his silent screen work than Charlie Chaplin. During a one-year stint with Mack Sennett's Keystone Studio, Chaplin discovered and refined his "little tramp" character. He served as actor, writer, producer, or director on scores of projects. Some of his famous silent feature films include "The Gold Rush", "The Kid", and "City Lights". His "tramp" character epitomizes early film comedy. My hand-painted cachet for this cover has him being "shanghaied" by two unscrupulous seamen for crew duty on their ship. It's a waterfront scene and the subdued Chaplin is about to be taken on board. Needless to say, in the end, the irrepressible and lovable "tramp" will prevail.

So there you have it. The offering of my first cover in what will undoubtably become a most collectible mini-set within the hobby. A nice blend of stamp and cachet artistic techniques. A distinctive "custom" thematic border which ties the covers together and is a perfect example of the "extra touch" that makes COLLINS FDCs so special. A wonderful hand-painted "entire" waterfront cachet that fits with the San Francisco First Day postmark. You will love this cover just as early movie audiences loved the laughable little tramp as he ushered in a golden age of American film-making. The first COLLINS of the silent screen mini-collection. Charlie Chaplin. Item #U2203. $10.75.