B2612

Summer Olympic Games

Equestrian

Collins Cover Announcement 

THE CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC GAMES

SOFTBALL

Bold and dynamic are the two terms that pop into my mind to describe this cover and the ones that will follow for the recently completed Olympic Games. I can assure you that as this mini-collection comes together toward completion, the crisp cachet designs, together with the vibrant hand painting combined with the COLLINS logo, will make this the set to own. The Centennial of the modern Olympics--from 1896 in Athens to 1996 in Atlanta--is a unique, one-time happening and I expect that the FDCs it generated will always be prized.

In addition to COLLINS collectors, there is a large group of "sports topical collectors" and a smaller but highly dedicated core of "Olympic specialists." Not only current members of these groups but future individuals ensure a wide following for Olympic items. The bottom line is that you will be acquiring a group of covers that will enhance your collection now and also be an excellent holding down the road.

The Postal Service issued twenty stamps in this set, each depicting a different event. To provide you with each stamp on a COLLINS Cover but also keeping in mind your hobby budget, after careful thought and some cachet design experimentation, I finally opted to do fourteen FDCs. The final outcome is magnificent--as I said before bold and dynamic.

On six of the covers I chose to do one stamp: Softball because of its relationship to baseball and the great popularity among collectors; Basketball since it is one of American's favorite team sports; Cycling because it is enjoyed by so many; Equestrian because many collectors enjoy animals so much; Wrestling because I wanted to dedicate it to my son Ryan who starts on his Varsity team and also because the sport goes back to the original Greek Games; and, the ten event Decathlon, because it is the most demanding and the ultimate Olympic event.

On seven covers I have two different stamps, each with Day of Issue postmark. My cachet shows both events so on each of these seven it is a duo First Day and a duo cachet. It's a nice concept and they came out great. Plus, I was able to make them event compatible. Rowing and Canoeing. Men's and women's Swimming. Hurdles and Shot Put. Men's and women's Gymnastics. Volleyball and Soccer. Sailboarding and Diving. Men's and women's Track. Fourteen action packed COLLINS Centennial Olympic Games covers with all twenty stamps and corresponding cachets.

Please note the following.

1. A very limited number of these collections were produced and I will only be offering them as a fourteen cover unit. No individual items will be sold. Upon payment I will send you the Softball cover and you will be "in" for the set.

2. This COLLINS Olympic offering will be (not may be) a virtual immediate sell out. In effect, this announcement will be your one time shot because it will be gone quickly. Not may be. Will be.

One of the year's best COLLINS offerings. My fourteen cover, twenty stamp set for the Centennial Olympic Games. It starts now with the Softball event. Item #B2611. $11.75. First Day Of IssueAthens-1896 tlanta-1996