H2601

Legends of Hollywood

James Dean - Actor

Collins Cover Announcement 

JAMES DEAN

Legends of Hollywood

There is a lot to say about this hand-painted COLLINS cachet, so here goes. First of all, one of my collectors is the head of security at a mall in the midwest. He called me a scant day or two before issue with the news that the James Dean stamps would be placed on sale on the First Day at the Warner Bros. Studio Stores

across the country. More importantly, they would offer a special Day of Issue postmark. Thanks to Tom, COLLINS collectors can now have this gem in their collections. A beautiful "Rebel Without a Cause" postmark from Rockaway, New Jersey is a COLLINS exclusive.

In his "Stamp Collector" column of July 22nd, First Day columnist Lloyd de Vries writes that "There was little advance notice that the stamps would be placed on sale at these locations. There was even less notice that cancellations might be offered." He concludes that it will be difficult for collectors to find FDCs with these very short notice Warner Bros. First Day postmarks.

My hand-painted cachet features a large portrait of Dean. The watercolors are carefully applied in layers and the result is really outstanding. Complementing the portrait is a red sports car and two rolls of movie film.

James Dean signed a contract in 1954 with Warner Bros. to portray Cal Trask in "East of Eden". His next role, the one that fixed his image forever in American culture, was that of the brooding teenager Jim Stark in "Rebel Without a Cause". On September 30, 1955 he died in a car accident shortly before the completion of his :Last film -- "Giant".

Spring 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 21 R2501 to R2503 — Winter Garden Flowers — Set of 3 covers — 1-19-96

This very cute 3-cover set offers a small drama that I entwined amid the Winter Garden flowers issue. In R2501, two young girls share a carefree moment enjoying beautiful pansies with their many varied and colorful design patterns. In R2502, two boys of similar age have lost their baseball (remember looking for those elusive balls?) and as they search, it hides in a vivid clump of anemones with snowdrops nearby. Finally, in R2503, it all comes to a happy conclusion as one of the girls has found the baseball and is returning it to the sheepish young owner. I think the expression on his face says it all. He is bashful and just a little embarrassed that he could not find the ball himself but that the girl did. Yet, he is delighted that he and his buddy will be able to continue their game. In the foreground of each cachet are colorful and lovely flowers that are the subjects of the three stamps. This is the first time these covers have appeared in one of my mail sales.

This COLLINS will become a sought after item, and I am proud to make it available for your collection. A marvelous "Rebel Without a Cause" postmark obtained at Rockaway, NJ on the Day of Issue and the only cachetmaker there was COLLINS. A super hand-painted cachet capturing the mystique of this star who had such a short career. A well done stamp honoring the person who will forever symbolize the restlessness of youth. The Rebel Without a Cause. James Dean. Item #H2601. $11.75.

Spring 2024 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 22 H2601 — James Dean (from the Legends of Hollywood series) — 6-24-96

James Dean was an American actor with a career that lasted only five years until his death at the young age of 24. His roles typified teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, and he was enshrined as a symbol of the confused, restless, and idealistic youth of the 1950s. Although he made few films before his death in a car accident, his performances, especially Rebel Without a Cause have proved enduring. Only two days before issue date, a midwestem collector called me with the news that the stamps would be issued at Warner Bros. stores with special Rebel Without a Cause postmarks available. He found this out because he worked in a mall. It was issued in June, and in the July 22 issue of Stamp Collector, First Day columnist Lloyd deVries wrote, "There was little advance notice that the stamps would be placed on sale at these locations. There was even less notice that cancelations might be offered." He concluded that it would be difficult to find first day covers with those special cancels, and he was right. But.. .because of that midwestem collector, Collins FDCs have them. The hand painted cachet is wonderful, and you'll find it illustrated on book page 342, and it is a key cover from my Legends of Hollywood series.