V2701

The Stars and Stripes Forever

John Philip Sousa - Patriotic American March

Collins Cover Announcement 

"Th e Stars and Stripes Forever!"

As my long-term collectors know, there aren't many cachet subjects that I like better than those with a patriotic theme. And this one is a rousing tribute in red, white, and blue to the 100th Anniversary of John Philip Sousa's famous and stirring march - "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Aside from loving the subject matter itself, there is a pleasant childhood memory here. My paternal great-grandparents, Cora and George Decker, were ardent Sousa fans, and I remember as a young boy listening to his upbeat music when I went to visit. And, George was a member of a local fife and drum corps in Bloomingdale, New Jersey together with his son-in-law, my grandfather, Fred J. Collins. That band, I am told, played all of Sousa's military and patriotic marches. I am fortunate to have a photo of them (circa 1920) in their corps uniforms, and they certainly could step right into my cachet.

The artwork for this Collins First Day Cover is outstanding. The background is a waving red, white and blue rendition of "Old Glory." In front of this large flag, two uniformed musicians brandish their brassy instruments - a trumpet and, what else, a sousaphone. A young lad representing the forever young "Spirit of the Republic" joins in playing cadence on his drum. In the background, a turn-of-the-century bandstand provides a stage for performing a small-town concert. The silhouetted images provide a subtle by highly effective final touch to this cachet.

An early sell-out of this beautiful hand-painted Collins is a distinct possibility. It will be a stunner in your collection, so do consider an extra. "Dad" Decker and I shared the same Birthday (December 20th) and he died some time back five months shy of 100 years. I can envision him in uniform playing in an early 1900's concert with the young Cora in the audience. I can see the flag waving briskly in the breeze. I can hear the brassy loud music composed by the patriotic composer John Philip Sousa filling the air. This Collins First Day Cover is dedicated to Great Grand-Dad George Decker and the bygone days when he proudly performed "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Item #V2701. $11.75.