H3603

Irving Berlin - Composer

God Bless America

Subscriber-Only Edition

Collins Cover Announcement 

Irving Berlin

God Bless America 

Limited Edition - Subscribers Only

Each year I do two cachets for subscribers only. Non-subscribers cannot obtain them, and subscribers cannot order extras: As a result, these limited-edition Collins cachets always become some of the most desirable and sought-after FDCs in the hobby. They are premium and scarce covers produced as a special "Thank You" to my subscribers.

Irving Berlin wrote God Bless America in 1918 during World War I. He thought it was too solemn, so he filed it away until 1938 when Kate Smith sang it on her radio show. It became an instant hit, and Berlin donated all royalties from it to the Boy Scouts of America. Because of this scouting connection, I decided to base the hand painted cachet on a "Weapons for Liberty" campaign poster that features a Boy Scout and Lady Liberty. It's a very patriotic cover and one that will be an excellent piece to own.

Irving Berlin was born on May 11, 1888 in Mogilev, Russia. The family moved to America in 1893, and he grew up in the tough neighborhoods of New York's Lower East Side. His father died when Berlin was 12, and he soon began to equate music with money. Unlike most composers, Irving Berlin was his own lyricist, writing both the music and the words to his compositions. Starting with Alexander's Ragtime Band in 1911, he became the most prolific of all American composers as it is estimated that he wrote 3,000 songs. I'm pleased to present this First Day Cover tribute to a great American Irving Berlin. God Bless America. Collins #H3

Autumn 2022 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 28 H3603 — Irving Berlin — Boy Scout cachet (9-15-02)

I believe this is the first time this cover has appeared in one of my sales. It is the "Subscriber-Only" edition with no extras available. The hand painted cachet pays tribute to Berlin's iconic song God Bless America. It shows a uniformed Boy Scout from the early era. He is holding a large, decorative sword with the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" etched on the blade. A model is adorned in a U.S. flag outfit and holds a United States shield. The whole scene is framed by a bi-colored hand painted border. My cachets with a scouting theme always bring a premium. This patriotic cover is one that Irving Berlin would have loved and is a limited-variety that does not appear often. A scene that promotes U.S. Bonds during World War II - Irving Berlin's God Bless America subscriber-only variety.