H4002

Jim Henson and the Muppets

Fozzie Bear

Collins Cover Announcement

The Muppets

Set of eleven - available at one per month

The lovable, colorful Muppet characters created by Jim Henson have become a strong part of our entertainment culture. With the issuance of this eleven-stamp series, the Postal Service has ensured that these feel-good ambassadors of fun and humor will forever be part of our philatelic hobby. It's a pleasure to present Henson's legendary puppet personalities on my hand painted cachets. Whenever I have offered American entertainment icons, the response has been tremendous. I expect that these limited-edition cacheis will_be spoken for quickly, so be sure to get your _order-form in on a timely basis. As time goes on, they will be a difficult and expensive complete set to find on the open market.

While a student at the University of Maryland in 1955, Jim started his own five-minute show Sam and Friends on a Washington NBC affiliate. It won a local Emmy award in 1958, and it ran to 1961. The Muppets, including Kermit the Green Frog, who was destined for worldwide fame, had been born. During the sixties, the Muppets attracted a large following by appearing on network TV programs such as The Today Show and The Ed Sullivan Show as well as making many commercials.

In the late 1960s, Henson was asked to create characters for the ground-breaking children's TV show Sesame Street which began in 1969. In honor of this undertaking and as a tribute to Jim's creative genius, one of my hand painted cachets depicts Henson surrounded buy three of his Sesame muppet stars - Kermit, Bert, and Ernie. The show continues today, entertaining and educating children around the globe. 

During the late 1970s, television's The Muppet Show came on the scene. Hosted by Kermit the Frog, the program featured a brand new cast of characters including Miss Piggy, Fozzie the Bear, and the Great Gonzo. It won four Emmys and was the launching vehicle for six movies in the 1980s and 1990s. Jim Henson died on May 16, 1990, and in 1998 Time magazine recognized him as one of the most influential artists and entertainers of the 20th Century.

The ten character stamps in this set are indeed bold, colorful, and well designed. My individually hand painted covers bring each to life via watercolor art. You will truly enjoy adding each one to your collection. The eleventh stamp is a portrait of Jim Henson, and it is for this cover that I chose to show the artist and his Sesame Street friends.

As the parents of five children who grew up with Sesame Street as part of their young lives, Linda and I can both attest that the show met its goal of educational and entertaining programming for youngsters. My cachetmaking can only go to where the Postal Service takes it in regard to the issuing of new stamps. In this case, I'm very pleased that the Muppets were so honored as I can now pay tribute to their positive effect on our culture and to the imaginative insight and talents of their creator, Jim Henson.

This set of First Day Covers has the whole package. They are fun-filled and visually attractive examples of watercolor art with great color. They will fit into every collection because, not only are they entertainment icons, but more importantly, they are part of our Americana culture. And because the characters are historical in nature but continue to attract new fans with their current adventures, these covers are destined to become sought-after collectibles in our philatelic hobby. I'm pleased that I have the opportunity to salute Jim Henson and his Muppets with these new stamps and the hand painted cachets. Don't miss them.