B5711

Sport Balls

Golf - Arnold Palmer

Subscriber Only Edition

Cover Announcement 

This is the third of four special Sports Balls cachets that are being produced just for subscribers. Since other Collins collectors and topical collectors can't order them, they are very scarce items and rarely find their way to the open market. It is my way of saying "Thank You" for being a subscriber.

Arnold Daniel Palmer was an American pro golfer who was one of the greatest players in the sport's history. His friendly demeanor and charismatic personality made him one of golfs most-liked players. Large crowds always followed him during tournaments, and they were known as "Arnie's Army." His nickname was "The King" and he was the first golf superstar during the game's early television era which began in the 1950s.

Palmer's humble background and plain-spoken popularity helped change golf from a game for the rich and elite to a more populist sport which included the middle class. During the 1960s, Arnie along with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were known as the "Big Three" and they are credited with popularizing golf around the world.

During his career, he won 62 PGA Tour titles. In 1974 this amazing athlete was one of the 13 charter members inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Just for my subscribers, the cover for Amold Palmer is now ready. "The King" of Golf - Collins #B5711 at $13.50.

Summer 2026 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 38 B5711 — Arnold Palmer with Golf Ball stamp (Subscriber-only limited edition) — 6114/17

The Postal Service hit a home run with a wonderful set of Sports Balls stamps that were made in a circular shape. And the first day of issue bullseye postmark used is the same size as the balls

depicted, so the philatelic balance on the covers is subtle but certainly adds to the visual impact. A full set of eight covers was produced, and they were made available to everyone (A5701 through A5708), but Fred made some extra special covers for subscribers — four limited-edition Sorts Balls covers. And the individuals chosen are different from those in the larger set. The limited-edition covers highlight a famous sports figure, and the round stamp used on each cover represents that athlete's sport. This cover represents the final sport in this mini-set.

The final limited-edition sports icon is Arnold Palmer with the golf ball stamp. It's a very attractive first day cover and is presented in the same manner as the earlier three. Palmer was an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport's history. Since embarking on a professional career in 1955, he won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and the circuit now known as PGA Tour Champions. He was nicknamed "The King" and was one of golfs most popular stars. He was seen as a trailblazer and was the first superstar of the sport's television age which began in the 1950s. In a career spanning more than six decades, Palmer won 62 PGA Tour titles from 1955 to 1973. He is fifth on the Tour's all-time victory list and won seven major titles in a six-plus year domination from the 1958 Masters to the 1964 Masters. He also won the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998, and in 1974 was one of the 13 original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame. This is the first time the Palmer golf Sports Balls cover has appeared in a mail sale.