K101sk

George M. Cohan 

Entertainer & Playwright

PM Kizirian Signature

Summer 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 39 K101 — George M. Cohen (with a very special American hero autograph) — 7/3/78

This is a truly outstanding cover with a terrific addition, and it has never been offered before to  anyone. The cover itself began with a memorable trip that took me by helicopter really close past the Statue of Liberty. I remember thinking how appropriate this was for an issue that honors the man who gave us the Broadway hit songs Yankee Doodle Dandy and You're a Grand Old Flag. In addition to the official Providence, Rhode Island postmark, I secured a terrific Broadway, New Jersey unofficial cancel, which is where I was heading from LaGuardia Airport when I passed Lady Liberty. George M was a long-running musical that featured his patriotic music. The Broadway postmark ties both stamps to the envelope, and the covers were then hand painted in red, dark blue, gold, light blue and skin tones. It's an excellent example of a very early Collins.

Now for the very special touch. After all of the covers were serviced, I asked the Providence, Rhode Island Postmaster, Harry Kizirian, if he would sign two of them, which he did. At that time, I had no idea how amazing that postmaster was as he oversaw construction of the first automated post office in the nation which opened in Providence, Rhode Island in 1960. And even more amazing, before becoming postmaster, Kizirian was a war hero who became Rhode Island's most decorated serviceman having won the Navy Cross, The Bronze Star with Combat V, two Purple Hearts, and the Rhode Island Cross as a Marine Corps corporal. The Bronze Star Medal with the "V" denotes heroism and is the 4th highest military decoration for valor.

Harry Kizirian was born in 1925 and died in 2002. In 1978, the same year this cover was produced, this amazing man was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Since that ,time, Kizirian's legacy is living on in a $50 million school that bears his name. There were only two covers with the Providence, Rhode Island and Broadway, New Jersey postmarks that were signed by this true and genuine American hero.