Olympic Games

Sprinting

Autumn 2019 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 6 H201 — Summer Olympics — Sprinting — 9/28/79

This cover is a prime example of my early exploits to obtain those extremely desirable unofficial first day postmarks. At the Los Angeles Post Office, I had arranged for helpers to put the new stamps on my covers. My cabby was right there waiting for me at 9:45. At 10:55 I took off from L.A. for Portland, Oregon with two of the four new Olympic stamps having been canceled in LA. When I got to Oregon, the charter service had my plane ready but had forgotten to schedule a pilot. Long story short — the corporate marketing director became my pilot to Moscow, Idaho. (Learn how Conrad and I became friends on page 32 of the book.) I got to the Moscow Post Office at 3:30, and the postmaster was fabulous. The two remaining stamps have a beautiful magenta Moscow, Idaho postmark with killer bars. This is an exclusive postmark thanks to Conrad for stepping up. The cover has a hand painted cachet showing a sprinter and the five Olympic rings. A pristine first day cover.