P1302

American Sports

Knute Rockne

Collins Cover Announcement 

KNUTE ROCKNE

For a sports topical cover, the subject matter of this FDC is hard to beat. Think of college football and you'll think of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Think of Notre Dame and you'll think of one of the most famous and inspirational coaches of all time -- Knute Rockne. Because of the great subject matter ancl cancel possibilities, I decided to do two varieties for this issue. Offensive players -- players who score touchdowns -- are always held by the public and fans as "football heroes". For my covers, I decided to honor stars of today and yesteryear.

As it so happened, just prior to this stamp being issued, a Notre Dame player had been named the year's finest football player in the nation. Tim Brown was the recipient of the Heisman Trophy which is awarded annually to college football's premier player. Tim scored many touchdowns for the Irish, gave fans many thrills with his catching and running talents, and is now in the NFL. My tribute to him and the Notre Dame tradition is a cachet that shows the impressive bronze Heisman Trophy.

The 3-D stylized "Notre Dame" letters are hand-painted in green and gold and really look sharp. It is also noted on the cachet that Tim Brown is the current Heisman Trophy winner at time of issue.

One of the stamps is officially canceled at Notre Dame. In the cancel, a football is pictured as part of the postmark. To add some additional color and interest, the COLLINS Covers will have this football painted. A nice touch. These covers were flown back to New Jersey (Tim Brown's home state) and on a second stamp were canceled on First Day at "Browntown Station" in Old Bridge. This cover, Item #P1301 is a tribute to today's Notre Dame football program and specifically to Heisman winner Tim

Brown.

The second cover pays tribute to an earlier era when the offensive backfield was known collectively as the "Four Horsemen" for their adeptness at being fleet of foot on the gridiron. The Four Horsemen are pictured super-imposed on a large football. Below this, "Notre Dame" is spelled out in very large and dynamic hand-painted letters, and I will tell you right now that this will be one of the most sought after cachets of any done for this very popular issue.

This COLLINS variety also has two of the stamps. One stamp has the official Notre Dame bullseye cancel. The other has a very nice magenta unofficial from South Bend, Indiana, home of the University. This second cover is my tribute to the era of Coach Knute Rockne and his Four Horsemen. A great FDC. Item #P1302.

I would recommend that you consider acquiring at least one each of this issue. Sports items are very popular collectibles.

College football is an important part of the American sports scene. Notre Dame with the "Fighting Irish" mystique is a pillar of college football tradition personalized by men like Knute Rockne. The two COLLINS FDCs offered here will forever be sought after items in the hobby. Each has an exciting football theme hand-painted cachet -- Heisman Trophy and Four Horsemen. Each has beautiful and powerful three dimensional hand-painted lettelin9. Each has two stamps and zwo First Day cancE.-ls cno official and one unofficial. I am proud to offer them to COLLINS collectors. "Heisman" FDC - Item P1301 at $7.75. "Four Horsemen" FDC - Item #P1302 at $8.00.