Prized Collector's Item

This cover was included in a mass of about 1000 covers in a large box that I picked up for a song.



It is now "years ahead". What are my bids for this Prized Collector's Item?

How much will you give me to take it off your hands?

I have this cover in my small WWII collection. He died on August 18, 1945 which was the same day my parents got married. 70 years and 10 days ago.
I salute Mr. Pyle. The cover could have used much better art work.

What is wrong with the artwork? That was Mr. Pyle's most famous photograph and one of the U.S.' most proud moments!

Peter

Joe Rosenthal took the photo Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima - not Ernie Pyle.

This is one that you should proudly have in your collection

Strange thing. The artwork is of Iwo Jima, the postmark is not that of where he began his career in journalism, and the Pyle stamp was released the year before.

Still, he was a remarkably talented writer and observer.

Ernie Pyle died on the island of Ie Shima, Okinawa while with an Army unit (not USMC) during WWII.

I don't believe he ever was on Iwo Jima or covered the Marines in the Pacific.

Well, oldguy, you know how it is. The name "Ernie Pyle" was in my head and would not leave! I wrote that down without thinking. Just meant to say that there was nothing wrong with the artwork; it was and still is a fitting tribute to Mr. Pyle!

Peter

Not trying to stir up a hornet's nest.

I have no problem with the picture of the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. That scene is one of the most famous and memorable events of the war.

I know he was killed on an island in the Pacific but I don't think he would have wanted to be associated with such an event. I think Kenmore used the picture to sell the cover.

To me Mr. Pyle was a soldier's correspondent in England, North Africa, Italy and France. He was grunt and I think that's how I will always remember him.

There were a handful like him who followed us around in Viet Nam. Nameless men who I respected because they didn't just stay in the press tents and send home the P R department's press releases.

I'm getting off my soap box now.

Ernie Pyle died on April 18, 1945, not on August 18.

Ernie Pyle was a man who, by all accounts, had incredible courage and talent, as well as a keen ability to connect closely with the soldiers he covered. The original post was aimed at Kenmore, as Shermae recognized in his witty reply, for putting together an over-the-top marketing pitch (You must return this cover if you don't buy the enclosed selection!) using a cover with mismatched representations of two icons of WWII - Ernie Pyle himself on the stamp and the flag raising on Iwo Jima. I happen to like the cover, but I'm not sure I would have paid whatever price Kenmore was asking for the mint sets just to get the cover.

The box also contained some dozens of covers issued by that other notable entity, the Postal Commemorative Society, which were apparently purchased in a subscription since they are all addressed to the same person/address. Again, some of the covers are interesting, but it's still a little disheartening to realize that the original owner paid more for a handful of these covers than I paid thirty years later for the entire box just for the fun of going through all 1000 covers, many of which are much older than the PCS stuff.

Thanks for posting the cover OoD. It is actually rather interesting in that it is a good example of someone trying to create a collectable cover but not putting together the appropriate pieces.

1. Ernie Pyle stamps was not issued on 2 Sep 1972.
2. Ernie Pyle was with the Army on Okinawa, not the Marines
3. Ernie Pyle was not at Iwo Jima
4. Ernie Pyle did not start his career as a journalist in DC, but at a newspaper in LaPorte, Indiana
5. The picture title commemorates the surrender of Japan on 2 Sep 1945 "On the USS Missouri", but there is no picture of the USS Missouri
6. While Okinawa may have been the most costly battle of the Pacific War in WWII, it could be safely argued that Guadalcanal was the "greatest triumph".

This cover belong in the museum of "misfit" philatelics.

The Museum of Misfit Philatelies, North Pole. Ask for Rudolf.

Thanks for the good observations, oldguy - I didn't notice that there were a number of other elements a bit out of sorts in addition to the juxtaposition of Pyle and the flag raising on Iwo Jima.

Kenmore Stamps used to send me so much unsolicited items, that I eventually had to send the a strongly worded letter requesting that they cease & desist otherwise I would submit a complaint to the BBB.

Haven't heard from them since.

Not sure if they are still in business.

Regards,
Stampalotapus