2015 Court of Honor FDCs

AFDCS COURT OF HONOR SHOWCASES LARRY GASSEN

The 2015 American First Day Cover Society Court of Honor cachet showcases the artwork of Larry Gassen of Illinois.

Each year, the AFDCS honors a cachet artist or company that has contributed to the hobby over a number of years. This year’s AFDCS covers employ the “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and Geometric Snowflakes stamps — the only holiday stamps issued by the U.S. in 2015.

The series uses the Christmas theme, since the U.S. issues stamps for this subject almost every year. The series began in 1981 and there has been a new Court of Honor FDC every year since then.

The artists are given complete freedom to develop their designs. The AFDCS then reproduces the art on high-quality envelopes, and includes insert cards with a biography and photograph of the artist.

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Gassen is a frequent winner in the non-commercial category of the Society’s annual Earl Planty Cachet Contest. In 2012, he received both the first- and second-place prizes in that category. His Charlton Heston FDC placed second in last year’s competition (for 2014 issues), and his cachets won first prize in 2011 and 2010.

Gassen is a retired high school math teacher, and has coached football and wrestling. He became interested in cachetmaking in 1985 after taking his son to a youth stamp club. The boy’s interest didn’t last; Larry’s did. His first cachet was for the Arkansas Statehood issue of 1986 (Sc. 2167). Today, he produces 10 to 20 of an issue on subjects that interest him.

The Larry Gassen Court of Honor FDCs may be purchased online by clicking here. Prices start at $5.00.

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