H4501

The Art of Disney: Imagination

Mickey Mouse

Steamboat Wille

Collins Cover Announcement 

DISNEY - IMAGINATION

MICKEY MOUSE

STEAMBOAT WILLIE

This is the final year in which Disney stamps will be issued. It's been a great run as the U.S. Postal Service has issued many stamps that portray some of the greatest Disney characters. And it has been my privilege to pay tribute to Walt and his talented artists by adding my hand painted cachets to the philatelic tributes to this amazing entertainment phenomenon. The characters created by Disney will always bring a smile or chuckle to the young and the young-at-heart.

To begin this final mini-set of four, I present Walt's first creation that was released to the public. In this initial Mickey Mouse cartoon — "Steamboat Willie" — the hero battles a longtime Disney villain, Peg-Leg Pete. The film was released as a silent movie on July 29, 1928 and as a "talkie" with synchronized sound on November 18th of the same year. Of particular note is the appearance of Mickey's girlfriend. At that time the female mouse was unnamed, but she would go on to become the worldfamous Minnie.

My individually hand painted cachet shows Mickey at the captain's wheel of the steamboat as he appeared in Walt's early cartoons. I'm pleased to offer the first of the Disney covers in the 2008 miniset of four — Mickey Mouse. Collins #H4501 —$13.25.