12 Knute Rockne U.S. Postage Stamps and 3 “Fighting Irish Sports Reports.”
Lot 502. 12 Knute Rockne U.S. Postage Stamps and 3 “Fighting Irish Sports Reports.” One of college football’s greatest coaches, Rockne led Notre Dame to three national championships. In 13 seasons, his teams won 105 games, lost only 12, and five games ended in ties – for a winning percentage of .881. Five of his teams were undefeated. Killed in a plane crash in 1931, he was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1951. In 1988, the U.S. Post Office issued a 22-cent postage stamp to honor Rockne. Peter Cocci designed the stamp, and Thomas Hipschen did the engraving. Two blocks of six stamps each are offered here. The stamps are nm-m to mint. One block has a chip in the lower left corner below the stamps. The National Fighting Irish Subway Alumni Association issued the “Fighting Irish” newsletters, No. 10 and No. 11, in June and July 1985, respectively, and No. 20 in April 1986. Each has 14 pages of current and historical information. The June edition has an article titled “How the (Cleveland) ‘Spiders’ Became the ‘Indians’ with Notre Dame’s Help.” Two issues have writing at the top of the first page; otherwise the issues are ex. Also included is a small (4” x 5”), trimmed copy of a large painting depicting Rockne and the Four Horsemen. The stamps have a face value of $3.52. Winning Bid $10.
