#1189-17 Naismith NABC Official FDC Signed by Red Auerbach Autographed First Day

Description

This is a first day cover prepared for the James Naismith/Basketball stamp issued on November 6, 1961, in Springfield, Massachusetts, honoring the 100th anniversary of basketball and its founder, Dr. James Naismith.  The cover bears the official cachet sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and is autographed in blue ink by Red Auerbach.  The cover is in excellent condition, with a tiny dot and light bend in the upper left front corner and a tiny flap bend on the far left side of the flap.   Please see the photos for more detail.  I purchased this cover in April 1997 at a Boston stamp show. Any toning is shadowing from taking the photos. I took a few with a flash to illustrate this cover is clean, but the flash makes it look washed out, so I prefer photos without a flash. Please email me with any questions, and thanks for looking! This cover will be mailed well-packaged (stiff cardboard mailer) and fully insured.