Numbered Limited Edition RARE - Sports Memorabilia

Highly Collectible * United States Postal Service Sports Mat - - Baseball New York Yankees * Hideki Matsui * Opening Day 2003 Cachet 8 x 10 Color Photo * Hand Cancelled Unique Cover / FDC Bronx, NY - APR 8, 2003 * Numbered COA on Hologram Professionally Acid Free Double Matted * Frame Ready

there may be some glare from the sun on the sealed plastic enclusure

see enlarged SCAN, below

Team	Player/s	Postmark	Condition
NY Yankees	Hideki Matsui	Bronx, NY April 8, 2003	EXCELLENT+

Issued By	United States Postal Service Official Licensed Retail Product
Size l x h (cm)	acid free double matted, heavy board backed -- approx. - 40.7 x 30.6 cm in unopened original heavy plastic wrap
About My Limited Edition U.S.P.S. Sports Mats	I have been stashing away full sheets of commemorative stamps and other philatelic items for over 45 years -- Evelio did too -- for no other reason except that we liked the designs -- they depict subjects that we were interested in -- sports, fossils, animals, plants, history, famous people, science, technology and art -- stamp collecting is an easy and fun way for kids from 8 to 68 to learn about geography, as well as the subjects depicted on the postage stamps. The United States Postal Service started selling Limited Edition photographs accompanied by an associated special one-day-only hand stamped cover [a postal term for envelope] dedicated to special events, stamp issues, and what they call Sports Mats in about 2002. These Sports Mats highlight a player [and in some cases the team or several players], apparently on some significant date relative to the team and player/s depicted. They are all professionally DOUBLE matted using acid free board -- -- the surround / border of the photo and cover have beveled edges, the same costly methods used by upscale framing shops to prepare art work for a custom frame of the customer's choice. This series of Sports Mats was obtained for me over the past few years by a friend who does my postal runs for me when he can get out of work, usually in duplicate, and what I am offering is my spare -- not all post offices carry them, and the ones that do, usually seem to have only a couple models available, and they can't get more of the same presentation -- they cost him $19.99 / each -- I checked the USPS web site and these things are NOT listed anywhere. My pal doesn't charge me for his help, which is super kewl. All are in proverbial MINT condition, and stashed as safely as I do with absolutely everything. These Sports Mats were only issued on a single day and are extremely difficult to find! Listen to your seller talking to YOU, personally, about his kewl items while you are reading about this one
Limited Edition Number on Hologram	Y E S Number on hologram - DB171091763 two things make this a valuable Limited Edition sports collectible -- 1) the unique registration number of the officially licensed photograph, stated above, on the Hologram printed on the lower right of the photo, and although there are perhaps a couple hundred similar photographs, each has a different number -- and 2) the one-day-only hand cancellation on the First Day Cover, which commemorates some special achievement of the player/s and/or his team on that particular date and/or at that location -- there may be several hundred of that particular style envelope design bearing that specific cancellation date and/or special cachet -- you may find this and other common stamp collecting terms and definitions at STAMPS.
About This Sports Mat	This commemorative postal sports memorabilia item is oversized for my scanner platten, and is not shown completely -- the digital PIC, above, does illustrate this item in its entirety, within its protective sealed heavy plastic sleeve -- keep in mind that the scan, as kewl as it appears, does absolutely no justice to this fabulous unique sports memorabilia item because the actual hologrammed numbered Limited Edition 8 x 10 color photo and the Hand Cancelled First Day Cover are recessed under the heavy acid free double mat, covered by the heavy plastic sleeve, so it is NOT flat against the scanner platten and may appear slightly out of focus -- what I wanted to illustrate included what was possible of the photo AND the special postmark, as well as the professionally cut matting with beveled edges . note the crisp beveled surfaces of the professional acid free double matting, and the unique one-day-only Opening Day 2003 hand cancellation there may be some glare of the scanner on the unopened / sealed plastic envelope WOWSERS! This is the ultimate classy gift for yourself, for that hubby, family member or special friend who is a Yankees fan, combining the macho splendor of the 8 x 10" official sports photograph with the uniqueness of the special postmarked Opening Day 2003 First Day Cover, or FDC, a particular postal format which philatelic connoisseurs worldwide collect. Imagine if you could get Hideki to sign your item! The reverse of the backing board is white, without printing -- ready for framing -- what a kewl addition to adorn the walls of your home or office! This fabulous Limited Edition sports collectible item will be securely sent between boards for protection against possible bending / damage in transit, but I always suggest that the lucky winner get insurance just in case -- see below for my shipping information. Unique sports memorabilia in EXCELLENT+ Condition !! For more information about me, check out my YardSaleNet.net PROFILE God willing, I hope to be listing treasures of all kinds throughout 2007 in various categories for many age groups and interests -- several are one of a kind, so do not miss these fantastic buying opportunities ! Discounts given for multiple purchases ! For questions about this item, please contact -- -->> Adopt a Sphynx Kitten My Cigars & Goodies on -->> YardSaleNet.net My Closeout Deals & Business Property -->> Personal Sales Mis cosas en -- -- Canary Islands, Spain My items on -- -- eBay GOOD LUCK IN YOUR BUYING -- GOD BLESS!

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To make my item descriptions somewhat easier to load, navigate and read, I have moved all of the details of my after - the - sale information, such as How to Pay, How I Ship, Where I Ship To, and other useful information in English and Spanish to a different web page, which opens in a new browser window for convenience If you have any questions about this item, contact SunGato at --

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