Lot 3246 - 1851, 1¢ blue, type I (Scott 5), with almost half of position 6R1E at left, full margin at right, clear at top and into at bottom, two strikes of "Cincinnati O. Ja[n] 2[?]" circular datestamp, lovely rich color; faults not visible when the stamp is in your album, otherwise Fine. 96 used examples, both on and off cover, listed in the Wagshal/Siegel census (this is #35), with 1982 P.F. certificate.
Scott $45,000.

Previously with position 8R1E (#5A) attached, a....Estimate $20,000-30,000 Currently US$ 10,000

(Link to this Lot in the Catalog for Bidding)

Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, LLC Sale - 849

The Dennis Swanson Collections: Wide World of Stamps - July 28-29, 2026

Dennis Swanson

Dennis Swanson (born February 12, 1938) is a legendary American television executive. Over a 60-year career spanning all of the “Big Four” broadcast networks, he notably served as President of ABC Sports, managed flagship stations like WNBC in New York, and is universally credited as the visionary who discovered and hired Oprah Winfrey.

Early Life and Marine Corps Leadership

Born in California and raised primarily in Springfield, Illinois, Swanson’s initial broadcasting fascination blossomed during the dawn of television in the early 1950s. Though he originally began college on a chemical engineering scholarship, he eventually transferred to the College of Communications at the University of Illinois.

Upon earning his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1961, Swanson immediately joined the military. He completed a tour of duty as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, rising to the rank of Captain. Swanson deeply credits his time in the Marines for shaping his rigid leadership style and operational discipline. After completing his military service, he returned to the University of Illinois to finish his master’s degree in communication and political science before jumping headfirst into broadcasting.

Discovering Oprah Winfrey

Swanson got his start in Midwestern media, working in Iowa and Chicago before making waves as a news director. In 1983, as the newly appointed general manager of ABC-owned WLS-TV in Chicago, Swanson faced the daunting task of rebuilding the station’s floundering morning program, A.M. Chicago.

He was handed an audition tape of an obscure Baltimore talk-show co-host named Oprah Winfrey. Recognizing a transcendent, uniquely empathetic talent, Swanson flew her in for a Labor Day weekend audition and instantly hired her.

Despite Winfrey’s initial insecurities regarding typical television beauty standards of the era, Swanson gave her a crucial piece of advice: be completely herself. The program skyrocketed from last place to beat The Phil Donahue Show in local ratings. Under Swanson’s leadership, the program expanded, rebranded as The Oprah Winfrey Show, and launched into national syndication in 1986.

Executive Dominance Across the Big Networks

Following his triumphs in Chicago, Swanson transitioned to network-level executive roles across the industry:

ABC Sports: Served as President from 1986 to 1996. During his tenure, he successfully persuaded the International Olympic Committee to stagger the Summer and Winter Olympic Games every two years. He also revitalized Monday Night Football and created the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).
NBC & CBS: Moved to the NBC network to lead the flagship WNBC in New York. Later, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Viacom’s CBS Television Stations Group.
Fox: Concluded his career as President of Station Operations for the Fox Television Stations Group before retiring in 2016.

Personal Passions and Later Life

Beyond his corporate grit and television milestones, Swanson balanced his intense professional life with focused personal hobbies. Most notably, he maintained a lifelong passion for philately. This began as a young child, fascinated by all the countries, geography, history and interesting topics. His love for the hobby really took off when he became President of ABC Sports and he began to extensively travel throughout the world. He spent decades curating an expansive collection, a quiet, analytical pursuit that offered a stark contrast to the high-stakes, fast-paced world of live television broadcasting.

Swanson remains a multi-award-winning broadcast luminary, earning a Peabody Award and inductions into both the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

Sale Session Information:

Session 1: (Lots 3001 - 3236) Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT
Session 2: (Lots 3237 - 3416) Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT
Session 3: (Lots 3417 - 3785) Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT

For more information please contact us at:

Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, LLC
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Bethel, CT 06801
Phone: 203.297.6056
Fax: 203.297.6059

To request more information by email: info@kelleherauctions.com

Visit our Home Page at: Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, LLC

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