Hey there, Pilgrim

"Sorry don't get it done, Dude." John Wayne lived his life the same way he shot his 6-gun, straight and true. Epitomizing the iconic American hero, The Duke was America's favorite cowboy. An Academy Award winning actor, John Wayne began his film career in the silent movies of the 1920s, reigning as one of America's most popular movie stars from the 1940s through the 1970s. Most famous for his westerns and World War II epics, Wayne epitomized a certain kind of rugged individualistic masculinity that made ladies swoon and men line up to follow.

"I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved." Born Marion Morrison in 1907 to poor Scotch-Irish parents, Wayne's family moved from Iowa to Glendale, California in 1911. Neighbors "started calling him 'Big Duke' because he never went anywhere without his Airdale Terrier, who was Little Duke," according to Wikipedia. It was a moniker that stuck with him for life.

"I've always followed my father's advice," Wayne said during an interview. "He told me, first to always keep my word and, second, to never insult anybody unintentionally. If I insult you, you can be goddamn sure I intend to. And, third, he told me not to go around looking for trouble."

Wayne attended the University of Southern California on a football scholarship until a swimming injury forced him to quit the team and drop out for lack of funds. In exchange for football tickets, western star Tom Mix had gotten Wayne a job in the prop department of a local film studio for $35 a week. "Talk low, talk slow, and don't talk too much." In 1930 Wayne got his big break starring in The Big Trail, the first western sound motion picture. Director Raoul Walsh gave him the stage name "John Wayne" after Revolutionary War general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. Nine years later, his performance in Stagecoach made Wayne a major star. During his career, he played the male lead in an incredible 142 films.

"Line 'em up and head em north, Pilgrim." From 1928 through the early 1960s, Wayne appeared in more than 20 John Ford films -- mostly westerns and war films -- leading his fans to claim he'd been in more death scenes than any other actor. Some say he had more screen lives than a whole herd of cats!

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." A heavy smoker, Wayne was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1964 but remained active onscreen, winning the 1969 Best Actor Oscar for his performance in True Grit. He played his final role in The Shootist in 1976. Wayne died of stomach cancer in 1979.

In 1975, nearing the end of his career, as Rooster Cogburn Wayne seemed to sum up his life: "Well, my tail feathers may droop a little, and my waddle show, but I can still out crow anything in the barn yard." Truer words were never spoken.

A truly unique tribute to an American icon, County Stamp Center is please to offer the John Wayne first day covers created in 2004. Featuring 5 colorful portraits of The Duke in some of his most famous roles, all cachets are individually hand drawn, hand painted, numbered and signed. The envelopes are handmade from 100% cotton paper. The stamp is part of the Legends of Hollywood series issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Click the post title to view and order all 5 of these exceptional first day covers honoring John Wayne. Visit the County Stamp Center website to view first day covers of other Hollywood legends.