"Uncle Fleet" Sez: filler cards

U.S. First Day Cover Cachet Display Catalog:
"Uncle Fleet" Sez: filler cards by Fleetwood

(last updated .10-27-2026)

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      This page displays printed filler cards (aka stuffer cards or inserts). These particular "Uncle Fleet" Sez: fillers were a series of over 50 different witticisms, sayings or quotes I have found (so far) that were printed in the 1940s by the "Fleetwood Cover Club, Inc." ("Fleetwood Cover Service" / "Fleetwood Cachets") of Pleasantville, NY, a part of Unicover Corp. of Cheyenne, WY. They were inserted in philatelic envelopes as stiffeners to help minimize folding or bending damage while being handled by the postal system.

      References

      The exact numbers printed is unknown, but probably many thousands of each different card exist. Many cards may remain inside the covers in which they were originally sold. That any one card can be advertised today as scarce, rare, unique, "must have", or valuable because it is "vintage", at best, cannot be proved. They are NOT "greeting cards", and they are NOT "postcards". They are Cachetmaker signed philatelic cover filler cards used as stiffeners and advertisements for Fleetwood cachets, and they served no other purpose. I have found no examples where a stamp was added and it was serviced as a First Day Cover, or other postcard type correspondence. Every card I have seen is mint with no added marks. All back sides are blank.

      Cards were printed in black on white cards and various pastel colored cards. Some cards were printed in more than one font. This page documents the known (to me) differences in the printed text, but not the various colors of the cards.

      Three primary types of these cards were made: 1) a numbered series of 23, and 2,3) two types of unnumbered series distinguished by the differences at the bottoms of the cards. Only two sayings has been reported duplicated on more than one type of card.

      Please write if you have cards with "Uncle Fleet" witticisms not listed on this page. I am missing 4 of the numbered cards, so it is likely I am missing unnumbered cards as well.

#unk1 -- The proof of the pudding is in the demand for the second helping.
      unknown card type, mentioned in 1963 Fleetwood ad
1. #1 -- Kind words are the music of the world. [same as #T2k]
2. #2 -- Remember: You are not fully dressed until you have put on a smile. [same as #T2m]
3. #3 -- To be an achiever, you must be a believer.
   
4. #4 -- In order to be promoted, you must be devoted. --- (Three different fonts)
   
5. #5 -- ?
6. #6 -- The Difference between Perseverance and Obstinacy is that one comes from a Strong Will, the other from a Strong Won't.
   
7. #7 -- ?
8. #8 -- Every automobile has two controls; One mechanical, the other yourself.
   
9. #9 -- You can't look down if you want to keep your chin up.
   
10. #10 -- If you want a place in the sun, you'd better get used to blisters.
    
11. #11 -- Don't take life seriously, you'll never get out of it alive.
12. #12 -- You don't need a torch to light up your face. All you need is a smile.
    
13. #13 -- Don't laugh at the man who has fallen, when there are slippery places ahead.
    
14. #14 -- The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.
15. #15 -- The silent man is worth listening to.
    
16. #16 -- Men who have a good deal to say use mighty few words.
    
17. #17 -- Watch out for a half truth; You may be hearing the wrong half. --- (Two different fonts)
    
    
18. #18 -- Almost any system will work if the people behind it will.
          The back of this card is not blank. It has the backwards impression from the still wet ink of the following card in the printing process.
    
19. #19 -- If you work 8 hours a day, don't worry ...by and by you will be the Boss and work 14 hours a day and have all the worries.
          This an altered version of Robert Frost's: "By faithfully working eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day."
20. #20 -- The honeymoon is over when you smile at her admiringly and she blurts, "Well, what are you looking at?"
    
21. #21 -- ?
22. #22 -- ?
23. #23 -- Money doesn't go as far as it used to, but it sure goes faster.
    

Listed in the sayings alphabetical order, and then numbered:
1. #T2a -- Be sure to work eight hours, sleep eight hours but not the same eight hours.
   
2. #T2b -- Blessed are they that run around in circles, for they shall be known as wheels.
   
3. #T2c -- Don't lose your temper ... no one else wants it.
   
4. #T2d -- Everybody should pay taxes with a smile; Sez he tried it, but they wanted cash!
   
5. #T2e -- Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over, and it is too late.
   
6. #T2f -- "How True" Give me the money that was spent in War, and I will clothe every men, woman and child in an attire of which Kings and Queens would be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth., I will crown every hillside with a palace of worship consecrated to the Gospel of Peace. Charles Summer
   
7. #T2g -- It is far better to say nothing ... and be thought a fool ... than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
   
8. #T2h -- It's a fact! You don't get dizzy doing a good turn.
   
9. #T2i -- It's great to be an American. Decisions have to be made. Some are right ... some are wrong. Some please us .. some displease us. Just so long as these decisions are made with sincerity and that their purpose is for the good of all. We may agree ... we may disagree. Our viewpoint ... our mental picture ...our image may be as far apart as the North and South poles. Let us remember! To be fair ... to be tolerant and most certainly understanding in our thoughts.
   
10. #T2j -- Keep your eye on the ball, your shoulder to the wheel, your ear to the ground, try to work in that position.
    
11. #T2k -- Kind words are the music of the world. [same as #1]
    
12. #T2l -- Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
    
13. #T2m -- Remember: You are not fully dressed until you have put on a smile. [same as #2]
    
14. #T2n -- Success is never final and failure never fatal ... it's courage that counts.
    
15. #T2o -- The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are going.
    
16. #T2p -- There are two things to aim for in life: To get what you want and then enjoy it.
    

Listed in the sayings alphabetical order, and then numbered:
1. #T3a -- A hobby is something you go goofy over to keep from going nuts over things in general.
2. #T3b -- A man never gets what he is worth until he is worth a little more than he gets.
   
3. #T3c -- A man or woman is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.
   
4. #T3d -- A mistake is evidence that someone has tried to do something.
5. #T3e -- A yawn is bad manners but an honest opinion.
   
6. #T3f -- Being positive, is often just being mistaken at the top of one's voice.
   
7. #T3g -- He gives little who gives much with a frown ... He give much who gives a little with a smile.
8. #T3h -- It isn't the rooster's early rising that makes him unpopular, it's his continual talking about it.
9. #T3i -- It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.
10. #T3j -- Sizes often are deceiving. Sometimes a woman's thumb has a man under it.
    
11. #T3k -- Success comes from hanging on after everyone else has let go.
    
12. #T3l -- The only man worse than a quitter, is the man who is afraid to begin.
13. #T3m -- The reason a dollar won't do as much as it once did, is because people won't do as much for a dollar as they once did.
14. #T3n -- We can't get rid of our temper by losing it.

1. #5 -- ?
2. #7 -- ?
3. #21 -- ?
4. #22 -- ?
5. #T3a -- A hobby is something you go goofy over to keep from going nuts over things in general.
6. #T3b -- A man never gets what he is worth until he is worth a little more than he gets.
7. #T3c -- A man or woman is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.
8. #T3d -- A mistake is evidence that someone has tried to do something.
9. #T3e -- A yawn is bad manners but an honest opinion.
10. #18 -- Almost any system will work if the people behind it will.
11. #T2a -- Be sure to work eight hours, sleep eight hours but not the same eight hours.
12. #T3f -- Being positive, is often just being mistaken at the top of one's voice.
13. #T2b -- Blessed are they that run around in circles, for they shall be known as wheels.
14. #13 -- Don't laugh at the man who has fallen, when there are slippery places ahead.
15. #T2c -- Don't lose your temper ... no one else wants it.
16. #11 -- Don't take life seriously, you'll never get out of it alive.
17. #8 -- Every automobile has two controls; One mechanical, the other yourself.
18. #T2d -- Everybody should pay taxes with a smile; Sez he tried it, but they wanted cash!
19. #T2e -- Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over, and it is too late.
20. #T3g -- He gives little who gives much with a frown ... He gives much who gives a little with a smile.
21. #T2f -- "How True" Give me the money that was spent in War, and I will clothe every men, woman and child in an attire of which Kings and Queens would be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth., I will crown every hillside with a palace of worship consecrated to the Gospel of Peace. Charles Summer
22. #10 -- If you want a place in the sun, you'd better get used to blisters.
23. #19 -- If you work 8 hours a day, don't worry ...by and by you will be the Boss and work 14 hours a day and have all the worries.
          This an altered version of Robert Frost's: "By faithfully working eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day."
24. #4 -- In order to be promoted, you must be devoted.
25. #T2g -- It is far better to say nothing --- and be thought a fool --- than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
26. #T3h -- It isn't the rooster's early rising that makes him unpopular, it's his continual talking about it.
27. #T2h -- It's a fact! You don't get dizzy doing a good turn.
28. #T2i -- It's great to be an American. Decisions have to be made. Some are right ... some are wrong. Some please us .. some displease us. Just so long as these decisions are made with sincerity and that their purpose is for the good of all. We may agree ... we may disagree. Our viewpoint ... our mental picture ...our image may be as far apart as the North and South poles. Let us remember! To be fair ... to be tolerant and most certainly understanding in our thoughts.
29. #T3i -- It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.
30. #T2j -- Keep your eye on the ball, your shoulder to the wheel, your ear to the ground, try to work in that position.
31. #1 -- Kind words are the music of the world. [same as #T2k]
32. #T2k -- Kind words are the music of the world. [same as #1]
33. #16 -- Men who have a good deal to say use mighty few words.
34. #23 -- Money doesn't go as far as it used to, but it sure goes faster.
35. #T2l -- Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
36. #2 -- Remember: You are not fully dressed until you have put on a smile. [same as #T2m]
37. #T2m -- Remember: You are not fully dressed until you have put on a smile. [same as #2]
38. #T3j -- Sizes often are deceiving. Sometimes a woman's thumb has a man under it.
39. #T3k -- Success comes from hanging on after everyone else has let go.
40. #T2n -- Success is never final and failure never fatal --- it's courage that counts.
41. #6 -- The Difference between Perseverance and Obstinacy is that one comes from a Strong Will, the other from a Strong Won't.
42. #T2o -- The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are going.
43. #20 -- The honeymoon is over when you smile at her admiringly and she blurts, "Well, what are you looking at?"
44. #T3l -- The only man worse than a quitter, is the man who is afraid to begin.
45. #unk1 -- The proof of the pudding is in the demand for the second helping.
          unknown card type, mentioned in 1963 Fleetwood ad
46. #T3m -- The reason a dollar won't do as much as it once did, is because people won't do as much for a dollar as they once did.
47. #15 -- The silent man is worth listening to.
48. #14 -- The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.
49. #T2p -- There are two things to aim for in life: To get what you want and then enjoy it.
50. #3 -- To be an achiever, you must be a believer.
51. #17 -- Watch out for a half truth; You may be hearing the wrong half.
52. #T3n -- We can't get rid of our temper by losing it.
53. #9 -- You can't look down if you want to keep your chin up.
54. #12 -- You don't need a torch to light up your face. All you need is a smile.

• #45-22 -- Fleetwood Cover Service (ad)
        [ #45, 8(6), 7-8/1963, p. 22]
• #166-400 -- Stuffer StuÍî - Uncle Fleet ... by Wayne P. Gasper
        [ #166, 28(3), 4-01-1983, p. 400,402]

Page created by Douglas H. Henkle (Contact): henkle@pobox.com