First Day Covers
What Are First Day Covers?
First Day Covers are envelopes that bear a stamp cancelled on the first day it was issued.
Over the years the form that these covers take has changed. Covers that come down to us from the 19th century would have been those that happened to be commercially used—that is not prepared by collectors—on the first day the stamp was issued.
In many instances, even into the 20th Century for some stamps, the precise date of issue is not known, so Earliest Known, or Documented, Usages become the next best thing to FDCs.
As they were not intended to be collectibles, those early FDCs do not bear the First Day Cancellation that we see today. Instead, we see whatever cancel happened to be used where the cover was processed.
Those covers also would have come from whatever city the stamp might have been available, as opposed to the “Official First Day of Issue” sites that have become customary for most issues.
(Even today, some collectors who prefer postally used FDCs seek commercially used covers instead of those cancelled by the USPS. )
Over the years the form that these covers take has changed. Covers that come down to us from the 19th century would have been those that happened to be commercially used—that is not prepared by collectors—on the first day the stamp was issued.
In many instances, even into the 20th Century for some stamps, the precise date of issue is not known, so Earliest Known, or Documented, Usages become the next best thing to FDCs.
As they were not intended to be collectibles, those early FDCs do not bear the First Day Cancellation that we see today. Instead, we see whatever cancel happened to be used where the cover was processed.
Those covers also would have come from whatever city the stamp might have been available, as opposed to the “Official First Day of Issue” sites that have become customary for most issues.
(Even today, some collectors who prefer postally used FDCs seek commercially used covers instead of those cancelled by the USPS. )
Collecting First Day Covers
As FDCs became a popular collecting area, the Post Office Department began producing special First Day of Issue cancellations, and arranged for collectors to send in their covers to receive the FDOI cancel. Those early FDOI cancels did not bear an illustration; today, the cancellation incorporates a design that is related to the stamp subject.
At first, collectors were required to send in the covers before the stamp was actually issued. Those rules were later relaxed so that today for most stamps, collectors have 60 days after the date of issue in which to submit their requests. However, those covers must bear the stamp(s) to which the FDOI cancel is to be applied.
The U.S. Postal Service also now sells its own FDCs for a modest premium over the face value of the stamp(s); however, those covers are blanks, and do not have the cachets—that is the designs printed or painted on the left side of, or all over, the cover—that most collectors prefer. Such cacheted covers may be obtained from Stamp News First Day Cover advertisers.
Another wrinkle added by the USPS are digital color cancels. For an extra $1.50 collectors can have a specially designed color cancel instead of the standard, free, black cancel that most collectors still use.
At first, collectors were required to send in the covers before the stamp was actually issued. Those rules were later relaxed so that today for most stamps, collectors have 60 days after the date of issue in which to submit their requests. However, those covers must bear the stamp(s) to which the FDOI cancel is to be applied.
The U.S. Postal Service also now sells its own FDCs for a modest premium over the face value of the stamp(s); however, those covers are blanks, and do not have the cachets—that is the designs printed or painted on the left side of, or all over, the cover—that most collectors prefer. Such cacheted covers may be obtained from Stamp News First Day Cover advertisers.
Another wrinkle added by the USPS are digital color cancels. For an extra $1.50 collectors can have a specially designed color cancel instead of the standard, free, black cancel that most collectors still use.
Obtaining First Day Covers
To obtain the FDOI cancellation on a cover of your choosing, you must send the cover with the stamp affixed in the upper right, or in a position allowing enough room to fit the cancellation on the cover. The preferred envelope size is a #6 (6-3/4" wide) and should be a sturdy, acid-free stock.
The cover also will need an address to which it should be returned. Since unaddressed covers are the standard collecting form for FDCs, a peelable label is the suggested form.
To send the cover to the address to which it must be sent for the FDOI cancel, your FDCs should be sent in an outer envelope.
Nowadays, to prevent an additional cancellation’s being applied in transit, or other damage to the cover, some collectors send along another return-addressed envelope in which the FDC can be returned by the USPS. If a cover is damaged, or if you do not receive all of your covers, submit a full description of your request to Stamp Fulfillment Services, Cancellation Services, P.O. BOX 499992, Kansas City, MO 64144-9992. The description should include the stamp issue, a description of the envelope, the number and placement of stamps, quantity of covers, and any other information that may assist in locating or replacing your covers. Requests for exchanges or claims must be received within six months of the issue date. Damaged covers, and claims for non-receipt should be sent to:
Covers sent for cancellation must be sufficient
postage to cover the First Class rate. This is important for stamps with a denomination less than that First Class rate.
In addition to the new issue for which the FD cancel is being sought, you can place other stamps adjacent to that stamp. Even used or foreign stamps are acceptable, as long as there is sufficient unused postage to cover the First Class rate, and those used or foreign stamps are affixed in such a way that they will not be cancelled by the FDOI cancellation.
Each cover must have inside a filler card of index or postal card thickness, with the envelope either sealed or with the flap tucked in—the latter being the preferred.
The addresses to which covers should be sent are supplied by the U.S. Postal Service. They are published in Mekeel’s & Stamps as they are received, and they are posted to our online:
USPS New Issues Calendar.
The cover also will need an address to which it should be returned. Since unaddressed covers are the standard collecting form for FDCs, a peelable label is the suggested form.
To send the cover to the address to which it must be sent for the FDOI cancel, your FDCs should be sent in an outer envelope.
Nowadays, to prevent an additional cancellation’s being applied in transit, or other damage to the cover, some collectors send along another return-addressed envelope in which the FDC can be returned by the USPS. If a cover is damaged, or if you do not receive all of your covers, submit a full description of your request to Stamp Fulfillment Services, Cancellation Services, P.O. BOX 499992, Kansas City, MO 64144-9992. The description should include the stamp issue, a description of the envelope, the number and placement of stamps, quantity of covers, and any other information that may assist in locating or replacing your covers. Requests for exchanges or claims must be received within six months of the issue date. Damaged covers, and claims for non-receipt should be sent to:
Covers sent for cancellation must be sufficient
postage to cover the First Class rate. This is important for stamps with a denomination less than that First Class rate.
In addition to the new issue for which the FD cancel is being sought, you can place other stamps adjacent to that stamp. Even used or foreign stamps are acceptable, as long as there is sufficient unused postage to cover the First Class rate, and those used or foreign stamps are affixed in such a way that they will not be cancelled by the FDOI cancellation.
Each cover must have inside a filler card of index or postal card thickness, with the envelope either sealed or with the flap tucked in—the latter being the preferred.
The addresses to which covers should be sent are supplied by the U.S. Postal Service. They are published in Mekeel’s & Stamps as they are received, and they are posted to our online:
USPS New Issues Calendar.
FDC Ordering Calendar 2008
June 6—$4.80 Mount Rushmore Stamp. Priority Mail.
FDCs:
Mount Rushmore Stamp,
Postmaster, 6841 Elm St.
McLean, VA 22101-9998.
FDC deadline August 7
June 7—1¢ Tiffany Lamp Stamp.
WAG Coil of 3000. FDCs:
Tiffany Lamp Stamp,
Postmaster, 6841 Elm St.
McLean, VA 22101-9998.
FDC deadline August 8
June 10—42¢ Love: All Heart stamp.
Booklet of 20. FDCs:
Love: All Heart Stamp,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline August 11
June 10—42¢ and 59¢ Wedding Stamps.
Convertible booklet of 20. FDCs:
Wedding Hearts Stamps,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline August 11
June 14—42¢ Flags of Our Nation Stamps. First of six groups of ten to be issued over the next 2 years.
Coil of 50. FDCs:
Flags of Our Nation Stamps,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline August 15
June 20—$16.50 Hoover Dam Stamp. Express Mail rate.
Pane of 50. FDCs:
Hoover Dam Express Mail Stamp,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline August 15
June 20—42¢ Official Mail Stamp. #10 stamped envelope.
Coil of 100 & #10 stamped envelope. FDCs:
Official Mail Stamped Envelope,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline August 15
June 17—42¢ Charles & Ray Eames, Modern Design Furniture.
Pane of 16 different stamps. FDCs:
Eames Stamps,
Postmaster, 1248 Fifth St.,
Santa Monica, CA 90401-9998.
FDC deadline August 16
June 19—42¢ Olympic Games, The Games begin in August (08-08-08, since “8” is considered a lucky number in China), Pane of 20. FDCs:
Olympic Games Stamps,
Postmaster, Special Cancels,
2970 Market St. Room 525
Philadelphia, PA 19104-9998.
FDC deadline August 18
July 10—42¢ Celebrate.
Pane of 20. FDCs:
Celebrate Stamp ,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations,
P.O. Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline Spetember 11
July 15—10¢ American Clock.
Pane of 20. FDCs:
American Clock Stamp ,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations,
P.O. Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline Spetember 18
July 16—42¢ "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".
Centennial of the song. A classic 1880s trade card provides the illustration. Pane of 20. FDCs:
Take Me Out to the Ball Game Stamp,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations,
P.O. Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline Spetember 16
July 16—42¢ Vintage Black Cinema. Vintage posters from the 1920s and 1930s on 5 stamps feature: “Black and Tan” (1929, Duke Ellington); “Hallelujah” (1929, King Vidor production); “The Sport of the Gods” (from a 1921 Paul Laurence Dunbar novel); “Caledonia” (a 1945 short starring Louis Jordan and Cab Calloway); and “Princess Tam-Tam” (1935, a French movie starring Josephine Baker). Pane of 20. FDCs:
Vintage Black Cinema Stamps,
Customer Relations Coordinator
2 Federal Square Room 211
Newark, NJ 07102-2282.
FDC deadline Spetember 17
July 16—42¢ "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".
Centennial of the song. A classic 1880s trade card provides the illustration. Pane of 20. FDCs:
Take Me Out to the Ball Game Stamp,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations,
P.O. Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282.
FDC deadline Spetember 16
