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
August 7—42¢ Disney: Imagination. The fifth in this series feature the movies “101 Dalmatians,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Steamboat Willie” (Mickey Mouse’s debut), and “The Jungle Book.” Pane of 20.
FDCs:
Disney Imagination Stamp,
Postmaster, 701 N.Loara St.
Anaheim, CA 92803-9998.
FDC deadline October 8
August 7—27¢ Disney: Imagination Postal Cards. Same as above. Booklet of 20 cards priced $13.95.
FDCs:
Disney Imagination Card,
Postmaster, 701 N.Loara St.
Anaheim, CA 92803-9998.
FDC deadline October 8
August 14—42¢ American Treasures: Albert Bierstadt. The German-born American Hudson River School Painter (1830-1902) is represented by the landscape “Valley of the Yosemite.” Booklet of 20.
FDCs:
Albert Bierstadt Stamp,
Postmaster, Hartford MPO
141 Weston St.
Hartford, CT 06101-9998.
FDC deadline October 15
August 15—42¢ Sunflower. Double sided booklet of 20.
FDCs:
Sunflower Stamp,
Postmaster, 701 N.Loara St.
Anaheim, CA 92803-9998.
FDC deadline October 16
August 16—42¢ Elk Envelope. Offset lithography printing, #10, 9 (Security), and 6-3/4 sizes, windows & regular.
FDCs:
Elk Envelope Stamp,
Postmaster, 701 N.Loara St.
Anaheim, CA 92803-9998.
FDC deadline October 17
August 22—First Class. Forever Stamp. 2008 version from Ashton Potter & Avery Dennison. Double-sided booklet of 20.
FDCs:
Forever Stamp,
Postmaster, 301 W.Broad St.
Falls Church, VA 22046-9998.
FDC deadline October 21
September 2—42¢ Flags of our Nation. Second of six groups of 10 stamps (DC, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas) to be issued over two years. Coil of 50.
FDCs:
Flags of our Nation Stamp,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-9998.
FDC deadline November 3
September 8—42¢ Latin Jazz. Pane of 20.
FDCs:
Latin Jazz Stamp,
Postmaster, Special Cancellations
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-9998.
FDC deadline November 9
September 18—42¢ Legends of Hollywood: Bette Davis. Design based on a studio still from the 1938 classic “Jezebel,” while margin photo is from the 1950 “All About Eve.” Pane of 20 Pane of 20.
FDCs:
Bette Davis Stamp, First Day of Issue
USPS Boston Retail Team
25 Dorchester Ave., Rm. 3011
Boston, MA 02205-9998.
FDC deadline November 19
To Order E-mail Elaine TODAY at:
StampNewsNow@verizon.net
StampNewsNow@verizon.net
To Order E-mail Elaine TODAY at:
StampNewsNow@verizon.net
StampNewsNow@verizon.net