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EVENT COVERS
Event Covers celebrate a specific event and the cachet or
cover art relates to that event. Events covers have a wide range
of topics and include Bi-Centennial Celebrations, Military
Events, Sporting Events, and Festivals such as Mardi Gras.
FIRST DAY COVERS
A First Day Cover is an envelope or other
postally stamped item bearing a cancellation date that
represents the first day of issue for that stamp. They are
usually issued in only one city and the envelope is canceled
with a special cancellation, "First Day of Issue."
The "First Day City" is generally chosen
for it's relation to the subject matter of the stamp. The covers
can be acquired from the issuing Post Office for a period of 30
days after the actual issue date. They can also be purchased
from the USPS Stamp Fulfillment Center in Kansas City.
Cachets are a design of words
and/or graphic art which refer specifically to the stamps
subject. The purpose of the cachet is to enhance the meaning and
appearance of the envelope. They are in fact, miniature works of
art.
Many First Day of Issue Cover collectors prefer
to service their own covers. Since First Day covers are
available for 30 days from the issuing post office, one method
of servicing your own covers is as follows:
(1) Purchase the new issue from your local post
office when it becomes available. (If your local post office
does not carry the new stamp you may have to visit a larger post
office in the area that includes a Philatelic Center.)
(2) Affix your stamp/s to the upper right
hand corner of the envelope, (usually 1/4 inch from both the
right and top edges).
(3) Fasten a peelable label containing your
address near the bottom center of the envelope. (Blank peelable
labels are available at most office supply stores.)
(4) Place a filler card (thin piece of
cardboard) inside your envelope.
(5) Place your cover or covers inside of a
stamped outer envelope addressed to the First Day of issue city
and mail it.
EXAMPLE:
Postmaster
Customer-Affixed Envelopes
Name of First Day City, State, ZIP Code-9991
(or the ZIP+4 Code given).
Note: First Day Cities and their
addresses are listed on the USPS
Website and in the various Stamp Weekly's. Artcraft
also maintains an online issue calendar which lists the
addresses of the First
Day Cities.
There is no additional payment required, however
the envelope must arrive at the designated First Day Post Office
within the 30 day time frame.
With the advent of low-cost computer graphics
programs and printers, it has become much easier for the layman
to produce well designed cachets of their own.
If you decide to produce your own
cachets/artwork on the cover, you can place your cachet on
the envelope prior to sending it to the post office or apply it
after you receive the cover back as an add-on cachet.
You can also purchase un-cacheted First Day
Covers directly from the USPS Philatelic Center
(800-782-6724) in Kansas City and then add your cachet after
receiving your cover/s.
Another way to receive First Day of Issue covers
is to join an FDC Subscription Service. Many of the larger
cachet producers provide a service of this type and most
of them are listed in Stamp Weekly or BI-Weekly newspapers such
as Lynn's
or Stamp
Collector
Artcraft, Brookman, Mystic,
Julian Pugh, Kendal Bevil, House
of Farnam, and Fred Collins are a few of
the cachet makers that provide cover subscription services.
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