First day covers-stamps that are mailed attached to an imprinted envelope from a significant post office on a specific day-are a popular specialty item collected by stamp collectors. These special-issue stamps can commemorate historical events, cultural topics, or any number of other subjects.
The U.S. Postal Service has issued many series of first day covers, including one in 1995 on the Civil War, commemorating events and famous figures from both sides of the conflict; Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee as well as Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass are among those depicted. Another series dating from 1934 celebrates America's National Parks. A 1986 series of all 50 state flags was issued, each cover mailed from a post office in the appropriate state. And covers have been issued honoring many famous Americans; the cover of Alexander Graham Bell was sent from a post office in Bell's native Boston. During the 1964-1965 World's Fair in New York, some foreign pavilions chose to issue first day of issue covers. The Vatican celebrated both Pope Paul VI's visit to the Pavilion and the enormously popular exhibition of Michelangelo's famous Pieta with first day covers.
Although first day covers can occasionally be found that were not mailed and are in their original condition, most were sent through the U.S. mail and include the name and address of the original recipient-an added bit of interest to collectors. It's a fascinating specialty, one that connects the stamp collectors of today with those involved with the hobby years ago.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com.