First Day Covers

First day cover is a an envelope, post card or other postal material that includes the stamp and post mark cancellation all processed at the post office where the stamp is issued. The cancellation is most often a special design, made especially for each stamp and usually will include First Day of Issue or very similar text associated with it. There are also an occasional ceremony associate with the stamp, especially if it depicts a famous person, place or other well known piece of art.

Collecting these first day covers is a great and exciting aspect of stamp collecting. They are both historic and highly collectible. They will also have a well developed gathering of information and resources associated with them. Another particularly popular addition to collecting first day stamps is the cachet. This is simply the enlarged image of the stamp itself, usually added to the envelope to add to the aesthetic of the stamp collection. Sometimes a local artist will make the artwork, adding another level of collectibility and value to your first day stamps collection.