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vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Other_types"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Other types</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Other_types-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Features_of_a_cover" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Features_of_a_cover"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Features of a cover</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Features_of_a_cover-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Features of a cover subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Features_of_a_cover-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Postmark" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Postmark"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Postmark</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Postmark-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Special_handstamps" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Special_handstamps"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Special handstamps</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Special_handstamps-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cachet" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cachet"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Cachet</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cachet-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sources" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sources"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Sources</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sources-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet 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Available in 28 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-28" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">28 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%BA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81_%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84_%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85" title="غلاف أول يوم – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="غلاف أول يوم" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birinci_g%C3%BCn_z%C9%99rfi" title="Birinci gün zərfi – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Birinci gün zərfi" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82_%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%88%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B0_%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8F" title="Канверт першага дня – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Канверт першага дня" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs mw-list-item"><a href="https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDC" title="FDC – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs" data-title="FDC" data-language-autonym="Bosanski" data-language-local-name="Bosnian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bosanski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-br mw-list-item"><a href="https://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_deiz_kenta%C3%B1" title="An deiz kentañ – Breton" lang="br" hreflang="br" data-title="An deiz kentañ" data-language-autonym="Brezhoneg" data-language-local-name="Breton" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Brezhoneg</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%B8rstedagskuvert" title="Førstedagskuvert – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Førstedagskuvert" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ersttagsstempel" title="Ersttagsstempel – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Ersttagsstempel" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobre_Primer_D%C3%ADa" title="Sobre Primer Día – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Sobre Primer Día" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unuataga_koverto" title="Unuataga koverto – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Unuataga koverto" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_jour" title="Premier jour – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Premier jour" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%B4%88%EC%9D%BC%EB%B4%89%ED%94%BC" title="초일봉피 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="초일봉피" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampul_Hari_Pertama" title="Sampul Hari Pertama – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Sampul Hari Pertama" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busta_primo_giorno" title="Busta primo giorno – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Busta primo giorno" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%98%D7%A4%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9D_%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%9F" title="מעטפת היום הראשון – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מעטפת היום הראשון" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampul_Surat_Hari_Pertama" title="Sampul Surat Hari Pertama – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Sampul Surat Hari Pertama" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cdo mw-list-item"><a href="https://cdo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si%C5%AB-n%C4%ADk-h%C5%ADng" title="Siū-nĭk-hŭng – Mindong" lang="cdo" hreflang="cdo" data-title="Siū-nĭk-hŭng" data-language-autonym="閩東語 / Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄" data-language-local-name="Mindong" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>閩東語 / Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eerstedagenvelop" title="Eerstedagenvelop – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Eerstedagenvelop" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%88%9D%E6%97%A5%E3%82%AB%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC" title="初日カバー – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="初日カバー" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%B8rstedagsbrev" title="Førstedagsbrev – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Førstedagsbrev" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDC" title="FDC – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="FDC" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82_%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8F" title="Конверт первого дня – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Конверт первого дня" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%88" title="முதல் நாள் உறை – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="முதல் நாள் உறை" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>தமிழ்</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th mw-list-item"><a href="https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2" title="วันแรกจำหน่าย – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th" data-title="วันแรกจำหน่าย" data-language-autonym="ไทย" data-language-local-name="Thai" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ไทย</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0lk_g%C3%BCn_zarf%C4%B1" title="İlk gün zarfı – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="İlk gün zarfı" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%82_%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%88%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%B4%D0%BD%D1%8F" title="Конверт першого дня – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Конверт першого дня" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDC" title="FDC – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="FDC" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%96%E6%97%A5%E5%B0%81" title="首日封 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="首日封" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%A6%96%E6%97%A5%E5%B0%81" title="首日封 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="首日封" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q825187#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div 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data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Postage stamp franked on earliest date</div> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Alexander_Graham_Bell,_first_day_cover.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Alexander_Graham_Bell%2C_first_day_cover.jpg/280px-Alexander_Graham_Bell%2C_first_day_cover.jpg" decoding="async" width="280" height="184" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Alexander_Graham_Bell%2C_first_day_cover.jpg/420px-Alexander_Graham_Bell%2C_first_day_cover.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Alexander_Graham_Bell%2C_first_day_cover.jpg/560px-Alexander_Graham_Bell%2C_first_day_cover.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1022" data-file-height="671" /></a><figcaption>First day cover of the Alexander Graham Bell issue of 1940</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>first day of issue cover</b> or <b>first day cover</b> (FDC) is a <a href="/wiki/Postage_stamp" title="Postage stamp">postage stamp</a> on a cover, <a href="/wiki/Postal_card" title="Postal card">postal card</a> or <a href="/wiki/Stamped_envelope" title="Stamped envelope">stamped envelope</a> <a href="/wiki/Franking" title="Franking">franked</a> on the first day the issue is authorized for use<sup id="cite_ref-Bennett_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bennett-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> within the country or territory of the <a href="/wiki/Postal_administration" class="mw-redirect" title="Postal administration">stamp-issuing authority</a>. Sometimes the issue is made from a temporary or permanent foreign or overseas office. Covers that are postmarked at sea or their next port of call will carry a Paquebot postmark.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There will usually be a <b>first day of issue</b> <a href="/wiki/Postmark" title="Postmark">postmark</a>, frequently a <a href="/wiki/Pictorial_cancellation" class="mw-redirect" title="Pictorial cancellation">pictorial cancellation</a>, indicating the city and date where the item was first issued, and "first day of issue" is often used to refer to this postmark. Depending on the policy of the nation issuing the stamp, official first day postmarks may sometimes be applied to covers weeks or months after the date indicated. </p><p>Postal authorities may hold a <b>first day ceremony</b> to generate publicity for the new issue, with postal officials revealing the stamp, and with connected persons in attendance, such as descendants of the person being honored by the stamp. The ceremony may also be held in a location that has a special connection with the stamp's subject, such as the birthplace of a social movement, or at a stamp show. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Stamp_GB-Penny_Black_first_day_cover.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Stamp_GB-Penny_Black_first_day_cover.jpg/260px-Stamp_GB-Penny_Black_first_day_cover.jpg" decoding="async" width="260" height="267" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Stamp_GB-Penny_Black_first_day_cover.jpg/390px-Stamp_GB-Penny_Black_first_day_cover.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Stamp_GB-Penny_Black_first_day_cover.jpg/520px-Stamp_GB-Penny_Black_first_day_cover.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1763" data-file-height="1813" /></a><figcaption>First day cover of the world's first postage stamp, the <a href="/wiki/Penny_Black" title="Penny Black">Penny Black</a>, used on May 6, 1840 is verified by the datestamp on the backflap</figcaption></figure> <p>Prior to 1840, postage costs were very high and they were usually paid by the person who received the mail. The cost was measured by how many sheets were in the letter and how far the letter had to go. Sometimes this amounted to a very considerable sum. <a href="/wiki/Sir_Rowland_Hill" class="mw-redirect" title="Sir Rowland Hill">Sir Rowland Hill</a> calculated that the cost to the Post Office was far less than what some people were paying to send/receive their mail; this figure was just a fraction of <a href="/wiki/Penny_(British_pre-decimal_coin)" title="Penny (British pre-decimal coin)">1d</a>. Hill believed that sending mail should be affordable to all so proposed that postage should be pre-paid, based on the weight rather than the number of sheets and the cost should be drastically reduced. On 10 January 1840 a Uniform 1d postmark was released which allowed a universal penny postage rate, this was a postmark that was paid and was applied when the letter was sent. It was later decided that an adhesive label should be used to prevent forgeries and mis-use of the postal service and the <a href="/wiki/Penny_Black" title="Penny Black">Penny Black</a> stamp was born.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It was officially released for sale on 6 May 1840; however, several post offices that received the stamps prior to that date released the stamps early.<sup id="cite_ref-Buckingham_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Buckingham-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The City of Bath is known for releasing the stamps on 2 May 1840. Here began the very first First Day Covers.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Types">Types</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Types"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Event_covers">Event covers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Event covers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:USSR_1965-02-21_FDC.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/USSR_1965-02-21_FDC.jpg/220px-USSR_1965-02-21_FDC.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="153" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/USSR_1965-02-21_FDC.jpg/330px-USSR_1965-02-21_FDC.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/USSR_1965-02-21_FDC.jpg/440px-USSR_1965-02-21_FDC.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1852" data-file-height="1286" /></a><figcaption>Soviet Union first day cover for the event of the <a href="/wiki/1965_Bandy_World_Championship" title="1965 Bandy World Championship">1965 Bandy World Championship</a>, that has an arrival backstamp.</figcaption></figure> <p><a href="/wiki/Event_covers" class="mw-redirect" title="Event covers">Event covers</a>, also known as commemorative covers, instead of marking the issuance of a stamp, commemorate events. A design on the left side of the envelope (a "cachet") explains the event or anniversary being celebrated. Ideally the stamp or stamps affixed relate to the event. Cancels are obtained either from the location (e.g., Cape Canaveral, Anytown) or, in the case of the United States, from the Postal Service's Cancellation Services unit in Kansas City. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Philatelic_covers">Philatelic covers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Philatelic covers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Philatelic_cover" title="Philatelic cover">Philatelic cover</a></div> <p>Philatelic covers are <a href="/wiki/Cover_(philately)" title="Cover (philately)">envelope</a> prepared with a stamp(s), addressed and sent through the mail delivery system to create a collectible item. Information about philatelic covers is available online in catalogs and collector websites.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Other_types">Other types</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Other types"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Computer_vended_postage" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer vended postage">Computer vended postage</a> stamps issued by <a href="/wiki/Neopost" class="mw-redirect" title="Neopost">Neopost</a> had first-day-of-issue ceremonies sponsored by the company, not by an official stamp-issuing entity.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Personalised postage stamps of different designs are sometimes also given first-day-of-issue ceremonies and cancellations by the private designer. The stamps issued by private <a href="/wiki/Local_post" title="Local post">local posts</a> can also have first days of issue, as can <a href="/wiki/Artistamp" title="Artistamp">artistamps</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Features_of_a_cover">Features of a cover</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Features of a cover"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Postmark">Postmark</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Postmark"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Centenary_of_the_Red_Cross_cover_1963.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Centenary_of_the_Red_Cross_cover_1963.jpg/220px-Centenary_of_the_Red_Cross_cover_1963.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Centenary_of_the_Red_Cross_cover_1963.jpg/330px-Centenary_of_the_Red_Cross_cover_1963.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Centenary_of_the_Red_Cross_cover_1963.jpg/440px-Centenary_of_the_Red_Cross_cover_1963.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1923" data-file-height="1272" /></a><figcaption>1963 Centenary of the Red Cross cover with West Wellow postmark - where <a href="/wiki/Florence_Nightingale" title="Florence Nightingale">Florence Nightingale</a> was buried</figcaption></figure> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Postmark" title="Postmark">postmark</a> is one of the most important features of a cover. Stamps are cancelled by a postmark, which shows they have been used and can’t be re-used to send a letter. Circular Date Stamps (CDS) are the 'bread-and-butter' postmarks used on everyday mail by Post Office counters across the UK. A CDS postmark is very straight forward and only features the town’s name and the date. There is no picture. If one wanted to use a CDS postmark from a town relevant to the stamp's issue, one would have to go to the town’s local Post Office to get it. On a cover, the postmark should touch each stamp and link them to the envelope. Postmarks came to the foreground in the early 1960s, when collectors started to demand more interesting cancellations on their first day covers. For the Red Cross issue in 1963, a special <a href="/wiki/Florence_Nightingale" title="Florence Nightingale">Florence Nightingale</a> cover was posted at her birthplace, West Wellow. The Botanical Conference issue of 1964 featured primroses on the stamps, so one clever cover dealer posted his covers at <a href="/wiki/Primrose_Valley" title="Primrose Valley">Primrose Valley</a>. This kind of relevant postmark made a cover worth often ten times more than the same cover with a standard postmark issued by the <a href="/wiki/Philatelic_Bureau" class="mw-redirect" title="Philatelic Bureau">Philatelic Bureau</a> at Edinburgh (a place with no connection to the stamps).<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the US, the U.S. Postal Service chooses a city, or several, as 'official' first day cities. These have a special connection to the stamp issue being released, and these postmarks are the only ones that have the wording: 'First Day of Issue'<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Special_handstamps">Special handstamps</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Special handstamps"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:1924_British_Empire_Exhibition_special_postmark_and_slogan_postmark.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/1924_British_Empire_Exhibition_special_postmark_and_slogan_postmark.jpg/220px-1924_British_Empire_Exhibition_special_postmark_and_slogan_postmark.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="190" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/1924_British_Empire_Exhibition_special_postmark_and_slogan_postmark.jpg/330px-1924_British_Empire_Exhibition_special_postmark_and_slogan_postmark.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/1924_British_Empire_Exhibition_special_postmark_and_slogan_postmark.jpg/440px-1924_British_Empire_Exhibition_special_postmark_and_slogan_postmark.jpg 2x" data-file-width="844" data-file-height="728" /></a><figcaption>Examples of special slogan and special postmarks for the 1924 British Empire Exhibition</figcaption></figure> <p>With postmarks becoming more and more important to the covers, pictorial postmarks became very popular. Pictorial postmarks are also known as Special Handstamps/Postmarks. In 1924, the first commemorative set of stamps for the British Empire Exhibition had both special postmarks and a special slogan, but it was not until the late 1960s and early 1970s that dealers and organisations really caught on that you could sponsor/design a connected postmark and it would make an ordinary cover something special.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2022)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> These days anyone can sponsor a postmark. They need to design the postmark, get it approved by <a href="/wiki/Royal_Mail" title="Royal Mail">Royal Mail</a> and then pay a fee. The postmark then becomes the property of Royal Mail and anyone is allowed to use it on their covers. This means that to a certain extent, most cover producers “borrow” other people’s postmarks. However, to be an “official” cover, a postmark has to be on the cover produced by the organisation that sponsored the postmark in the first place.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Cachet">Cachet</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Cachet"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>As the collecting of first day covers became more popular they began to appear on prepared envelopes, often with an illustration (commonly referred to by collectors as a <a href="/wiki/Cachet" title="Cachet">cachet</a>) that corresponded with the theme of the stamp.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Several printing companies began producing such envelopes and often hired freelance illustrators to design their cachets such as <a href="/wiki/Charles_R._Chickering" title="Charles R. Chickering">Charles R. Chickering</a> who in his earlier years designed <a href="/wiki/Postage_stamps" class="mw-redirect" title="Postage stamps">postage stamps</a> for the U.S. Post Office.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Cachets, which should not be confused with postmarks, are basically rubber stamps. Postmarks can only be applied by official <a href="/wiki/Post_Office" class="mw-redirect" title="Post Office">Post Offices</a> whereas anyone can design a cachet and put it on their cover. A cachet makes a cover unique and helps tell the story of the cover. It can say whether the cover was carried (for example, covers were carried on the very last flight of the <a href="/wiki/Concorde" title="Concorde">Concorde</a>), who the signer was or information about the postmark. Royal Mail no longer counts pre-decimal stamps as valid and won’t postmark them, a cachet can therefore be used to <i>cancel</i> a pre-decimal stamp on a cover. It provides a link between that stamp and the envelope. They can also be used to <i>cancel</i> <a href="/wiki/Cinderella_stamps" class="mw-redirect" title="Cinderella stamps">Cinderella stamps</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Earliest_reported_postmark" title="Earliest reported postmark">Earliest reported postmark</a> on stamped envelopes</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Bennett-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Bennett_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bennett, Russell and Watson, James; <i>Philatelic Terms Illustrated</i>, Stanley Gibbons Publications, London (1978)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFMiller" class="citation web cs1">Miller, Rick. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.linns.com/insights/stamp-collecting-basics/2004/december/paquebot-mail-begins-at-sea--postmarked-on-land.html#">"Insights Stamp Collecting Basics 2004 December Paquebot mail begins at sea, postmarked on land Paquebot mail begins at sea, postmarked on land"</a>. <i>Linn's Stamps</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Linn%27s+Stamps&rft.atitle=Insights+Stamp+Collecting+Basics+2004+December+Paquebot+mail+begins+at+sea%2C+postmarked+on+land+Paquebot+mail+begins+at+sea%2C+postmarked+on+land&rft.aulast=Miller&rft.aufirst=Rick&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linns.com%2Finsights%2Fstamp-collecting-basics%2F2004%2Fdecember%2Fpaquebot-mail-begins-at-sea--postmarked-on-land.html%23&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMuir2011" class="citation web cs1">Muir, Douglas (2011-12-12). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://postalheritage.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/rowland-hill-the-penny-black/">"Rowland Hill & the Penny Black"</a>. <i>The Postal Museum</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=The+Postal+Museum&rft.atitle=Rowland+Hill+%26+the+Penny+Black&rft.date=2011-12-12&rft.aulast=Muir&rft.aufirst=Douglas&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fpostalheritage.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F12%2F12%2Frowland-hill-the-penny-black%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Buckingham-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Buckingham_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Buckingham, Tony; <i>Essential Guide to British First Day Covers</i>, Stanley Gibbons/Benham Publications, London (1999)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMilne" class="citation web cs1">Milne, Gordon. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.gbstamps.com/gbcc/gbcc_bath_postal_mus.html">"In the Spotlight"</a>. <i>GB Stamps</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=GB+Stamps&rft.atitle=In+the+Spotlight&rft.aulast=Milne&rft.aufirst=Gordon&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gbstamps.com%2Fgbcc%2Fgbcc_bath_postal_mus.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://colnect.com/en/philatelic_products/countries/format/2-First_Day_Cover_-_FDC/subformat/3-Envelope">"First Day Cover - FDC : Philatelic Products : Countries List [Subformat: Envelope]"</a>. <i>colnect.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2019-03-29</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=colnect.com&rft.atitle=First+Day+Cover+-+FDC+%3A+Philatelic+Products+%3A+Countries+List+%5BSubformat%3A+Envelope%5D&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fcolnect.com%2Fen%2Fphilatelic_products%2Fcountries%2Fformat%2F2-First_Day_Cover_-_FDC%2Fsubformat%2F3-Envelope&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://cvpcollector.tripod.com/id15.html">Neopost Covers</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBuckingham" class="citation web cs1">Buckingham, Tony. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://buckinghamcovers.com/glossary/index.php">"Glossary"</a>. <i>Buckingham Covers</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Buckingham+Covers&rft.atitle=Glossary&rft.aulast=Buckingham&rft.aufirst=Tony&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbuckinghamcovers.com%2Fglossary%2Findex.php&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.afdcs.org/fdccourse.html">"A Short Course on First Day Covers"</a>. <i>American First Day Cover Society</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=American+First+Day+Cover+Society&rft.atitle=A+Short+Course+on+First+Day+Covers&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.afdcs.org%2Ffdccourse.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRoyal_Mail2007" class="citation web cs1">Royal Mail (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150616000314/https://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Postmarks_2012.pdf">"All About Postmarks"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>Royal Mail</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Postmarks_2012.pdf">the original</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span> on 16 June 2015.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Royal+Mail&rft.atitle=All+About+Postmarks&rft.date=2007&rft.au=Royal+Mail&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalmail.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FPostmarks_2012.pdf&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#Hudgeons">Hudgeons, 2009</a>, pp.592-609</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#Lerner">Lerner, 2010</a>, pp.10-11</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBuckingham" class="citation web cs1">Buckingham, Tony. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://buckinghamcovers.com/glossary/glossary-letter.php?letter=C">"Glossary"</a>. <i>Buckingham Covers</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Buckingham+Covers&rft.atitle=Glossary&rft.aulast=Buckingham&rft.aufirst=Tony&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbuckinghamcovers.com%2Fglossary%2Fglossary-letter.php%3Fletter%3DC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Sources">Sources</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Sources"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="Hudgeons" class="citation book cs1">Hudgeons, Marc; et al. (2009). <i>The Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps 2010</i>. Random House. p. 656. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780375723247" title="Special:BookSources/9780375723247"><bdi>9780375723247</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Official+Blackbook+Price+Guide+to+United+States+Postage+Stamps+2010&rft.pages=656&rft.pub=Random+House&rft.date=2009&rft.isbn=9780375723247&rft.aulast=Hudgeons&rft.aufirst=Marc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="Buckingham" class="citation book cs1">Buckingham, Tony (1999). <i>Essential Guide to British First Day Covers</i>. Stanley Gibbons. p. 16. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0852594879" title="Special:BookSources/0852594879"><bdi>0852594879</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Essential+Guide+to+British+First+Day+Covers&rft.pages=16&rft.pub=Stanley+Gibbons&rft.date=1999&rft.isbn=0852594879&rft.aulast=Buckingham&rft.aufirst=Tony&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFirst+day+of+issue" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=First_day_of_issue&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.afdcs.org/">American First Day Cover Society</a> – For FDC collectors, active since 1955.</li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/24px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></a></span> Media related to <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:First_day_covers" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:First day covers">First day covers</a> at Wikimedia Commons</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist 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style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_postal_history" title="Timeline of postal history">Timeline of postal history</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Postal_history_of_Africa" title="Template:Postal history of Africa">African countries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Postal_history_of_Asia" title="Template:Postal history of Asia">Asian countries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Postal_history_of_Europe" title="Template:Postal history of Europe">European countries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Postal_history_of_Oceania" title="Template:Postal history of Oceania">Oceanian countries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Template:Postal_history_of_the_Americas" title="Template:Postal history of the Americas">Pan-American countries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postal_censorship" title="Postal censorship">Postal censorship</a></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="8" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Cartica.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Envelope for mailing"><img alt="Envelope for mailing" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Cartica.png/70px-Cartica.png" decoding="async" width="70" height="70" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Cartica.png/105px-Cartica.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Cartica.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128" /></a><figcaption>Envelope for mailing</figcaption></figure></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Components</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Advertising_mail" title="Advertising mail">Advertising mail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bulk_mail" title="Bulk mail">Bulk mail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Envelope" title="Envelope">Envelope</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indicia_(philately)" title="Indicia (philately)">Indicia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Information-Based_Indicia" title="Information-Based Indicia">Information-Based Indicia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Letter_box" title="Letter box">Letter box</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mail" title="Mail">Mail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mail_bag" title="Mail bag">Mail bag</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Meter_stamp" title="Meter stamp">Meter stamp</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parcel_post" title="Parcel post">Parcel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parcel_locker" title="Parcel locker">Parcel locker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Post_box" title="Post box">Post box / Mailbox</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Relay_box" title="Relay box">Relay box</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Post_office" title="Post office">Post office</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Post_office_box" title="Post office box">Post office box</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postage_meter" title="Postage meter">Postage meter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postage_stamp" title="Postage stamp">Postage stamp</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postal_code" title="Postal code">Postal code</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postal_marking" title="Postal marking">Postal marking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Variable_value_stamp" title="Variable value stamp">Variable value stamp</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Delivery</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Airmail" title="Airmail">Airmail</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Express_mail" title="Express mail">Express</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Package_delivery" title="Package delivery">Package delivery</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Registered_mail" title="Registered mail">Registered</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Surface_mail" title="Surface mail">Surface</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Surface_Air_Lifted" title="Surface Air Lifted">Surface Air Lifted (SAL)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Staff</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mail_carrier" title="Mail carrier">Mail carrier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postal_worker" title="Postal worker">Postal worker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postmaster" title="Postmaster">Postmaster</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postmaster_General" title="Postmaster General">Postmaster General</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Processing</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Intelligent_Mail_barcode" title="Intelligent Mail barcode">Intelligent Mail barcode</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mail_Isolation_Control_and_Tracking" title="Mail Isolation Control and Tracking">Mail Isolation Control and Tracking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Multiline_Optical_Character_Reader" class="mw-redirect" title="Multiline Optical Character Reader">Multiline Optical Character Reader</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mail_cover" title="Mail cover">Mail cover</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mail_sorting" title="Mail sorting">Mail sorting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Package_forwarding" title="Package forwarding">Package forwarding</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postal_Alpha_Numeric_Encoding_Technique" title="Postal Alpha Numeric Encoding Technique">PLANET</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/POSTNET" title="POSTNET">POSTNET</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"> Institutions and systems</div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_postal_entities" title="List of postal entities">Postal entities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Postal_museum" title="Postal museum">Postal museums</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_national_postal_services" title="List of national postal services">Postal services</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Postal_systems_by_country" title="Category:Postal systems by country">Postal systems by country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Postal_trade_unions" title="Category:Postal trade unions">Trade unions</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Courier" title="Courier">Courier</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Philately" title="Philately">Philately</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_philatelic_items" title="List of most expensive philatelic items">most expensive 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(F–L)">F–L</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_entities_that_have_issued_postage_stamps_(M%E2%80%93Z)" title="List of entities that have issued postage stamps (M–Z)">M–Z</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"><div> <ul><li><b><span class="nowrap"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Stamp_UK_Penny_Red_pl148.jpg/24px-Stamp_UK_Penny_Red_pl148.jpg" decoding="async" width="24" height="28" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Stamp_UK_Penny_Red_pl148.jpg/35px-Stamp_UK_Penny_Red_pl148.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Stamp_UK_Penny_Red_pl148.jpg/47px-Stamp_UK_Penny_Red_pl148.jpg 2x" data-file-width="450" data-file-height="534" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Philately" title="Portal:Philately">Philately portal</a></b></li> <li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span 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