Ohio news

Aug. 25, 2023

USPS Celebrates the 100th Year Anniversary of First Day Cover Collecting

Modern First Day Cover Collectiing postmark

What:

The U.S. Postal Service will be celebrating the 100th year anniversary of first day cover collecting. A first day cover involves affixing a postage stamp to an envelope and canceling it on the very first day the stamp is released. This practice was created by Linn’s Stamp News founder George W. Linn in 1923 at the Warren G. Harding stamp release.

Who:

Marion, OH Postmaster Keith Etherington; Linn’s Stamp News Editor-in-Chief Jay Bigalke; Executive Director of the Marion County Historical Society Brandi Wilson; Site Manager of the Harding Presidential Sites Sherry Hall; Expert on the Warren G. Harding Stamp Dr. Jim Hering; and First Day Cover Collector Allison Cusick

When:

Friday, September 1, 2023, at 9 a.m. EDT

Where:

Marion County Historical Society
169 E Church Street
Marion, OH 43302

Background:

First day covers provide a tangible connection to significant events and commemorations. Collectors value first day covers not only for their philatelic significance, but also as a unique piece of history.

To celebrate, USPS will host a commemorative ceremony at the Marion County Historical Society. The building was previously the Marion Post Office and happens to be where George W. Linn created the first day cover of the Warren G. Harding stamp. The event will hold a reenactment of the event and offer a ceremonial postmarking for attendees.

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The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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