An Old Passion

Welcome to Shaddy's Stamp Presentation.
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Please refrain from applauding until after the last item is shown. :)


A detailed description of my stamp collection follows these photos.

These stamped and decorated envelopes are FDCs, First Day Covers.

I purchased a number of my collection of FDCs from individuals who offered them for sale in stamp collection publications.

Most of my first day covers are simply plain envelopes which I addressed to the Postmaster of the post office which was designated for that first day issue postmark. They postmarked my envelope and returned it to me in my self-addressed envelope. I didn't include a photo since these with cachets are more fun to look at.

You can click on the images to enlarge them for closer examination.

I think you'll like these old cars, Tom.

I personally added the decorated areas, known as cachets, on the Vermont, Common Dolphin, Killer Whale, Flower and Greetings envelopes.

This is a First Day Ceremony Program. They are given to those who attend first day ceremonies. They contain a list of participants, information on the stamp subject and the actual stamp attached and postmarked.

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This is the cover of the program designed in honor of Ernest Hemingway's stamp.






The inside of the program is pictured here.

This is the cover of another item in my collection, the Desert Postal Card ceremony program.

I also collected "plate blocks." Found on sheet stamps, plate blocks are the stamps--usually a group of 4--that have the printing plate numbers in the adjoining selvage or margin.

I'm not sure if these are FDCs since they don't have a first day issue postmark on them. I do like the unique postmarks they do have.

In the late 80s and early 90s, I enjoyed a type of stamp collecting that focuses on FDCs or First Day Covers. I subscribed to a publication that told me when the newly designed U.S. stamps were going to be issued. Every new stamp is initially issued at one specific United States Post Office, one which has some connection with the subject of the stamp. A ceremony is held at that post office. This newly issued stamp isn’t sold anywhere else in the U.S. until the following day.
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Collecting envelopes with the “First Day of Issue” postmark was my hobby for quite a few years. Why would I want to spend time in that way? I’m not sure. I didn’t have a blog so this pastime drew me in. Perhaps I did it so I'd have something to blog about when I became a writer. Right! (in jest).

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All of the binders shown at the top of this post are filled the various items which I collected during my days as a philatelist. Until today, I can't remember when I last pulled the binders from their cases. It was great fun going through everything and I hope you also get a kick out of some of my "stuff."