This 1962 First Day Cover features the 4¢ National Apprenticeship Program stamp issued August 31 in Washington, DC. The cover bears a block of four stamps cancelled on the official first day with a crisp Washington, DC postmark.
The stamp honors the National Apprenticeship Program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Apprenticeship training, long established in Europe, had declined in the United States during the 1800s before Wisconsin revived the system in the early 1900s. That success led directly to the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937, creating a nationwide framework that pairs employers, vocational schools, and labor unions.
The left-side cachet, produced by C. Stephen Anderson, reproduces a detailed machinist illustration and carries an extensive printed history of the program. The stamp design itself shows hands using precision tools against an industrial skyline, emphasizing craftsmanship.
Addressed to Coshocton, Ohio, the cover remains in clean, collectible condition with strong strikes and fresh appearance, making it an attractive addition for collectors of labor history, education, or mid-century U.S. commemoratives.
