This First Day Cover features the 4¢ U.S. Customs commemorative stamp issued February 22, 1964, in Washington, DC. The cachet illustrates a map of the United States flanked by historic flags and boldly proclaims “175 YEARS OF SERVICE” from 1789 to 1964.
The U.S. Customs Service, one of the federal government’s oldest agencies, was created by the First Congress in 1789 to collect duties that funded the new nation’s operations. By 1964 it had grown into a vital force protecting American commerce and borders while generating essential revenue.
A notable detail is the cachet’s clever use of the continental outline as both map and banner, with the dates 1789 and 1964 flanking the Customs Service seal—an elegant graphic nod to nearly two centuries of continuous service.
This clean, unaddressed cover makes an attractive addition to collections focused on American institutions, government history, or mid-century commemoratives.
