This First Day Cover bears the 5¢ Civil War Centennial Appomattox stamp issued by the United States Post Office on April 9, 1965. The cover is postmarked in Appomattox, Virginia—the exact site of the 1865 surrender—and features a colorful cachet by W. Park depicting Union and Confederate soldiers folding their respective flags.
The stamp commemorates the centennial of the Civil War’s conclusion. On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the four-year conflict that had divided the nation.
A notable detail is the cachet’s reproduction of the famous closing lines: “They tenderly fold their flags, battle-worn and torn, blood-stained, heart holding colors, and lay them down…” The artwork also shows stacked rifles, symbolizing the end of hostilities between brothers.
In fine condition with a crisp strike of the first-day postmark, this cover is an attractive addition for collectors of Civil War philately, U.S. commemoratives, or topical FDCs.
