{"product_id":"1971-united-states-postal-service-8-washington-dc-first-day-cover-1","title":"1971 United States Postal Service 8¢ Washington, DC First Day Cover","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Art Craft cacheted First Day Cover marks the July 1, 1971 inauguration of the United States Postal Service with the 8¢ USPS emblem stamp. The postmark is from Washington, DC, the official first-day city.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn that date the Post Office Department was reorganized into an independent establishment of the executive branch, ending cabinet-level status and giving the new USPS greater operational autonomy. The cachet dramatically illustrates this transition, showing a modern letter carrier alongside a Pony Express rider.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArt Craft’s distinctive black-and-white design and the bold “INAUGURATION OF THE United States Postal Service” headline make this cover instantly recognizable to collectors of postal reorganization and postal history issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe cover is addressed to Ocean City, New Jersey, a well-known Atlantic resort community whose historic boardwalk and post office have long been popular with philatelists.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA clean, well-centered example ideal for a U.S. postal history or 1970s topical collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maple Springs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51392039288996,"sku":null,"price":4.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/4713\/5908\/files\/20260629141216.jpg?v=1782776077","url":"https:\/\/maplespringsllc.com\/products\/1971-united-states-postal-service-8-washington-dc-first-day-cover-1","provider":"Maple Springs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}