This First Day Cover features the 8¢ Colonial American Craftsmen stamp issued July 4, 1972, in Williamsburg, Virginia. The green-and-red cachet depicts a colonial hatter at work and is inscribed “Bicentennial Era” and “First day of issue.”
The stamp belongs to the Bicentennial Era series that honored the trades and artisans of early America in the years leading to the 1976 national celebration. Williamsburg, the restored colonial capital, was a fitting first-day city for the issue.
A notable detail is that the cachet illustrates the hatter while the stamp design itself shows a potter, highlighting different craftsmen from the same series. The postmark date of July 4 carries extra patriotic resonance.
In fine condition with a clear Williamsburg, VA cancel, this cover makes an attractive addition to any Bicentennial, colonial crafts, or topical FDC collection.
