This 1973 First Day Cover features the 8¢ Henry O. Tanner commemorative stamp issued by the United States Post Office on September 10, 1973, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Art Craft cachet honors Tanner (1859-1937) as America’s first major Black artist, reproducing his portrait alongside the painting “The Young Sabot Maker.”
Tanner’s work captured the dignity of everyday life and religious themes at a time when African American artists faced significant barriers. His recognition on a U.S. stamp marked an important moment in postal history celebrating Black achievement in the arts during the early 1970s.
The cachet includes the inscription “Painter of Life of the Common Man and Religious Subjects” and notes Tanner’s birthplace and lifespan. A distinctive element is the official first-day cancellation from Pittsburgh, the city of his birth.
The cover is addressed to Mr. Alister B. McNabney in San Francisco, California. In fine condition with a crisp postmark and colorful cachet, this FDC makes an excellent addition for collectors of Black history, American art, or 1970s commemoratives.
