This official First Day Cover features the 13¢ California Republic stamp issued February 23, 1976, in Washington, DC, as part of the Bicentennial Era series. The cachet depicts the statue of Thomas Starr King with the California state flag and highlights his role in preserving the state's loyalty to the Union.
California entered the Union as the 31st state on September 9, 1850. During the Civil War, Unitarian minister and orator Thomas Starr King (1824–1864) delivered powerful speeches across the state that helped prevent California from aligning with the Confederacy, earning him lasting recognition as a key figure in American history.
The cachet artwork includes the inscription “The man whose matchless oratory saved California to the Union” alongside the statue, a notable detail that ties the philatelic issue directly to both statehood and Civil War-era events.
A fine addition for collectors of U.S. Bicentennial issues, California history, or Civil War-related topicals, this cover displays crisp postmarking and attractive cachet artwork in excellent condition.
