This Official First Day Cover features the 13¢ Frances E. Willard commemorative stamp issued by the United States on February 23, 1976, in Washington, DC. The cachet depicts the marble statue of Willard by sculptor Lorado Taft, which represents Illinois in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol.
Frances Elizabeth Willard (1839–1898) was a pioneering educator, orator, journalist, and social reformer. As president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, she became one of the most influential women of her era, linking the temperance cause with the fight for women's suffrage and broader social reforms during the late 19th century.
A notable detail is the inclusion of the Illinois state seal on the cachet, reflecting Willard's long association with the state where she served as president of Evanston College for Ladies and later as a professor at Northwestern University. The cover also carries the Bicentennial Era inscription, tying the issue to the 1976 national celebrations.
This clean, well-centered FDC makes an excellent addition for collectors of women's history, social reform, or U.S. bicentennial topicals, with strong visual appeal from the detailed statue artwork.
