This official First Day Cover bears the 13¢ North Dakota state flag stamp, issued as part of the Bicentennial Era series and postmarked in Washington, DC on February 23, 1976. The cachet features a detailed rendering of the statue of John Burke alongside the North Dakota flag and text noting the state’s admission to the Union in 1889 as the thirty-ninth state.
John Burke (1859–1937) served as North Dakota’s tenth governor, later as a justice on the state supreme court, and briefly as Treasurer of the United States. Widely admired for his integrity and progressive reforms, he earned the nickname “North Dakota’s Lincoln.” The 1976 timing ties the cover to the national Bicentennial celebrations.
A notable detail is the cachet’s explicit reference to Burke as “North Dakota’s Lincoln,” underscoring his revered status in state history. The cover is marked “Official First Day Cover” and includes the Bicentennial logo.
Collectors will appreciate the clean Washington, DC postmark, the attractive two-color cachet, and its appeal for state-flag, political-figure, or Bicentennial topical collections.
