This Official First Day Cover features the 13¢ New York state coat of arms stamp issued February 23, 1976, in Washington, DC, as part of the Bicentennial Era series. The cachet depicts a statue of George Clinton alongside the state flag and text noting New York’s ratification of the Constitution in 1788.
George Clinton (1739–1812) served as New York’s first governor and later as Vice President under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, making him a key figure in the early American republic. The 1976 stamp release coincided with the national bicentennial celebrations, highlighting the original thirteen states’ contributions to the founding era.
The cachet artwork includes Clinton’s full titles—lawyer, patriot, soldier, and first governor—along with the Latin motto “Excelsior” from the New York arms. The cover is postmarked with the distinctive Washington, DC, first-day cancel and ZIP 20013.
A fine addition for collectors of Bicentennial issues, state-flag topicals, or Revolutionary-era patriots, this cover displays strong color and sharp cancellation.
