This First Day Cover features the United States 13¢ Olympics 1976 stamp depicting a diver, issued July 16, 1976, and postmarked in Lake Placid, New York. The colorful cachet illustrates a swimmer at the starting block beneath the heading “XXI OLYMPIAD MONTREAL 1976,” with Olympic rings at the bottom.
The 1976 Summer Games in Montreal marked Canada’s first time hosting the Olympics and were the largest international multi-sport event held to that date. The United States issued a set of four stamps honoring the Games, each focusing on a different sport; this 13¢ value celebrates diving.
A notable detail is the choice of Lake Placid—a venue famous for the Winter Olympics—as the official first-day city for a Summer Olympics stamp, creating an appealing cross-season philatelic connection.
Collectors will appreciate the clean strike of the Lake Placid circular date stamp, the vibrant cachet artwork, and the strong topical appeal for Olympics and sports enthusiasts.
