This attractive Artmaster First Day Cover honors the honey bee during National Honey Week (declared by the American Beekeeping Federation), celebrating the vital role of Apis mellifera in pollination, agriculture, and honey production—an insect essential to food security and ecosystems. The 15¢ stamp (Scott #1827) features a close-up of a honey bee in flight amid white blossoms, rendered in realistic detail with golden pollen and delicate wings. The cachet artwork depicts a beekeeper in protective veil and suit holding a frame dripping with honeycomb and bees, surrounded by lush foliage and a cluster of bees on flowers, all in warm, naturalistic tones that evoke the industriousness and sweetness of beekeeping. Postmarked October 10, 1980 (issue date), in Paris, Illinois—with a clear "First Day of Issue" cancellation (ZIP 61944)—this cover is especially appealing to entomology collectors, beekeeping enthusiasts, agriculture and pollination philatelists, or those interested in environmental and food-themed stamps. It remains in excellent vintage unaddressed condition with soft colors, sharp detail, and no visible wear, ideal for nature or apiculture displays.
