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Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan – 1980 First Day Cover | Centennial Tribute

Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan – 1980 First Day Cover | Centennial Tribute

$3.95
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Celebrate courage, compassion, and the power of education with this iconic First Day Cover honoring the centennial of Helen Keller (1880–1980). This historic collectible features both Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan—symbols of perseverance and hope—in a touching design that captures a pivotal moment in American history.

🧾 Key Points:

  • Country: United States of America

  • Date of Issue: June 27, 1980

  • City of Cancellation: Tuscumbia, Alabama (Helen Keller’s birthplace)

  • Stamp Value: 15¢

  • Theme: Helen Keller Centennial | Featuring Anne Sullivan

  • Design Features:

    • Color stamp of Keller & Sullivan

    • Matching black-and-white illustration by ArtCraft

  • Postmark Text: "First Day of Issue" with location and date

🖼️ Product Overview:

This beautiful First Day Cover commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of Helen Keller, the first deaf-blind person to earn a college degree. The stamp and cachet (envelope artwork) portray Anne Sullivan spelling into young Helen’s hand, a breakthrough that marked the beginning of Keller's journey from isolation to international advocacy.

Design Elements:

  • A soft pastel stamp illustration of Keller and Sullivan

  • A black-and-white pencil-style drawing showing the same scene, with an inset close-up of finger-spelling

  • Bold commemorative typography: "Helen Keller Centennial 1880–1980 – Humanist, Writer and Thinker"

📚 Historical Context:

Issued in Tuscumbia, Alabama—Helen Keller’s hometown—this First Day Cover was released to mark a century since her birth. Helen Keller became a global symbol of courage and advocate for disability rights, while Anne Sullivan remains a legend in the field of education and accessibility.

The stamp itself was part of a U.S. Postal Service campaign celebrating influential Americans who shaped the nation's cultural and humanitarian legacy.

💎 Collectible Value:

  • Cultural & Educational Significance: Highly desirable for collectors interested in American history, women's rights, disability advocacy, and education.

  • Rarity: Fairly available, but particularly meaningful due to its deep human story.

  • Value Estimate: $5–$15 USD unframed; may fetch more when sold in historical or educational collections.

✨ Unexpected or Notable Details:

  • The stamp’s dual portrait was one of the earliest USPS designs honoring both student and teacher.

  • The date of cancellation—June 27, 1980—marks Helen Keller’s actual birth centennial.