U.S. 1981 James Hoban White House Architect 18¢ & 20¢ First Day Cover – Washington, DC (October 13, 1981)

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This is an Official First Day Cover (FDC) from the United States, issued on October 13, 1981, honoring James Hoban (c. 1755–1831), the Irish-born architect who designed the White House (originally the President's House).

The set (Scott #1935-1936) consists of two stamps with the same design but different denominations due to a postal rate change effective November 1, 1981 (from 18¢ to 20¢), avoiding a short-lived value:

18¢ stamp: Portrait of James Hoban (young, in period attire) beside the White House, inscribed "USA 18c James Hoban White House Architect."
20¢ stamp: Matching design, inscribed "USA 20c James Hoban White House Architect."

The cover features a colorful cachet (signed D.K. Stone) showing Hoban in a top hat and green coat, holding architectural plans while standing before the White House under construction on scaffolding. Text at the bottom: "James Hoban – One of the most influential architects of early America, he designed our Presidential mansion, the White House."

Postmarked with a circular cancel from Washington, D.C. (ZIP 20013), dated OCT 13 1981, including "FIRST DAY OF ISSUE" in the bars. The date marks the anniversary of the White House cornerstone laying on October 13, 1792.

Hoban won the 1792 design competition with a neoclassical plan influenced by Irish and European styles; he oversaw construction (1792–1800) and rebuilding after the 1814 British burning. Ireland issued a matching Hoban stamp on September 29, 1981 (150th anniversary of his death). Popular with collectors for architecture history, joint U.S.-Ireland theme, dual-denomination rarity, and elegant cachet design.