First day cancellation
A first day postmark is a postmark whose date of cancellation coincides with the first day of the postage stamp canceled with it.
history
Before collecting first day receipts such as B. First day papers and first day covers became very popular, they were considered rarities. They were looked for in classic editions (up to approx. 1914) for philatelic research purposes or as historical evidence as a result of political upheavals (e.g. Austro- Hungarian successor states).
Over the years, these documents have evolved more and more from being used for postal purposes to being purely a collector's item . Stamps were bought in order to be canceled immediately and when purchasing first day sheets and first day covers the stamps are already canceled. The original use of a post office receipt, namely being delivered by the post office, has been lost since the 1960s at the latest. This end in itself and the high circulation led to a total drop in prices.
variants
In addition to the day stamp with the first day date, some post offices also use special first day stamps whose design is related to the postage stamp.
Germany
In Germany, these are the dispatch points in Berlin (center) and Bonn of the Deutsche Post, as well as, if applicable, the respective post offices with a reference to the issue of the stamp. which also issue a matching special cancellation for every new stamp issue, which is only used on the first day.
Austria
Depending on the type and location of the stamp, a distinction is made between the following types of modern first day stamps:
(Example based on the postage stamp "Opening of the Anton Bruckner House in Linz", Austria, March 22, 1974, ANK No. 1465)
- First day day stamp : ( vulgo : "Date stamp from the first day"):
Any day stamp, only the date is relevant and must match the first day of the stamp (e.g. March 22, 1974)
- Additional first day cancellation : In general usage mostly only "first day cancellation": In order to clearly emphasize first-day cancellation as such, an additional official cancellation was introduced. It was only allowed to be affixed on the first days, next to the stamp and together with the canceling stamp. It does not have any place or date information, so it has no postal, but only a philatelic meaning. Although it is called the first day cancellation, it should not be confused with the first day cancellation.
- Local first day cancellation : Day cancellation where the date and place (e.g. 4010 LINZ, March 22nd 1974) coincides with the occasion of the stamp issue
- First day special cancellation : special cancellation where the date and the occasion of the official special cancellation of the postal administration coincides with the postage stamp, in this example a special post office was set up that was allowed to use the special cancellation “Brucknerhaus Linz opened on March 22, 1974” for a certain period of time . However, if the stamp was canceled with this stamp on March 23, 1974 or later, it is no longer a first-day cancellation, but only a special cancellation, the first day of the stamp was March 22nd
- Local first day special cancellation : special cancellation where the place, date and occasion of the official special cancellation of the postal administration coincides with the stamp
- First day advertising stamp : Same as above, but the stamp was not commissioned by the postal administration, but by a company, an organizer, etc.
