A First Day Cover (FDC) is an envelope or card (and sometimes unusual objects) bearing a stamp which is canceled on the day the stamp is initially placed on sale by the postal authorities. Although most US stamps are released nationwide on the first day, the US Postal Service (USPS) will designate a single city as the “official” first day city.

First Day Cover Collecting is a hands-on hobby, unlike stamp collecting, where the FDC collector actively participates. Collectors may make their own covers or collect covers in many dozens of different ways – the result is a personal involvement that is extremely gratifying.