1. Entries will be accepted only from American First Day Cover Society members in good standing.

  2. It is assumed, by signing the entry form, you affirm that all legal requirements have been met by the cachetmaker. Any cachet that has the appearance of being artwork that is not original or in the public domain must have proof of originality or licensing consent or it will not be accepted.

  3. Each entry must have the actual cover submitted with an entry form. One fee, one cover, and one entry form are required for each entry. If the cover is to be donated to the AFDCS Fundraising Auction, the entry fee is $5 for each cover entered; otherwise, the fee is $10. In the case of se tenant and Rookie of the Year sets, one entry fee will be sufficient for the entire set. If a single from a se-tenant set is entered in another category, a separate cover, fee, and entry form is required for the second category. The junior category entry fee is $2 and the cover will be returned. Fees can be paid online by PayPal, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or by a check made payable to the AFDCS, drawn in US funds and from a US bank. 

4. A “cover” does not need to be an envelope. For the purpose of this contest a cover is defined as any item bearing a cancelled stamp or stamps and is basically a flat item like an envelope, card, canvas, plastic sheet, etc. Unusually-shaped or multi-dimensional items like baseballs, Hot Wheel track, rocks, bottles, rail spikes, horseshoes, bottles, etc. are to be entered in the category Esoteric or Unusual. Each entry must fit entirely into an 11x14 envelope, not multiple envelopes for a single entry. Also, “stamp” includes postal stationery.

  5. Any cover that has been entered in the wrong category may be disqualified and returned, at the discretion of the committee. The chairperson may, at his or her discretion, place it in the correct category if such category is obvious from the information provided. The chair will attempt to notify the cachetmaker of the change.

  6. At least 10 identical cachets must exist for each cover entered. Smaller editions will not be accept ed in any category except Noncommercial, Event and Youth.

7. Any member of the AFDCS may support entries in the two junior categories. If you know of a young artist or designer, we want to encourage you to encourage them toward be coming a young cachetmaker. Each AFDCS member may enter one cover for a junior 17 and under.

In addition to the usual awards, junior category winners will receive a one-year junior AFDCS membership (or a one-year membership extension).

  8. Entries will include only those covers postmarked during the 2024 year. All covers or esoteric and unusual entries must bear enough postage to pay a legitimate rate and to be carried by the postal service issuing the stamp. Entries submitted for every category, except the Federal & State Duck category, are not restricted to USPS- issued stamps and can be first day covers from any legitimate postal service. Covers may include combo stamps to support the theme of the stamp or event. Except for combos, all postage must receive a cancel from the country issuing the first-day stamp.

  9. Categories may be reviewed each year for inclusion in the contest.

10. On the back of the entry form, cachetmakers must write a brief description of the cover, to in clude method of production, quantity made and type of art. This information is helpful to the judges and for writing lot descriptions for the AFDCS Fundraising Auction.

1. Hand-Drawn, Hand-Colored, Hand Painted - A cover where the artwork is entirely hand-drawn or hand-painted directly onto the surface of the envelope, canvas, paper, etc. No means of mechanical or electronic repro duction has been used.
2. Hand-Colored/Hand-Painted, Printed from Original Artwork - A cover where the artwork, photograph, etc. is applied onto the cover either by hand or printed by any method. Each cover is then individually hand colored or hand-painted. The design/artwork is original to the cachetmaker. For example; original artwork can be cate gorized by creating a new image based on imagination or on an existing image used as reference.
3. Hand-Colored/Hand-Painted, Printed from Non-Original Artwork - A cover where the artwork, photograph, etc. is applied onto the cover either by hand or printed by any method. Each cover is then individually hand-colored or hand-painted. The design/ artwork is not original to the cachetmaker. For example, non-original artwork can be categorized by taking an existing image and hand coloring or hand painting on that image.
4. Printed Artwork/Design, Multicolored - Artwork or design that has been created by or for the cachetmaker and then printed by any method.
5. Printed Artwork/Design, Single Color – Single-color artwork or design that has been created by or for the cachetmaker and then printed by any method.
6. Miscellaneous Medium - A cover with a cachet made by methods such as but not limited to silk screen printing, woodblock printing, attaching of metal plates, coins, medallions, photographs, stickers, etc.
7. Esoteric or Unusual - This category is reserved for unusually shaped or multi-dimensional items like baseballs, Hot Wheel track, rocks, bottles, rail spikes, horseshoes, bottles, etc. This category is designed for a broad spectrum of items which can be different or unusual in design, theme, shape, or materials.
8. Federal or State Duck Stamp Covers - This category includes both federal and state Duck stamps issued during the contest year. Any type of artwork or design and printing method will be accepted.
9. Se-Tenant Covers - One or more covers bearing stamps from a se-tenant issue and printed by any method. All stamps in the issue must represented on one or more covers and all covers must be submitted.
10. Non-commercial Covers - A cover that was not produced for commercial sale and is produced by a cachetmaker who does not offer or intend to offer their covers for sale. This category is specifically to highlight the talents of individuals who produce covers expressly for their own personal enjoyment, for charitable causes, to trade with friends, etc. This category is open to all methods of print-ing and is not limited to covers where 10 or more have been produced.
11. Event Covers - This category is open to all forms of production and includes items such as holidays, stamp show events, military events, political covers, death covers, etc. These covers need not contain a first-day date. The event and event postmark must have occurred in the year indicated by the contest title. Entries are not restricted to USPS-issued stamps and can be event covers from any legitimate postal service. Covers may include combo stamps to support the theme of the stamp or event. The category is not limited to covers where 10 or more have been produced.
12. Foreign Covers - This category is open to all forms of production and may include first day and event covers cancelled in any country other than the United States.
13. Rookie of the Year - This category welcomes new cachetmakers (not a cachet line) who have begun commercial production recently and are entering the cachet contest for the first time. At least three different covers must be submitted.
14. Inauguration Covers - At least 10 of each cachet must be produced.
15. Juniors (10 and younger) - These covers may be one-of-a-kind.
16. Juniors (11 to 17) - These covers may be one-of-a-kind.
17. Top Cachet Award - The judges will select the best cover from among the First Place covers in the above categories and this cover will be awarded the “Top Cachet Contest Award.”