What Is a First Day of Issuance Cancellation?

A "First Day of Issuance cancellation" refers to the special postmark applied to a new postage stamp on its very first day of public sale.

These cancellations are most commonly found on collectible envelopes known as First Day Covers (FDCs). The postmarks usually feature the words "First Day of Issue," as well as the location and date of the issuance, often with a pictorial design. Because the cancellation mark means the stamp is no longer valid for mail use, many philatelists (stamp collectors) collect these envelopes for their unique historical and artistic appeal. 

First Day Cancellations in Detail

To help explain the term and its variants, let's look at the 2026 Love stamp. Its official First Day of Issue ceremony will take place on January 13, 2026, in Kansas City. On that day, the FDOI cancellation will be available at the Union Station Kansas City Post Office. Customers may either purchase pre-canceled First Day Covers or bring their own stamped envelopes to be hand-canceled at the Post Office.

In addition to the black postmark available on FDCs, a limited-edition color version — known as a digital color postmark (DCP) — will also be available, either pre-canceled and available for purchase through the Postal Store, or by sending your own stamped envelope to Stamp Fulfillment Services (SFS).

How to Submit Your Own Envelopes for a Cancellation

Customers have 4 months (120 days) after a stamp's issue date to request first-day cancellations. To do so, you must:

1. Purchase the new stamp
2. Affix it to an envelope of you choice
3. Address the envelope (to yourself or another recipient)
4. Place it inside a larger, properly addressed envelope and mail it to:

After the cancellation is applied, USPS will return the envelope through the mail. There is no charge for the black FDOI cancellation up to a quantity of 50; each additional cancellation over 50 carries a 5-cent charge. Digital Color Postmarks cost 50 cents each. (Customers can pay by credit card, check, or money order.)

An interesting feature of the program is that customers may also have non-paper items (such as CDs or album covers — feel free to get creative) canceled. These items must:

• Have a stamp affixed
• Be mailed to SFS with appropriate return postage

Only the black FDOI cancellation is available for these items, as DCPs are limited to envelopes.

In addition to Kansas City, the special first-day cancellation for the newest Love stamps will also be available at the main Post Offices in Nashville, Tenn., and Reading, Pa. All requests for the Love cancellation must be postmarked by May 13, 2026.