Welcome. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already been pulled into the deep weeds of Postcrossing. As you’ve exchanged mail pieces with fellow peers, you’ve probably started noticing little details—It’s probably what’s gotten you to attend some stamp shows and even attend a formal postcrossing meetup. (And if you haven’t attended one yet, check out this read!)
Somewhere along the way, you’ve likely come across a few fancy postmarks and heard the phrase, “first day of issue.” Even if that’s not exactly your story, but you’re still curious about these elusive postal celebrations, stick around—we’re about to dive in and demystify these magical events.
What is a FDOI?
Let’s start with—what even is an FDOI event? First-Day-of-Issue (FDOI) is the first day a new stamp is officially released by the U.S. Postal Service. On that day, they often hold a special event to celebrate the launch. At the event, the stamp becomes available for sale to the public and it receives a special postmark—a mark that shows the date and place it was first used, which is usually what draws in collectors hoping to get first-day covers. These are envelopes or postcards with the new stamp and that special postmark, essentially commemorating the event.
It’s worth noting that you can get these postmarks or first-day covers without actually attending the event—but we’ll get into that later.
How to find an event
If you’re curious about attending a FDOI event, the good news is the USPS actually tells us when and where they’re happening—you just need to know where to look! They usually post upcoming events in their online Newsroom.
However, keep in mind that—probably due to the logistical puzzle organizing these events can be—they sometimes get announced only a few days in advance. So keep your eyes peeled, you never know when a fun event might pop up by surprise!
That said, these events aren’t always held on a set day or in the same type of location. The day of the week can vary, but the USPS has done a good job of mixing up event locations. So it may just be a matter of time before a First Day of Issue event rolls close enough to your city to join in on the fun.
How to participate
FDOI events have always been free and open to the public, so attending one of these is fairly straightforward. Once you find a FDOI ceremony that catches your eye, USPS will typically post a press release that states when and where a event will be held. They’ll also share details about the stamp itself and any guest speakers attending the ceremony. Most importantly, they’ll typically include a link to RSVP—this part is pretty crucial.
In my experience, I haven’t always received a confirmation after submitting the RSVP form. However, there have been a few exceptions where my RSVP helped guarantee entry into venues that usually require ticketed admission. So if you’re serious about going, don’t skip the RSVP!
It’s also important to note that not all FDOI ceremonies are organized directly by USPS, so not all will have RSVP links available. Some are organized by local organizations and philatelic enthusiasts, and may have different ways of promoting or handling attendance.
Attending your first FDOI ceremony
So you’ve made it this far and are attending your first FDOI ceremony. If you’re anything like I was at my first event, you probably have a ton of questions: Do I need to check in somewhere? What should I bring? Can I buy stamps at the event?
Worry not—we’ll walk through all of it together and even toss in a few pro tips we’ve picked up along the way!
Arrival
Your first pro tip—and one you’ll probably hear from other peers—is this: get there early. I can personally attest that it makes a big difference in your overall experience, especially if you’re planning to take part in all the fun shenanigans. There are two big reasons why.
First, at every event I’ve attended, USPS has a retail booth or table set up where you can purchase the newly released stamp, along with other commemorative goodies like first-day covers, collectible stamp sets, and themed memorabilia. As you might guess, most folks want to grab these before the ceremony starts since USPS staff typically pause sales during the ceremony. Now, you can still buy these goodies after the ceremony ends, but everyone else will have the same idea which will probably just get you standing in a much longer line afterwards.
Secondly, seating can be limited depending on the venue and the size of the crowd. So if you’re attending attending a popular stamp release, you can bet that seats will fill up fast. So do yourself a favor—arrive early and snag a good spot!
The ceremony
You’ve got your stamps and you’re on your way to snag a seat—but first, take a moment for your second pro tip: most FDOI ceremonies feature a free commemorative program that you may kindly request from USPS staff working the event. Sometimes they’ll hand it to you as you’re looking for a seat; other times, you may need to ask around, as they can run out quickly.
If you’re really lucky, they might also be giving out commemorative pins featuring the stamp design! Don’t be shy about asking for these as these go fast, but if you arrived early, your chances are looking good. Just note, these pins are typically only available at USPS-hosted FDOI ceremonies—usually the ones that require an RSVP.
Now take your seat, flip through the program, and enjoy the show! Every ceremony I’ve attended has run roughly between 45 minutes to an hour. Each one includes a designated master of ceremonies and a lineup of speakers—this could include local postmasters, the stamp artist, or special guests connected to the theme of the stamp. During the event, they’ll do an official unveiling of the stamp, at which point you’ll have an opportunity for another Kodak moment.
Activities
You’ve just sat through your first FDOI ceremony and felt the thrill of witnessing a piece of history unfold before your eyes. Now what? Don’t worry—there’s still plenty of nerdy fun ahead!
Signatures
It’s been a tradition at some FDOI events for USPS to offer guests the chance to have personal items—typically the ceremony programs—signed by the speakers. It’s a neat experience that gives you a chance to connect with the people who help make these events happen. It’s especially memorable when there are special guests in attendance, like stamp designers or even celebrity figures tied to the stamp’s theme. You don’t always know who may make a surprise appearance, so if you plan ahead and take something special that relates to the stamp design, you may end up adding a nice autograph to go with it!
The FDOI postmark
Now, the real reason most of us are here. The thing that had you asking questions. The star of the show: the First-Day-of-Issue postmark. She’s always such a beauty, you can’t help but feel giddy in anticipation of seeing her come to life. But how does it actually work? Let’s break it down.
At the event, USPS sets up a table where guests can receive a “traditional” FDOI stamp cancellation—also known as a cover. To get one, you’ll need to affix “sufficient postage to meet First-Class Mail requirements” on something like a postcard or a blank envelope. Since most FDOI events feature Forever stamps, simply placing the newly released stamp on your mailpiece is usually enough. A USPS employee will then apply the official postmark right over the stamp.
It’s a pretty straightforward process, and if you’re unsure, you can always watch how others are doing it and follow their lead.
This is where the real nerdy, nitty-gritty magic happens. Whether it’s seasoned first-day cover collectors or curious first-timers, you can see the thrill on people’s faces as they wait in line to get theirs. Based on conversations with fellow peers, here are some shared pro-tips to make the most of this part of the experience:
Plan ahead. Remember when we talked about buying your stamps before the ceremony started? This is where that prep pays off. If you have some extra time, start planning where you’d like the postmarks to go on each of your covers, and begin affixing your stamps. Doing this ahead of the crowds will streamline your experience at the postmark table and have you ready to go when it’s your turn.
Bring your own blanks. This one still falls under planning ahead. While USPS may have retail items for sale—some of which might be pre-stamped—they typically won’t have blank postcards or envelopes available. I’ve often had other attendees ask where I got the cards I brought to get stamped. Don’t miss out on the fun, come prepared with your own blanks and be ready to get them postmarked!
Don’t be shy about where or how you want your postmark. In my experience, USPS employees handling cancellations have been careful and patient in helping to you get the cleanest, sharpest image possible. They’ll even ask where you’d like the postmark placed. That said, we’re all human, and not every impression will be perfect. Since you theoretically only get one shot per cover, don’t hesitate to kindly communicate your preferences. More often than not, they’ll appreciate the guidance.
As a reminder for those that may already know, FDOI postmarks sometimes come in two flavors: a black, traditional postmark and a digital color postmark. Most of the time, they even feature different designs. It’s important to note that only the traditional version of the postmark is available at the FDOI ceremony. I’ll cover how to get the color version later on.
Watch for smearing. Stamp smearing is almost a Postcrossing rite of passage. There’s nothing like the suspense of waiting to see how a stamp turned out to then guarding it with your life until it dries. Even though USPS uses a “fast-drying” ink for these cancellations, it still helps to be prepared. I’ve seen people bring little pocket fans, wave their ceremony programs to fan the ink, or sandwich their freshly postmarked covers between the pages of a blank notebook. Everything is fair game here.
Take advantage of outgoing mail. During the event, USPS will usually accept outgoing mail. This means you can write a postcard or letter, affix the newly released stamp on the address side, get it stamped with the FDOI postmark, and have it sent out right there at the event! For fellow Postcrossers, if you already had mail you were planning to send, bring it along. It’s a perfect opportunity to give your outgoing cards a little extra flair with a collectible cancellation.
Bring extra postage. As I mentioned, most ceremonies are for Forever stamps, which cover domestic First-Class Mail—but if you’re planning to send international mail, you’ll need to add more to cover the difference. (As of this writing, international postcard and letter postage is $1.65, with a proposed increase to $1.70 in July 2025.)
Also, not all stamps released at FDOIs are always Forever stamps. At the American Vistas ceremony in San Diego, the stamp released was only worth 10¢, so we had to scramble for extra postage to meet the First-Class rate. Thankfully, it was at a stamp show!
Bonus, bonus tip. You may actually get the address side cover on a mailpiece and hold on to it to mail out later. Let’s say you have a few postcards stamped with the FDOI postmark, but you haven’t decided who the lucky recipients will be just yet. All good. Take them with you, write and address them later at your own pace. Once they’re ready, just drop them in a mailbox or bring them to a post office, and you’re good to go!
Bonus: Postcrossing meetup?
Not enough of a rush? Why not get together with fellow postcrossers and host a formal meetup. Nothing sets up an exhausting combo-breaker like hosting a postcrossing meetup at a FDOI ceremony, but I can assure you, there’s been no regrets. Design your meetup card with the stamp’s theme in mind, get your FDOI postmark on the front, and you’ve got yourself a mighty good maxi card for your collection!
Final thoughts
If you’ve made it this far, I applaud you. I know that was a mouthful, but honestly, I wish I knew some of these details prior to attending my first FDOI ceremony. Thankfully, I was in good company and we collectively figured it out as we went.
I promise, none of these details or tips are meant to intimidate or overwhelm you. They’re merely an attempt to break the ice and extend a warm welcome to the circle of FDOI enthusiasts—as long as you follow the ultimate pro-tip: have fun!
Bonus: Kansas City
Though this could easily be its own piece on its own someday (hint), here’s the promised overview: You don’t have to attend a FDOI ceremony to receive first-day covers. USPS allows customers to request First Day of Issue postmarks by mail up to 120 days after a stamp’s release.
This is where you have the option to get either the traditional black postmark or the digital color version. In short, you mail your blank, stamp-affixed pieces to USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services in Kansas City, along with a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope so they can return your covers in all their postmarked glory.
Full instructions, including dates and deadlines, can be found on the USPS Postal Bulletin website. Any of the listed issues should have instructions near the bottom. Stay tuned for a full guide into the nerdy realm of special or pictorial postmarks!