Thursday, May 29, 2025

More First Day Covers

My posts focusing on Stamp Collecting have generated more positive response than I anticipated. In my last post, I described the especially interesting (to me) part of stamp collecting known as First Day Covers. I scanned a few more ... take a look below ... be sure to click on images for a better view.


Recognition for one of my favorite parts 
of the US Government
Saluting the Library of Congres
April 21, 1982

Most of my followers are Seniors 😊
Don't mess with my Social Security!
50th Anniversary Social Security Act
1933 - 1985

History of Transportation is one of my interests.
Bread Wagon 1880s
Transportation Series of 1887 FDCs
Issued November 22, 1986

Sports!
Winter Sports Games
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1988
Hoping my blog friends in Alberta see this.

Monarch Butterfly
(One of my favorite Butterflies)
First Day of Issue May 17 2010

Hummingbird
(One of my favorite critters.)
The art goes beyond the stamp itself!

For those of us who enjoy writing
old school style.
Quill & Inkwell
February 14, 2011


In my earliest memories of politics this man was President.
I had a lot of respect for him.
This FDC In Memoriam Dwight D. Eisenhower
1890 - 1969

I'm guessing there are hundreds of stamps featuring
the United States Flag.
This 6 cent stamp was issued May 30, 1969

Honoring our partnership with our great neighbor 
 Canada - 50th Anniversary Migratory Bird Treaty - 1906

It's a good thing we bought Alaska when we did!
100th Anniversary Purchase of Alaska
1867 - 1967


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Update May 31 for Saturday's Critters

In Big Bear Valley, California, there is an Eagle Nest Cam, operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV). This year, the mother Eagle, named Jackie, laid the first of 3 eggs on January 22. On March 2, the first “pip” on one of the 3 eggs appeared. Pipping is the crack in the shell as a bird begins to hatch. By the morning of March 4, two fluffy chicks shared the nest with mom, and Shadow, the dad. The 3rd egg hatched on March 8th. A significant snowstorm occurred around March 13. The storm brought over 2 feet of snow to the area. One of the eaglets unfortunately succumbed to the storm and died around that time.

For the remaining two eaglets, FOBBV chat indicated that a “fledge watch” was started on May 13 ... about 10 weeks after hatch and the earliest expected date for the birds to take flight. The fledge watch is a wide window … May 13 to approximately June 10. Early this morning, May 31, both birds are still in the nest and appear to be read to fly away any day now. The eaglets are named Sunny & Gizmo. See link to YouTube below.

I did not discover the FOBBV nest cam until May 10th when the nest made the ABC Evening News and David Muir advised of the webcam. Since May 10, I’ve spent hours watching the stream and it has been a complete fascination.


Here are a few screen shots moments of interest ... all photos credit Friends of Big Bear Valley ...

March 5

March 13

March 25

May 19

May 26

Thanks for stopping by John's Island!

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25 comments:

  1. ...John, a number of these covers commemorate thing that Felon #47 want to abolish. Resist.

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  2. I like the bird ones of course , but the ones honoring historic events were also very interesting ... is the USPO still issuing new stamps even? (Due to the current slash and burn administration... , and dont even get me started on that )

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  3. Thank you for sharing John, loved the monarch butterfly and that bread wagon. President Eisenhower was a couple years before my time, but I remember his stamps very well--I remember when it only cost 6 cents to mail a letter!

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  4. My late husband loved first day covers, and after he died I passed them on to various keen collectors. One had lost his entire collection in a big move, just vanished, so he was thrilled to have a new collection, including a lot of random stamps of all kinds. I wonder if it's mainly men who love this hobby!

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  5. There's a lot to learn about stamp collecting. 1988 Calgary Olympics seems like a very long time ago.

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  6. I had to stop by and see who it was who wrote that lovely poem for Karen. Love the stamps. It’s a toss up between the hummingbird and the monarch butterfly!

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  7. Hello, John: I just sent a test message since I have been having a great deal of trouble posting a comment. I keep getting a message that an error occurred while trying to publish my comment. Let me try again! The first day covers are very interesting and no doubt recall events in your life, or moments in the history of the nation. I am sure that you can spend many happy hours poring over them. Winter nights were made with such pleasures in mind! As for topics that might interest me, I have no doubt that I could come up with many, but how about these two to start? A stamp commemorating the successful return of the California Condors back to the wild and a stamp to celebrate that remarkable scientist and educator, Carl Sagan. I will be keeping a close eye out for your next post. All the best - David

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  8. Thanks for starting up the comments again. I missed saying a virtual "hello" to my friend. I can't think of any firsts you haven't included already. If I do I'll say so!

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  9. I like the butterfly. I feel like I am learning with your posts and I enjoy that! Thank you for linking and have a great weekend.

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  10. Hello John, I love the butterfly and hummingbird. Your poem is beautiful as well, dear friend. Hope you are doing well.

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  11. Hello John,
    What a wonderful stamp collection. I do love all the stamps that include the wildlife, like the Monarch and Hummingbird and the stamp for the Migratory Bird Treaty! Thanks so much for the poem, I love it. I also like seeing the Eagle cam and all the images. I am so glad the eaglets are doing well. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  12. Stamps are lovely works of art. Thanks for the link to the Eagles' video. That's so cool!

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  13. Hello, John! I hopped over from Baili's blog, after seeing the beautiful poem you wrote about and for her. I'm glad that I stopped by. Your selection of first day covers is awesome. They capture some great events. I, too, remember President Eisenhower. Actually, one of my earliest memories is of Eisenhower and the Korean War discussed on the radio. I was three, so all I remember is his name and the war. I was living in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada at the time. I live in Colorado now, but lots of my family was living in Calgary during the 1988 Olympics, and I saw some of them on tv in the stands. I enjoyed the eagles photos. I've been watching a feed from Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa for years. It's fun to be able to see different things via webcams. I hope that you are having a good weekend!

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  14. Hi John. I think I already commented about the wonderful stamps, but I wanted to add that I enjoyed your writing about the Eagle Cam. We have watched one here in Fort Myers -- the nest is actually right down the street from us and I've taken some pictures in past years, but you can see much more on the cam than in person even if your timing is perfect to be at the nest. Because of the weird subtropical climate here, our eagles usually hatch and raise their brood during winter snowbird season and we have seen successful years from mating through fledging. This past season was not a good one at all, very sad and so there is nothing to see on the camera now, but we hope next year will be a good one. If all goes well (for us and for the eagles ;>), I will try next year to remember to send you a reminder and the link!) You can't have too many eagle cams to watch, they really are fascinating.

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  15. Dear John ,I feel so thankful that I can learn lot about stamps through your blog 😊
    This is amazing how you bring back so many pretty and interesting card that reflect the significance of many important and wonderful events in the past 🥰 I really enjoyed the close look of stamps,each had its own special value and beauty 👍🤗
    My most favourite were monarch butterflies, migrating birds and bread wagon 🥰
    Big , special and many thanks for sharing the most beautiful , exciting and awesome photos of the eagle family 🙏🥰
    I truly loved how both parents stood together firmly in process of hatching and birth of their babies 🥹🤗🥰♥️
    It was emotional for heartwarming sight 🥰
    I lack words to describe how much I loved this video and images my friend 🙏🥰
    Heartfelt thanks for making my day 🙏🥰
    More goodness to your world and to you🙏🌝

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  16. Love seeing the First Day Covers—so much history packed into these stamps!
    The Transportation series is such a great nod to the past.
    Also, the eagle nest updates are fascinating.
    Thanks for sharing all these treasures, John!

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  17. Wonderful to see these stamps.
    Lots to see in your post.
    Thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  18. I see Sunny took his first flight! Gizmo shall soon follow!

    I checked my 1988 Olympics memorabilia album to see if I had a stamp. I have the first stamp issued on Feb 13, 1986 to commemorate the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games. More stamps followed leading up to Feb 13, 1988. I also purchased another stamp depicting curling.

    I can relate to a few of your stamps such as seniors, sports and nature.

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  19. You are such a treasure to me; I hope you know that. - I had to pause a moment to let my cat settle into my lap for cuddles and a bit of conversation. Anyway, it makes me feel so lucky to know you, if only through this blogging. The eagles are a delight to watch since they both fledged the nest. I watch bits and pieces of them on You Tube also. Thank you for getting me interested in them. I've always thought the first day covers were special, and my mom would give me one once in a while. Maybe that's why they were special, but with all my moving through the years, I have no idea what ever happened to them. It's nice to look through all of yours. You are an interesting person, John, with all these hobbies of yours. I'm glad I know you. Take care through this next week. I hope it treats you well.

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  20. WOW! Did you write the poem in the comment on my post?
    You've captured the soul of Manduševac so beautifully!

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  21. John visiting your blog again to say ...

    Thank you for your wonderful poem on my recent 'Rainbow' post.
    Lovely words ... just perfect :)

    Enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a good week ahead.
    My very good wishes from across the miles.

    All the best Jan

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  22. The poem you wrote on my blog this morning is fantastic. I love every word, my friend. You are gifted. Thank you for sharing it

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  23. I'd forgotten about first day covers. You have some nice ones.

    I love the cams on eagle nests like what what you show. We can satisfy our curiosity about them without bothering them

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More First Day Covers

My posts focusing on Stamp Collecting have generated more positive response than I anticipated. In my last post, I described the especially ...