{"product_id":"1974-zip-code-10-washington-dc-first-day-cover","title":"1974 ZIP Code 10¢ Washington, DC First Day Cover","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis 1974 10¢ ZIP Code First Day Cover features the colorful \"It All Depends on ZIP Code\" stamp issued January 4 in Washington, DC. The Art Craft cachet depicts Mr. ZIP racing across a map of national ZIP Code areas with a prominent U.S. Mail mailbox, celebrating the Postal Service's modern sorting system.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ZIP Code system, introduced in 1963, revolutionized mail delivery by enabling automated sorting and faster nationwide distribution. By 1974 the Postal Service was actively promoting the five-digit codes through public campaigns, with the cheerful Mr. ZIP character becoming an iconic symbol of that effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA notable detail is the cachet's playful illustration of Mr. ZIP carrying an envelope while the stamp itself shows packages, a piano, and a train—emphasizing how ZIP Codes speed every type of mail. The cover is addressed to a San Francisco collector, a common practice among FDC enthusiasts of the era.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA clean, well-centered example that makes an excellent addition to any U.S. postal history or topical collection focused on the modern Postal Service.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maple Springs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51394924413092,"sku":null,"price":3.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/4713\/5908\/files\/20260702110416.jpg?v=1783043108","url":"https:\/\/fdc-vault.com\/products\/1974-zip-code-10-washington-dc-first-day-cover","provider":"Maple Springs - FDC Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}