This 1975 First Day Cover features the 11¢ Freedom of the Press stamp issued November 13 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The cachet depicts a stylized globe formed from envelopes beneath the bold “FIRST DAY COVER” lettering, with the official Philadelphia postmark tying the stamp.
The stamp commemorates the vital role of a free press in American democracy, illustrating an early wooden printing press. Issued during the nation’s bicentennial era, it underscores the First Amendment’s guarantee that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
A notable detail is the vertical inscription “LIBERTY DEPENDS ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS” framing the press illustration, a design choice that directly links the stamp’s imagery to its civic message.
Collectors will appreciate the clean strike of the Philadelphia cancel and the attractive, thematic cachet—ideal for topical collections focused on journalism, free speech, or the American Revolution bicentennial.
