This ArtCraft First Day Cover features the 13¢ Captain James Cook stamp issued January 20, 1978, in Anchorage, Alaska. The cover bears the official first-day postmark from Anchorage, AK 99502 and depicts Cook’s Pacific voyages on a striking cachet with his portrait and a map tracing his routes across the globe.
Captain James Cook’s 1778 voyage marked the first documented European contact with the Hawaiian Islands and extensive exploration of Alaska’s coastline. The bicentennial issue commemorates these achievements during America’s growing interest in Pacific history and exploration two centuries later.
The cachet highlights the 200th anniversary of Cook’s Pacific explorations (1778–1978) and includes a detailed map showing his three voyages, with the sailing ship Resolution prominently featured—an unexpected artistic touch that appeals to maritime and exploration topical collectors.
Addressed to Mrs. Helen R. Burns in Chula Vista, California, the cover reflects the common practice of sending FDCs to collectors across the country for personal collections.
A clean, well-centered example of this popular ArtCraft cachet, it makes an excellent addition for collectors of U.S. bicentennial issues, maritime history, or worldwide exploration topicals.
