This ArtCraft Official First Day Cover features the 1978 15¢ 'The Land of the Free / The Home of the Brave' stamp honoring the American flag and the national anthem. The cover bears a Baltimore, Maryland postmark dated June 30, 1978, the official first day of issue.
The stamp design draws directly from Francis Scott Key’s poem written during the 1814 bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, an event that inspired 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' Issued during the nation’s bicentennial era, the issue celebrates enduring American patriotism and the flag’s role as a symbol of freedom.
The striking black-and-white cachet depicts a dramatic Revolutionary War scene with a large waving flag, period figures, and fireworks over the water—evoking both the anthem’s origins and the flag’s historic defense. ArtCraft’s distinctive artwork and the 'OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE' inscription add strong visual and philatelic appeal.
A fine addition for collectors of U.S. flag stamps, patriotic topicals, or ArtCraft cachets, this cover displays excellent centering and a clear, crisp Baltimore cancel.
