{"product_id":"1982-francis-of-assisi-first-day-cover-800th-anniversary-saint-patron-of-animals","title":"1982, Francis of Assisi First Day Cover – 800th Anniversary Saint \u0026 Patron of Animals","description":"\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eKey Points\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhat the product is\u003c\/strong\u003e: United States 20-cent commemorative stamp (Scott #2021) affixed to an official ArtCraft cacheted First Day Cover envelope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTheme or topic\u003c\/strong\u003e: Religious and historical figures – tribute to \u003cstrong\u003eSaint Francis of Assisi\u003c\/strong\u003e, founder of the Franciscan Order, patron saint of animals, ecology, and peace, on the 800th anniversary of his birth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIssue date and place of postmark\u003c\/strong\u003e: October 7, 1982, postmarked in San Francisco, CA (chosen for its name connection to the saint and symbolic importance in American Catholic heritage).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical or cultural relevance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Commemorates one of Christianity's most beloved saints, whose life emphasized humility, love for nature, and interfaith harmony; the stamp reflects growing 1980s environmental awareness and appreciation for figures promoting peace and stewardship of creation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstimated value or range\u003c\/strong\u003e: ArtCraft cacheted First Day Covers from this issue typically range from $2–$8 in the philatelic market, with clean, unaddressed examples commonly $3–$6; strong thematic appeal can push values higher for religious or nature collectors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eProduct Overview: Francis of Assisi Stamp Design and Overview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003e1982 Francis of Assisi First Day Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e features a beautifully rendered 20¢ stamp with a warm maroon background showing the saint in simple Franciscan robes and hood, gently extending his hand toward a flock of birds perched on branches—capturing his famous \"Sermon to the Birds\" moment of preaching peace to animals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe ArtCraft cachet complements this with a large, evocative grayscale illustration of Saint Francis standing in profile, arms outstretched in blessing or welcome, his face uplifted in serene devotion. The design uses soft shading and subtle texture to convey humility and spiritual connection to nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUS stamp collectors\u003c\/strong\u003e, religious philately enthusiasts, bird and nature lovers, Catholic memorabilia collectors, and fans of environmental saints will treasure this cover for its peaceful imagery, deep symbolism of harmony with creation, and timeless message—ideal for \u003cstrong\u003evintage US First Day Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e collections focused on saints, ecology, or inspirational figures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eHistorical Context\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eSaint Francis of Assisi (1181\/1182–1226) renounced wealth to live in poverty, founded the Franciscan Order in 1209, and is credited with one of the earliest examples of nature appreciation in Western Christianity—famously calling animals \"brothers and sisters\" and composing the \"Canticle of the Creatures.\" He received the stigmata in 1224 and was canonized just two years after his death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe 1982 stamp marked the 800th anniversary of his birth and aligned with Pope John Paul II's 1979 declaration of Francis as the patron saint of ecology, coinciding with rising global environmental consciousness in the early 1980s (including the establishment of Earth Day traditions and early climate discussions).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eCollectible Value\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eFrancis of Assisi First Day Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e enjoys enduring popularity as part of USPS tributes to religious and humanitarian figures. The stamp alone (Scott #2021) is common and inexpensive ($0.50–$1 mint), but ArtCraft cacheted covers—with their artistic, reverent designs—add meaningful collectible value, typically $3–$10 depending on condition and cachet quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eParticularly desirable among \u003cstrong\u003ereligious philately\u003c\/strong\u003e specialists, \u003cstrong\u003eCatholic collectors\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003enature and bird thematic\u003c\/strong\u003e enthusiasts, \u003cstrong\u003eecology-themed\u003c\/strong\u003e philatelists, and those building collections of inspirational or saint-related \u003cstrong\u003evintage US commemorative\u003c\/strong\u003e items.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eUnexpected or Notable Detail\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe cachet portrays Saint Francis with an open, welcoming posture and upturned gaze, subtly echoing his stigmata experience and his role as a bridge between humanity and the divine natural world—details that deepen the spiritual resonance beyond the more commonly depicted \"birds only\" imagery on the stamp itself. The San Francisco postmark (ZIP 94101) cleverly ties to the city's name, derived from the saint, creating a meaningful geographic and symbolic connection that many other first-day postmarks for this issue lack. The warm maroon of the stamp contrasts beautifully with the cool grayscale cachet, enhancing visual harmony and evoking Franciscan simplicity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeta Description\u003c\/strong\u003e (for Shopify): \"Discover the 1982 Francis of Assisi First Day Cover – 20¢ US stamp honoring the saint of animals. Vintage collectible! Shop now. #FrancisOfAssisi #StampCollecting\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAdd this rare \u003cstrong\u003eFrancis of Assisi First Day Cover\u003c\/strong\u003e to your collection today!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eCheck out our other \u003cstrong\u003eUS First Day Covers\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003ereligious-themed stamps\u003c\/strong\u003e for more philatelic treasures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Tags\u003c\/strong\u003e: #FrancisOfAssisi #FirstDayCover #USStamp1982 #SaintFrancis #CollectibleStamps #StampCollecting #VintagePhilately #ReligiousPhilately #PatronOfAnimals #EcologyStamp #USPostalHistory #RareStamps #CatholicCollectibles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAll Covers are shipped via 1st class stamped letter mail, be sure your shipping address is where you receive letters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maple Springs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51247579660452,"sku":null,"price":4.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0580\/4713\/5908\/files\/05092025_055.jpg?v=1771268711","url":"https:\/\/fdc-vault.com\/products\/1982-francis-of-assisi-first-day-cover-800th-anniversary-saint-patron-of-animals","provider":"Maple Springs - FDC Vault","version":"1.0","type":"link"}