This striking First Day Cover features the $1.00 Bateleur Eagle stamp (Scott #O133, Official Mail series for penalty mail use), depicting the distinctive African raptor known for its bold black, chestnut, and gray plumage and bright red facial skin and legs. The stamp shows the bateleur perched on a branch against a stylized map-like background in blues and greens, emphasizing its powerful, eagle-like presence. The cachet artwork, signed by wildlife artist John Swatek, presents a vivid, life-sized portrait of the bateleur eagle in full color—its black head and body contrasting with chestnut shoulders and underwings—perched alertly on a bare branch with a sweeping sky and landscape below. Postmarked January 12, 1983 (issue date), in Washington, DC, with a clear "First Day of Issue" cancellation (ZIP 20066). This cover is highly desirable among bird and wildlife philatelists, ornithology collectors, high-denomination Official Mail enthusiasts, or those building sets of the 1983 Official Mail series featuring birds of prey and other species. It remains in pristine unaddressed vintage condition with rich, lifelike colors and no faults, perfect for specialized collections or display.
