2018

First Day of Issue Cover Art Competition

Information

Springfield Philatelic Society

Illinois’ 200th (Bicentennial) Year

Springfield Philatelic Society

Illinois 200th

(Bicentennial) Year

Cover Judging Application

*Name of Applicant _________________________________________

*School __________________________________________________

*Grade ___________________________________________________

*Teacher _________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Information:

*Name ___________________________________________________

*Address _________________________________________________

*Telephone _______________________________________________

*Email ___________________________________________________

Cover Competition Information:

*Circle One: Middle School (District186) High School (District186) Open Class

School Name (if open class, provide detailed school information) ___________________________

*Media Used

Acrylic paint Gouache Marker Pen

Airbrush Graphite Technical Pen

Chalk Human Finger (with ink or paint) Pencil

Charcoal (soft or hard) Marker Sand

Colored pencil Oil Paint Tempera

Conté Pastel Watercolor

Crayon Pen and Ink Other

*Categories

Hand-Painted Hand-Colored Computer-Produced

One-Color

Please Do Not Sign Your Artwork For It Will Be Judged. This Can Be Done At A Later Date.

*Must Be Filled out completely (enclose this sheet with your artwork)

Cover Design Finalists

Middle School 6, 7, 8 Grades (District 186)

1st Place – $50 Gift Card, Cover Finalist & Springfield Philatelic Junior Membership

2nd Place - $25 Gift Card & Springfield Philatelic Junior Membership

3rd Place - $10 Gift Card & Springfield Philatelic Junior Membership

High School 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades (District 186)

1st Place - $50 Gift Card, Cover Finalist & Springfield Philatelic Junior Membership

2nd Place - $25 Gift Card & Springfield Philatelic Junior Membership

3rd Place - $10 Gift Card & Springfield Philatelic Junior Membership

Open Class (Open to All Illinois Students Attending Middle School or High School

1st Place - $50 Gift Card, Cover Finalist & Springfield Philatelic Membership

2nd Place - $25 Gift Card & Springfield Philatelic Membership

3rd Place - $10 Gift Card & Springfield Philatelic Membership

Grand Winner/Top Choice among all three classes will be decided by Judges!

Total Prizes Awarded Is Over $250 Including Memberships

Mailing Address: Springfield Philatelic Society Chad Payne 2305 South 8th Street Springfield, Illinois 62703

If you have any Questions or Concerns please call or email us: Event Chairman-Chad Payne (217-341-4838) illinibasketball@live.com President – Vern Kleen (217-787-3515) Vice President – Joe Hills (217-725-7146) Treasurer – Larry Barregarye (217-502-0086)

Illinois’ 200th (Bicentennial) Year

Steps to a Successful Cover

Cover Design Competition Runs from January 15, 2018 to February 23, 2018. Judging Begins February 26, 2018

Step #1 – You’re Theme Is – Illinois’ 200th (Bicentennial) Year

Step #2 – Brainstorm Ideas!

HINT: THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE WILL RELEASE A COMMEMORATIVE STAMP THAT WILL FEATURE AN OUTLINE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WITH A RISING SUN AND A

CAPTION THAT READS “ILLINOIS 1818” – March 5, 2018 is the First Day of Issue Ceremony

Step #3 – Sketch out ideas on a ½ sheet (5 ½”x 8 ½”) of preferably #24 paper (this is so it doesn’t absorb through paper), you may create

your artwork vertically or horizontally, stay within a 1/4” margin on the paper. This also applies to your final artwork also.

Step #4 – Finalize your art on another ½ sheet of #24 paper for Judging, this is the artwork that will be entered into the contest. If your

art is selected as a finalist for our Fall Show Cover it will be reduced in size to fit a #6 (3.625”x6.5”) envelope.

Please Note: Artwork created on #6 envelopes will not be judged. You can however create your artwork on a #6 envelope to submit as

your very own First Day of Issue Cover Design. Be sure to create your artwork on the envelope to look like the formats in the examples

below. You can use the front and back of your envelope, just be sure to leave areas for a stamp, cancellation and mailing address. Please

Note: The First 150 Envelopes submitted will be eligible to receive the commemorative stamp. Do Not Seal Your Envelope, Tuck the

Envelope Flap In & use a removable label for your address if possible! Do Not Place Any Label, Names, Addresses On Your Artwork! Do

Not Design A Postmark Cancel On Your Artwork This Will Be Done By The Post Office If Approved For Cancelling. Open Class - Please refer

to Step #3 & Step #4 on completing and submitting artwork. Mail it to us with a separate padded or cardboard (self-addressed stamped

envelope) for judging enclosed with your applications.

If you are a District 186 student we will make arrangements to get these back to your art department in approximately 6-8 weeks.

Open Class Participants be sure to enclose $5.00 check/money order or cash for each cover entered. The $5.00 will cover

commemorative postage & handling for the return of your envelope and artwork.

District 186 students are Free for the first cover $5.00 for each additional and can be sent in as mentioned above.

Payable to: Springfield Philatelic Society

Mail To: Springfield Philatelic Society Chad Payne 2305 So. 8

th St.

Springfield, IL 62703 If selected as a cover finalist we will need to contact you, so please be sure all information is filled out completely.

What is the Springfield Philatelic Society?

We are a non-profit local stamp club here in Springfield, Illinois. The club was created in 1952. We enjoy collecting, studying,

identifying stamps, cachets, and other related postal history items. New Collectors are always welcome to join!

What is the Illinois’ 200th (Bicentennial) Year? ON DECEMBER 3, 2018, THE PEOPLE OF ILLINOIS WILL CELEBRATE OUR STATE’S

200TH BIRTHDAY.

THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE WILL ISSUE A STAMP TO COMMEMORATE THE CELEBRATION. IT WILL FEATURE AN OUTLINE OF

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS WITH A RISING SUN AND A CAPTION THAT READS “ILLINOIS 1818”

State Constitution (August 26, 1818) the first constitution of Illinois was adopted at Kaskaskia, Illinois in convention. Statehood (December 3, 1818) Illinois, with 34,620 residents, becomes the twenty-first state. Kaskaskia remains the capital and Shadrach Bond is the first governor.

A Short Course on First Day Covers

Resource Information & Covers Below are from the American First Day Cover Society www.afdcs.org

What is a First Day Cover?

A First Day Cover (FDC) is an envelope or card bearing a stamp which is cancelled on the day the stamp is initially placed on sale by the postal authorities. A FDC with the Snowy Egret stamp (A) is shown with a New York, NY, First Day of Issue cancel (B) and a cachet (C), pronounced ka-shay, which compliments or tells us something about the stamp. –American First Day Cover Society-

Where Are Stamps First Sold?

Although most U.S. stamps are released nationwide on the first day, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will designate a single city as the "official" first day city. (Sometimes multiple cities are designated as “official.”) The location is usually appropriate to the subject of the stamp, and will be the only place where the “First Day of Issue” postmark is used. The 2003 Korean War Memorial stamp on the above FDC was released in Washington, DC -- the city where the Memorial is located. –American First Day Cover Society-

When Are FDCs Prepared?

A specific day is selected for release of the new stamp, one which may be significant to the subject -- such as the Louisiana Purchase stamp issued on the 200th anniversary of the event. –American First Day Cover Society-

How Stamps Are First Released?

Generally a First Day of Issue (FDOI) ceremony is sponsored by the Postal Service or an organization associated with the new stamp. It is a colorful and entertaining ceremony which enables collectors to attend to prepare special souvenirs. Programs such as the Holiday Stamps folder shown above are usually distributed free of charge. -American First Day Cover Society-

What is the Significance of the Cachet?

The cachet enhances the cover by complementing the stamp and can be attractive, educational, humorous, and other things. There are many different cachets for each new stamp -- such as two National World War II Memorial types shown. The choice adds an exciting dimension to the hobby. -American First Day Cover Society-

Previous Statehood Stamps

2018 Illinois Statehood Stamp