Dear Collector:.

In this letter, I will tell you how you can receive--completely without risk--an AFDCS special offer absolutely FREE with an introductory membership. Indeed, why should you join the AFDCS?
There are many good reasons:

• You'll Get a Unique Perspective on Stamp Collecting.
• You'll Learn About First Day Cover Collecting.
• Outstanding Benefits Available Only to Members
• A Subscription to the Amazing FIRST DAYS magazine.

As a nonprofit organization, we've put all our effort into sharing first day cover collecting with everyone. Through the American First Day Cover Society publications and activities, you'll understand that FDC collecting is a hobby of personal involvement. We encourage the individual collector to fully develop their range of interests so that their collection is a reflection of personal tastes---a unique collection!

The best person to compose a FDC collection is you. Why? Because you can influence and change your collection in ways that no one else can. By learning about FDC collecting methods, organization, specialization, and scope you can do a lot to further your enjoyment of the hobby.

And when you accept our invitation to join the American First Day Cover Society today, we'll send you a valuable bonus to help you begin (or continue) your FDC collecting adventure---MINI-ADVENTURES IN FIRST DAY COVER COLLECTING. This information-packed booklet is yours absolutely free.

And...if you act immediately, you will receive, FIVE free cacheted first day covers to begin or add to your collection. These are actual first day covers sought after by collectors.

Your membership entitles you to a fantastic array of exclusive benefits to help you enjoy first day cover collecting. As an American First Day Cover Society member you will receive:

• A new member information packet with details about the AFDCS, a list of AFDCS publications and handbooks, official AFDCS first day covers for sale, and your membership card.
• FIRST DAYS, the award-winning official journal of the American First Day Cover Society. This lively magazine will keep you informed and enlightened with feature articles, research, checklists, columns, do-it-yourself advice, and FDC information. You'll learn of new ways of doing things, questions and answers, and solutions for beginner and experienced collectors.
• FIRST DAYS is filled with articles and features that capture your imagination and fill you with ideas, visions, and opportunities. Each issue is packed cover to cover with departments and features:
• BEGINNER'S CORNER--The essential column for beginning FDC collectors or new members to the AFDCS.
• THE QUESTION BOX -- Answering your questions and expanding your knowledge of first day covers for over forty years.
• FIRST DAY REPORTS-Members' experiences at recent first day events.
• FAVORITE COVERS -- The regular feature where members share their favorite FDCs.
• CACHETMAKERS' SPOTLIGHT-Features the work of new cachetmakers.
• COVER EXCHANGE-A free service where members advertise to exchange FDCs, locate elusive covers, and dispose of duplicates by trading.
• CHAPTER NEWS - News of our chapter activities. There may be a chapter near you.

In addition, these regular departments are popular with our readers:

• FIRST CACHETS UPDATE
• FOREIGN FDC INFORMATION
• FIRST DAY CEREMONY PROGRAMS
• MAXIMUM CARDS, and TRADE NOTES.

And in each issue you'll explore stimulating ideas, new ways to collect, and remarkable events in first day cover collecting, such as these subjects from recent issues

• FINDING THAT ELUSIVE FIRST DAY COVER
• FDC CHECKLISTS
• COMBINATION COVERS
• FDC VIEWPOINTS
• USPS POLICIES AFFECTING FIRST DAY COVERS
• MAKE YOUR COLLECTION GROW
• EXHIBITING YOUR FDC COLLECTION
• BOOK REVIEWS
• FIRST DAYS INDEXES

And, of course, feature articles you will find nowhere else. Each issue is packed with five or more feature articles by leading collectors, researchers, and experts from virtually every FDC field. In just one recent issue of FIRST DAYS, readers found features and information on such subjects as USPS information for cachetmakers, dealer offerings and FDC auctions, price lists, Internet, autographs, bilingual FDCs, animated covers, airmail, classic FDCs, 7/1/71 FDCs, Columbians, 19th century earliest known usages, Moon Landing 25th anniversary, FDC Handbook for Junior Collectors, making your own cacheted FDCs, collecting methods, glossary of terms for FDC collectors, combination covers, American Bicentennial, updates to FDC catalogs, AFDCS fund-raising auction items, Lindbergh, defining a first day cover, sending for FDC cancellations, and much more. JUST IMAGINE THE COVERAGE IN A YEAR'S SUBSCRIPTION OF EIGHT GREAT ISSUES!

But FIRST DAYS is only one benefit of your membership...

• You can attend AMERICOVER, the annual convention of the AFDCS where we meet in various parts of the country to learn about FDC collecting and share our special interests. Programs, seminars, meetings, exhibits, stamp dealers, social events, fun, and excitement are part of AMERICOVER. AMERICOVER brings together collectors from many fields and many parts of the world to share collecting specialties, ideas, friendship, and to establish networks of common interests.

But that's not all. You'll also receive the following benefits of membership...

• AFDCS handbooks. The AFDCS's active publishing program has produced award-winning reference books on first day cover collecting--the largest single source of books on FDC collecting available anywhere!
• Three major first day cover auctions are held by the AFDCS offering members the opportunity to win very interesting and highly collectible covers.
• A Sales Department offering a fine stock of covers, labels, cachets, jewelry, handbooks, and back issues of First Days.
• The opportunity to join one of 50+ local chapters. As a member, you'll be able to join groups of forward-looking individuals in your area to share your common interests and learn more about first day cover collecting. If there is no group in your area, we'll help you start one!
• Special interest chapters are devoted to the specialized study of specific first day cover collecting topics including autographs, ceremony programs, cachetmakers, maximum cards, hand painted cachets, children's covers, Ioor cachets, duck stamps, Artcraft cachets, and more. Your topic might be included. If not, we'll help you start a group with little effort. You'll receive a list of specialized groups when you join the AFDCS.
• Expertising--Members may submit first day covers to a committee of experts who issue opinions and certificates of genuineness. AFDCS members are charged only a low fee and postage costs.
• Assistance is provided to members who wish to know more about obtaining or servicing their own foreign first day covers.
• The AFDCS maintains one of the most famous archives in the hobby. The extensive collection of first day cover literature, tapes, and illustrations has been a valuable resource to AFDCS members and a wealth of information to members wanting to dig deeper into their hobby. The Society maintains up-to-date information on the active international cachetmakers and cachets.

And other popular benefits...

• Translation service for over 30 languages!
• Slide programs on 32 popular fdc subjects!
• Heirs assistance and estate planning.

Now here's the most important part . Your membership will give you the satisfaction of knowing that you make it possible for stamp collectors from all over the world to study, create, enjoy, and share the fun of FIRST DAY COVER collecting!

Won't you join us? . Dues are just $30 for a full year ($40 for international addresses). And you'll receive all the membership benefits described above.

To sum up, your membership entitles you to:

• A one-year subscription to FIRST DAYS (eight issues).
• A menu of benefits and services for AFDCS members.
• The AMERICOVER annual convention.
• The opportunity to join local chapters and special interest groups.
• Five FREE cacheted first day covers.
• FREE Mini-Adventures in First Day Cover Collecting booklet of goodies!
• and the knowledge that you are helping to build the fun of first day cover collecting.

You'll receive all this for only $30--just 58¢ a week! Many magazines, hobby organizations, and professional associations charge many times this amount.

And if you are not 100% satisfied with your introductory offer and other benefits, you may simply write me personally, and I will see that you receive a full and immediate refund on the unused portion of your membership dues no questions asked. And you may keep everything we've sent you, including your booklet, MINI-ADVENTURES IN FIRST DAY COVER COLLECTING.

The American First Day Cover Society can make a major contribution to creating a better future for stamp collecting and it can make you a better collector of first day covers.

Sincerely,
Douglas A. Kelsey
Executive Director

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