The 2016 American First Day Cover Society Court of Honor cachet showcases the artwork of Bob Emrick of Texas.

Each year, the AFDCS honors a cachet artist or company that has contributed to the hobby over a number of years. This year’s AFDCS covers feature all the 2016 holiday stamps issued by the USPS: Nativity, Florentine Madonna and Child, Holiday Windows, Eid Greetings, Kwanzaa and Diwali.

The series uses the Christmas theme, since the U.S. issues stamps for this subject almost every year. The series began in 1981 and there has been a new Court of Honor FDC every year since then.

The artists are given complete freedom to develop their designs. The AFDCS then reproduces the art on high-quality envelopes, and includes insert cards with a biography and photograph of the artist.

Bob is self taught with no professional training in art. He worked in the printing industry his entire career and was often asked to do illustrations for special events. His first cachet was the 1950s Sporty Cars issue of 2005.Two cachetmakers were his mentors, David Peterman and Julian Pugh. Bob has won numerous awards for his covers in the annual AFDCS Cachetmakers Contest.

The Bob Emrick Court of Honor FDCs may be purchased online by clicking here. Prices start at $5.00.