A Century of Progress

 The 1933 Chicago World's Fair, A Century of Progress, opened 90 years ago.  This is a first day postcard, rather than a cover.  There were lots of picture postcards issued commemorating the two year fair.  I have around 80 of them from at least eight sets.  Lord knows how many sets there were.  

This card appropriately has the one cent Fort Dearborn stamp.  Also issued on May 25, 1933 was a violet three cent letter rate stamp depicting the modern Federal Building.

1978 French Open Tennis First Day Cover

 The French Open, 2nd of professional tennis's Grand Slam tournaments, is currently being held in Paris.  The sport holds less interest for me as the years go by.   Maybe it's because I no longer play or maybe it's the lack of players I find intriguing.  45 years ago, when this First Day Cover was issued I followed tennis closely.  

The legendary Swede Björn Borg, in his prime, took the men's singles title.  It was his third in five years and the first of four consecutive French championships.

Stade Roland Garros was named after the famed World War I aviator 

Merci d'être passé.  Au revoir pour le moment.

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day!

Here's a first day cover I picked up this year.  It's a cool little piece of history.

The American War Mothers organization was formed in 1917.  Here's a bit of their history.

When the envelope arrived I was surprised to see that there was something still sealed inside after 84 years.  I carefully cut one edge.

This is what I found:

Here's the stamp.

Most of you will have recognized the image as a copy of "Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1", popularly known as "Whistler's Mother".