Alan Blackman at the San Francisco Public Library
Channel: San Francisco Public Library
Date: 2018-02-05

"Letters to Myself" calligrapher Alan Blackman shares his story, and over one hundred decorated envelopes with first day of issue stamp cancellations. 
In 1968, well-known San Francisco lettering artist and calligrapher Alan A. Blackman began sending hand-written envelopes as a surprise to his young son. Blackman had been an avid stamp collector in childhood and remembered the excitement that a new postage stamp could create, and the pleasure of receiving his own personal mail. At the same time he addressed an envelope to his son he addressed a similar one to himself.
As a postal employee Blackman knew when and where to send for new U.S. postage stamps. Collectors call the newly issued stamps on envelopes "first day covers." Each new stamp bears the cancellation: FIRST DAY OF ISSUE and records the date and city of first sale. Alan's envelopes gradually became individually distinctive, the design of the address mirroring the design of the stamps. The envelopes have become a collection spanning almost 40 years, comprising some 200 envelopes, and bearing cancellations from the USA, Canada, Great Britain, and other countries overseas.