This is a clean First Day Cover (FDC) honoring the United States National Guard. It features a block of four 3c commemorative stamps paired with a printed cachet by Schacht.
Year of Issue: 1953.
Scott Number: Sc 1017 (3c National Guard, block of four).
Cachet Producer: Schacht.
Cachet Design: A monochromatic dark red illustration depicting a soldier in uniform and a civilian worker flanking a U.S. flag. Text reads "Honoring the NATIONAL GUARD / America's oldest unit in the armed forces."
First Day of Issue (FDOI) Cancel: Postmarked with a crisp circular handstamp from Washington, D.C., dated Feb 23, 9-AM, 1953.
Special Markings: Features standard "FIRST DAY OF ISSUE" machine slogan cancels tying the stamps. A red-bordered printed address label is affixed to the lower right.
This issue honors the role of the National Guard in both the military defense and domestic support of the United States.
Stamp Design: The 3c blue stamp depicts the dual mission of the National Guard, highlighting service "In War" and "In Peace." It shows an infantryman in combat gear alongside amphibious operations, as well as a figure representing peacetime service.
Format: Blocks of four on cover are desirable for philatelic study, providing a larger canvas to examine centering and stamp margins.
This cover is a solid piece for collectors specializing in military topicals, National Guard history, blocks of four on cover, or Schacht cachets.