Lot #852: USA First Day Cover November 22, 1957 - "National Wildlife Series. Whooping Crane" - 1957 USA Three Cent "Whooping Crane" (Scott #1098) - New Orleans

1957 USA Commemorative Cacheted First Day Cover - Engraved picture of Whooping Crane, with caption "National Wildlife Series. Whooping Crane. 1957. Stamped with 1957 USA Three Cent "Wildlife Conservation - Whooping Crane" Stamp (Scott #1098). Postmarked November 22, 1957 at New Orleans, Louisiana. This 1957 First Day Cover (FDC) is a classic specimen from the U.S. Post Office Department’s "Wildlife Conservation" series. It marks a specific moment in mid-century environmental awareness, utilizing high-quality engraving to celebrate one of North America's most endangered birds. Issued on November 22, 1957, the 3 Whooping Crane (Scott #1098) stamp was the fourth and final entry in the 1956–1957 Wildlife Conservation series. It features a pair of whooping cranes with a young bird, rendered in a three-color process (blue, green, and brown). This was one of the early stamps produced on the Giori Press, a rotary press capable of printing multiple colors in a single pass using a complex inking cylinder system. The "cachet" is the printed or engraved artwork on the left side of the envelope. This "Whooping Crane" engraving was produced by the high-tier cachetmaker Artmaster who were known for their crisp, intaglio-style lines. The cachet mirrors the theme of the stamp, creating a "Total Design" effect popular with 1950s philatelists. Dimensions: 10 mm x 17 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}