The ship shown on the cachet and stamp is meant to represent the boats used by George Washington and his troops during the crossing of the Delaware River on the night of 25–26 December 1776, one of the most famous events of the American Revolutionary War.
Type of Boat: Durham Boat
The actual vessels used were called Durham boats.
Characteristics:
- Length: about 40–60 feet (12–18 meters)
- Flat-bottomed design
- Built primarily for river navigation
- Could carry soldiers, horses, artillery, and supplies
- Propelled by long poles, oars, and sometimes sails
Why Were They Used?
Washington's army needed to cross the icy Delaware River quickly and secretly to launch a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey.
The Durham boats were ideal because they:
- Could carry large numbers of troops.
- Handled shallow river waters.
- Were sturdy enough for winter conditions.
This is a First Day Cover (FDC) issued by Guinea-Bissau to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States of America (1776–1976).
Cover Details
- Country: Guinea-Bissau
- Issue Type: First Day Cover (Official Commemorative Stamp)
- Occasion: 200th anniversary of American independence (1776–1976)
- First Day Cancellation Date: 5 March 1976
- Cancellation Location: Bissau
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The cancellation inscription reads:
- "Primeiro Dia de Emissão" (Portuguese for First Day of Issue)
- "Bicentenário dos Estados Unidos da América"
- Date: 5 Março 1976
The Stamp
- Face Value: 15 Escudos
- Inscription: "Estado da Guiné-Bissau"
- Theme: Bicentennial of the United States (1776–1976)
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The stamp depicts:
- George Washington on the right.
- A scene from the American Revolutionary War, likely inspired by the famous depiction of Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River.
- The dates 1776–1976, marking the 200th anniversary of American independence.
Cachet (Illustration on the Left)
The black-and-white artwork on the envelope shows:
- George Washington standing in a boat with soldiers.
- Revolutionary War flags and military imagery.
- The official American Revolution Bicentennial logo (the red, white, and blue five-pointed star design).
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Text:
"First Day of Issue Official Commemorative Stamp of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau"
Historical Significance
In 1976, many countries around the world issued stamps celebrating the American Bicentennial, recognizing the influence of the American Revolution on democratic and independence movements worldwide. Guinea-Bissau, which had gained independence from Portugal only a few years earlier in 1974, participated by issuing this commemorative series.
Philatelic Interest
This cover is attractive to collectors interested in:
- American Bicentennial issues
- Worldwide topical stamps on the United States
- Revolutionary War themes
- George Washington
- Guinea-Bissau postal history
- First Day Covers of the 1970s
The addressed recipient, Edward Vitali of Dedham, Massachusetts, was likely a collector who subscribed to international new-issue services, which was common among thematic collectors during the 1970s.
Overall, this is a well-preserved and visually appealing thematic FDC connecting the history of the American Revolution with the postal history of Guinea-Bissau.
The reverse side provides important provenance information and helps establish the purpose of the cover.
Certificate of Authenticity
At the top is the official American Revolution Bicentennial (1776–1976) logo, followed by a Certificate of Authenticity.
The certificate states that:
- This is a limited-edition First Day Cover.
- It was an officially recognized commemorative of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration (ARBA).
- It was issued under License No. 76-19-0574.
- The commemorative program was authorized by Public Law 93-179, enacted by the U.S. Congress.
- The cover contains a genuine stamp issued by Guinea-Bissau commemorating the American Bicentennial.
- The cover bears the official first-day cancellation from the post office where the stamp was first issued.
Signature
The certificate bears the printed signature of:
John W. Warner
At the time, Warner served as Administrator of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration and later became a prominent U.S. Senator from Virginia.
Philatelic Significance
The reverse certificate indicates that this cover was marketed as part of a worldwide Bicentennial philatelic program. During 1975–1976, many countries issued stamps honoring the 200th anniversary of American independence, and collectors could purchase authenticated first-day covers accompanied by certificates such as this one.
What the Backside Tells Collectors
The certificate confirms:
- Authenticity of the commemorative program.
- Official first-day status of the cover.
- Connection to the American Bicentennial celebrations.
- Licensing by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration.
- That the cover was produced as a collectible rather than ordinary postal correspondence.
Small Mark at Bottom Right
The tiny boxed symbol in the lower-right corner appears to be a printer's or producer's control mark used during manufacture of the certificate envelope. Such marks are common on commemorative covers and generally do not add significant value but can help identify the producer.
Overall Assessment
When the front cover and this certificate are kept together, they form a complete Bicentennial commemorative package. For thematic collectors of:
- American Revolution material,
- Worldwide Bicentennial issues,
- George Washington,
- First Day Covers,
- Guinea-Bissau philately,
the certificate enhances the historical context and desirability of the cover, even though certificates of this type were often produced in fairly large quantities for the collector market of the 1970s.
