1972 First Day Pharmacy Stamp

Pharmacy United States Postage

Hook’s Drug Store Museum is grateful that Daniel Shifrin R.Ph. has granted permission to post his entire collection of First Day Cover Pharmacy stamps. What follows is Mr. Shifrin’s collection and his story. The Museum is fortunate that three Hook’s Drug Store post cards are part of this unique and treasured collection.

The U.S. Pharmacy Stamp was introduced on November 10, 1972. The stamp bears the word “Pharmacy” against a black background. The stamp also contains a yellow mortar and pestle and two medication bottles. It is an 8-cent stamp.

The stamp honors the men and women who serve the pharmacy profession. It has adorned a plethora of items including keychains, plaques, mugs, and even belt buckles. No other stamp has been admired as much throughout its history.

When a new U.S. postage stamp is first introduced, a ceremony is held in a particular city on a particular day. The Pharmacy Stamp was introduced in Cincinnati at the American Pharmaceutical Association convention.

At that time, many stamp companies, pharmaceutical companies, and individuals designed pictorial envelopes to which they affixed the Pharmacy Stamp. These commemorative envelopes, or First Day Covers (FDCs), had the stamp postmarked with the special “First Day of Issue” cancellation.

My collection has been exhibited at stamp shows and local libraries; presented twice at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists convention; and displayed at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum.

The captions beneath the FDCs are courtesy of pharmacy historian George Griffenhagen. Mr. Griffenhagen was responsible for my start in collecting Pharmacy Stamp FDCs and supplied me with much assistance and materials through the years.

Hook's First Day Covers

Hook's Drug Store of Indianapolis, Indiana, issued a brown cachet which records the first pharmacy founded, in 1900

Hook's 1890 Drug Store and Pharmacy Museum is featured in this brown cachet "Saluting Pharmacy". The Museum is located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds and is open to the public.

Hook's 1890 Drug Store added this green cachet recognizing the chain's 75 anniversary.

Pharmacy Stamp Collection

Aristocrat Cachets

Aristocrat Cachets (Wilrens Cover Service) of Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1936, produced this black cachet designed by Dan Lowry.

Anderson Historical First-Day Covers

Anderson Historical First Day Covers with a cachet printed in both black and purple by pioneer designer C. Stephen Anderson.

Artopages

Artopages, operated by Jim Novotony of Bowling Green, Ohio, featured the cachets of pioneer designer Alton A. Weigel.

Artmaster

Artmaster, with C.A. Zoeller of Louisville, Kentucky, at the helm, had produced quality FDCs, including this black cachet.

Schering Corp

Schering Corp. created its own cachet, which was printed in sepia by Artcraft. Schering also used the same illustration on a large souvenir plaque.

Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp

Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. created this orange and black cachet for its First Day Cover (FDC).

Artcraft

Artcraft, of Washington Press in Maplewood, New Jersey, founded by Leo August and his brother, pharmacist Samuel August, produced this cachet.

ICI America Inc

ICI America Inc. used the Artcraft cachet, printed in brown, with an insert signed by W.K. Abbott, Marketing Manager, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics.

Drug Topics

Drug Topics adapted the Artcraft cachet, printed in blue, for its First Day Cover (FDC) of the Pharmacy Stamp.

Pharmacy Times

Pharmacy Times commissioned Stevan Dohanos to create a special cachet entitled “Pharmacy Memorabilia.” The cover includes an insert signed by Irving Rubin, Editor.

David "C" Cachets

David “C” Cachets offered an alternate printed cachet that was hand-colored by David Pritchard Jr.

David "C" Cachets

Ellis Animated Covers

Ellis Animated Covers offered a humorous approach with a multicolor cachet by Richard Ellis of Mountlake Terrace, Washington.

Caswell-Massey Co

Caswell-Massey Co. produced this sepia cachet on an ivory cover, describing itself as “the oldest pharmacy in America.”

Overseas Mailers

Overseas Mailers of Hicksville, New York, featured the brown, green, and blue Jackson cachet, along with an auxiliary red cachet from Caswell-Massey of New York.

Jackson Cover Service

Jackson Cover Service of Plainfield, New Jersey, provided this brown, green, and blue cachet inscribed "Jackson Sweeney First Day of Issue."

The National Association of Chain Store Drug Stores

The National Association of Chain Store Drug Stores prepared this black and tan cachet honoring pharmacy.

The National Association of Retail Druggists

The National Association of Retail Druggists developed this brown cachet from Parke-Davis.

Colonial Cachet

Colonial Cachet, by Robert F. Rinse of Warren, Michigan, created this black, tan, and orange cachet.

The Hamilton County Pharmaceutical Association

The Hamilton County Pharmaceutical Association of Cincinnati, Ohio, issued this black cachet designed by E. Inman. It credits William Davies with opening the first American pharmacy in Boston.

JN Cachets

JN Cachets, operated by Charles E. Nicklin of Muncie, Indiana, promoted this black cachet through the American Pharmaceutical Association Journal.

JN Cachets

JN Cachets added a second black cachet recognizing the 120th anniversary of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

JN Cachets

JN Cachets offered a third black cachet featuring the APHA logo.

Geigy Pharmaceuticals

Geigy Pharmaceuticals used this black and gold cachet for its First Day Cover (FDC), with an insert signed by Jack Shotsberger, Vice President of Marketing.

Fleetwood

Fleetwood of Cheyenne, Wyoming, produced this engraved black and green cover. The same cover was also made with a silver or bronze medallion.

Bazaar Cachets

Bazaar Cachets, launched by Herb Benjamin of West Newton, Massachusetts, produced this black, sepia, and orange cachet.

House of Farnham

House of Farnham is America's oldest steel die-engraved First Day Cover (FDC) producer. This red and blue cachet was designed by Ralph Zimmerman.

Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company used this black, burnt orange, and blue cachet to honor the pharmacy profession.

Hook’s

Hook’s 1890 Drug Store and Pharmacy Museum is featured on this brown cachet, “Saluting Pharmacy.” The museum is located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Hook’s Drug Stores

Hook’s Drug Stores of Indianapolis, Indiana, issued a brown cachet commemorating the first Hook’s pharmacy, founded in 1900.

Hook’s Drug Stores

Hook’s Drug Stores added this green cachet recognizing the chain’s 75th anniversary.

Cover Craft Cachets

Cover Craft Cachets of Paterson, New Jersey, created this red, blue, and black cachet with an insert describing the symbols featured on the Pharmacy Stamp.

Unknown

Unknown green, orange, and violet cachet hand-drawn on an airmail envelope.

American Druggists’ Insurance Co.

American Druggists’ Insurance Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, produced this black cachet with a blue eagle and an accompanying insert.

American Pharmaceutical Association’s

American Pharmaceutical Association’s “Official Cachet,” printed in black and green, was designed by Bernard Sanders.

Kolor Kover

Kolor Kover, operated by Norman Thomas of Jackson, Michigan, enlisted Hiriam I. Swindall to create this cachet, printed in blue on both white and pink covers.

Lorstan Cachets

Lorstan Cachets of Stratford, Connecticut, offered this black engraved cachet with blue printing.

MARG.

MARG., the trade name of Edmund J. Shea of Wellesley, Massachusetts, operating as Shea Advertising, featured duotone cachets such as this one.

Cliff’s Covers

Cliff’s Covers, operated by Clifford Elliot of Sycamore, Illinois, featured this black cachet designed by Martha Fay.

Motor City Stamp & Cover Club

The Motor City Stamp & Cover Club First Day Cover (FDC) was prepared by Maurice L. Ouellette of Allen Park, Michigan. The cachet is burnt orange.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy

The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy’s back cachet commemorates the beginning of its sesquicentennial year.

North Dakota State University College of Pharmacy

The North Dakota State University College of Pharmacy’s black cachet was developed by the Fargo–Moorhead Stamp Club.

George W. Grinder

George W. Grinder of Danville, Kentucky, created this black cachet featuring the McDowell Apothecary Shop.

Colorado “Silk” Cachet

Colorado “Silk” Cachet launched a new era in First Day Cover (FDC) collecting when Ray Novak of Bellrose, New York, applied multicolor silk cachets to covers.

Tri-State Cover Society

The Tri-State Cover Society of Cincinnati, Ohio, featured this green and red cachet prepared by Ralph A. Weil.

A. Spiegel Drug Store

This maximum card displays the interior of the A. Spiegel Drug Store of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Colorado “Silk” Cachets

Colorado “Silk” Cachets also issued a First Day Cover (FDC) as a 3¼" × 5½" card.

Red Cachet

This red cachet received a special “Pharmex Station” cancellation in conjunction with the first all-pharmacy philatelic exhibit.

George H. Golden

George H. Golden of Canton, Texas, prepared this black cachet featuring Richard Nixon saluting the American Pharmaceutical Association.

Andrew T. Cavacos

Andrew T. Cavacos of Baltimore, Maryland, prepared this black printed cachet that incorrectly identifies Hubert Humphrey as "Hubert S."

Ken Kribbs of Kribbs’s Kovers

Ken Kribbs of Kribbs’s Kovers, Jekyll Island, Georgia, produced this hand-drawn cachet honoring the 120th anniversary of the American Pharmaceutical Association.

Frank J. Ulrich

Frank J. Ulrich of Sun City, California, produced this yellow, orange, and blue hand-drawn cachet.

Ross Foil Cachets

Ross Foil Cachets, produced by Ross Wetreich of Long Island, New York, featured a metallic foil cachet.

Sarzin Metallic

Sarzin Metallic, created by Clyde J. Sarzin, offered this black and red metallic cachet.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers with silver medallions, as well as six different apothecary weights. The cachets are printed in black, blue, and red.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers with bronze medallions, as well as six different apothecary weights. The cachets are printed in black, blue, and red.

The New Jersey Pharmaceutical Association

The New Jersey Pharmaceutical Association used the black Artcraft “Pharmacy Times” cachet with its own logo on the back flap.

Postmasters of America

Postmasters of America cachet included a sterling silver medallion sculptured by Norman Nemeth and minted by the Franklin Mint.

Artcraft/Mr. ZIP

Artcraft/Mr. ZIP First Day Cover (FDC) prepared using the Pharmacy Stamp adjacent to the Mr. ZIP image from a sheet of Pharmacy Stamps.

Artcraft

Artcraft First Day Cover (FDC) used several U.S. stamps to create this multiple-combination cachet featuring the Pharmacy Stamp.

Artcraft

This combination First Day Cover (FDC) was prepared by adding several foreign medical stamps to an Artcraft cachet.

Artcraft

Philips Roxane sent this Artcraft First Day Cover (FDC) to pharmacists with an insert from Roxane’s president, Gerald C. Wojta.

Artcraft

Artcraft First Day Cover (FDC), used by Ciba-Geigy, contains an insert by Jed L. Mens, Executive Director of Sales.

Prestige FDCs

Prestige FDCs of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, prepared this black cachet for the Century Club of the University of Louisville.

Blue FDC

A blue First Day Cover bearing the logos of several pharmaceutical companies.

FDC APHA Page Reproduction

This First Day Cover reproduces the American Pharmaceutical Association page congratulating the pharmacy profession on its philatelic recognition.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers featuring a half-scruple apothecary weight.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers featuring one-scruple apothecary weight.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers featuring two-scruple apothecary weight.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers featuring half-dram apothecary weight.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers featuring one-dram apothecary weight.

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham

The Southern Commemorative Society of Birmingham, Alabama, offered these unique philatelic covers featuring two-dram apothecary weight.

Pharmacy Stamp Error

The Pharmacy Stamp itself is not without its share of errors. The most notable error is the omission of the blue and orange colors. There are also many unlisted perforation and color-shift errors. With a standard Pharmacy Stamp shown on the right for comparison.

Pharmacy Stamp Error

The cachet shown above was drawn exclusively for me by Tom Foust of McComb, Ohio, and is individually numbered on the reverse side. I became familiar with Tom Foust and his work after he created a special First Day Cover (FDC) announcing the birth of my daughter.

The captions beneath these cachets are courtesy of George Griffenhagen. He was responsible for introducing me to collecting Pharmacy Stamp FDCs and has provided me with invaluable assistance and materials throughout the years.

Finally, if you have any questions or comments regarding my collection, or if you are aware of other Pharmacy Stamp First Day Covers, please contact:

Daniel Shifrin, R.Ph.
Email: RPDANNY627@gmail.com
Phone: 908-202-0448