Template:FDC issue
This template displays the principal details of a first day cover issue.
Usage
{{FDC issue
|fdc-image=Example-FDC.jpg
|fdc-back-image=
|country=Isle of Man
|country-code=IM
|issue-title=Example issue
|issue-date=15 September 2026
|withdrawn-date=
|quantity-sold=
|sold-out=
|year=2026
|stamp-type=Commemorative
|stamp-subtype=Commemorative stamps
|theme=
|text-credit=
|designer=
|printer=
|printing-process=
|colours=
|paper-gum=
|perforation=
|stamp-dimensions=
|issue-format=
|cover-type=
|cover-producer=
|cover-reference=
|limited-edition=No
|edition-limit=
|copy-number=
|cachet=
|addressed=
|postmark-type=
|postmark-location=
|postmark-date=
|postmark-inscription=
|postmark-notes=
|postmark-image=IM-Example-Issue-2026-postmark.jpg
|postmark-additional-image-1=
|postmark-additional-image-2=
|signed=No
|signed-by=
|signature-details=
|information-sheet=Yes
|information-materials=Double-sided information card
|information-sheet-title=Example issue information card
|information-sheet-image=IM-Example-Issue-2026-information-card-front.jpg
|information-sheet-back-image=IM-Example-Issue-2026-information-card-back.jpg
|information-sheet-notes=
|authenticity-certificate=No
|authenticity-certificate-image=
|authenticity-certificate-back-image=
|fdc-owned=No
|condition=
|collection-comment=
}}
The number of stamps is calculated automatically from the uses of Template:FDC stamp row later on the page.
FDC articles in the main namespace are automatically added to Category:First day covers and to a country-specific category based on country.
Set fdc-owned to exactly Yes or No. This automatically places the article in either Category:First day covers owned or Category:First day covers wanted.
The year parameter places the page in the appropriate first day covers by year category.
The withdrawn-date parameter records withdrawal from sale or invalidation for postage of the stamps, rather than the physical cover. Where both dates are known, include both with explanatory labels. If stamps on the cover have different dates, identify the relevant stamps beside each date. Leave the field blank if unknown; the table will display “Not specified”. Record dates or descriptive statements about stocks selling out in sold-out. Selling out does not establish formal withdrawal from sale or invalidation for postage.
The quantity-sold parameter records a supported numeric quantity sold, such as 350,000. It must not be substituted with a quantity printed or an edition limit. Leave it blank if unknown; its row will be hidden. Explain in the page text whether the quantity describes the cover product, a stamp set, the entire stamp issue or a particular stamp, and cite the source.
The sold-out parameter accepts either a supported date, such as 1 January 2000, or descriptive text, such as Soon after issue.. Leave it blank if unknown; its row will be hidden. Explain which stamp or cover product the statement describes, preserve any relevant sales-outlet qualification, and cite the source. Where individual stamps have different quantities sold or sold-out dates, describe them separately in the page text rather than forcing them into one summary value.
Examples:
|withdrawn-date=1 March 1972 (invalidated for postage)
|withdrawn-date=31 August 1966 (withdrawn from sale); 1 March 1972 (invalidated for postage)
Fields that do not apply
The following fields automatically display N/A when their controlling parameter is set to exactly No:
limited-edition=No:edition-limitandcopy-number.signed=No:signed-byandsignature-details.information-sheet=No:information-materials,information-sheet-title,information-sheet-image,information-sheet-back-imageandinformation-sheet-notes.authenticity-certificate=No:authenticity-certificate-imageandauthenticity-certificate-back-image.
Leave dependent parameters blank when they do not apply. The template generates the N/A display automatically, overriding any supplied dependent value when the controlling parameter is No. Do not enter N/A or a template call in filename parameters.
For other controlling values, the existing display behaviour is retained. A controlling parameter supplied with a blank value does not trigger the N/A display. An omitted controlling parameter uses this template's existing default of No.
TemplateData
Displays the details of a first day cover and its associated stamp issue.
| Parameter | Description | Type | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDC image | fdc-image | Filename of the main first day cover image, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| FDC reverse image | fdc-back-image | Filename of an optional image of the reverse of the cover, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| Country | country | Issuing country or postal authority.
| String | required |
| Country code | country-code | Two-letter country code used in stamp identifiers.
| String | required |
| Issue title | issue-title | Official or descriptive title of the stamp issue. | String | required |
| Date of issue | issue-date | Date on which the stamps and first day cover were issued.
| String | optional |
| Withdrawal or invalidation date | withdrawn-date | Date when the stamps were withdrawn from sale or ceased to be valid for postage. This refers to the stamps, not the physical cover. Where both dates are known, include both with explanatory labels. Identify individual stamps if their dates differ. Leave blank if unknown.
| String | optional |
| Quantity sold | quantity-sold | Supported numeric quantity sold, with thousands separators if appropriate. This is not a quantity printed or an edition limit. Leave blank if unknown; the row is hidden. Cite the source and explain the product or variant scope in the page text.
| String | optional |
| Sold out | sold-out | Supported date or descriptive statement about stocks selling out. This does not establish formal withdrawal or invalidation. Leave blank if unknown; the row is hidden. Cite the source and explain the product or outlet scope in the page text.
| String | optional |
| Year of issue | year | Four-digit year of issue. This places the page in the corresponding first day covers by year category.
| Number | required |
| Stamp type | stamp-type | General classification, such as Commemorative or Definitive. | String | optional |
| Stamp subtype | stamp-subtype | More specific classification of the issue. | String | optional |
| Theme or subject | theme | Overall theme or subject of the stamp issue. | String | optional |
| Text credit | text-credit | Person or organisation responsible for the written text accompanying the stamp issue.
| String | optional |
| Designer or artist | designer | Designer, illustrator, artist or photographer responsible for the issue. | String | optional |
| Printer | printer | Company or organisation that printed the stamps. | String | optional |
| Printing process | printing-process | Printing method, such as lithography, intaglio or photogravure. | String | optional |
| Colours | colours | Number or description of colours used to print the stamp issue.
| String | optional |
| Paper and gum | paper-gum | Paper weight, paper type and gum used for the stamps.
| String | optional |
| Perforation | perforation | Perforation measurement for the stamps in the issue.
| String | optional |
| Stamp dimensions | stamp-dimensions | Physical dimensions of each stamp.
| String | optional |
| Issue format | issue-format | Format in which the stamps were issued, such as sheet, miniature sheet or booklet. | String | optional |
| Cover type | cover-type | General type of cover, such as standard, commercial or official. | String | optional |
| Cover producer | cover-producer | Postal authority, company or organisation that produced the cover. | String | optional |
| Cover reference | cover-reference | Catalogue, producer or collection reference for this cover. | String | optional |
| Limited edition | limited-edition | Whether the first day cover was produced as a limited edition.
| String | optional |
| Edition limit | edition-limit | Maximum number of copies produced in the limited edition.
| Number | optional |
| Copy number | copy-number | Individual number or designation assigned to this particular first day cover.
| String | optional |
| Cachet or cover design | cachet | Description of the illustration or cachet on the cover. | String | optional |
| Addressed | addressed | Whether the cover is addressed, for example Yes, No or Address label.
| String | optional |
| Postmark type | postmark-type | Type of postmark, such as special handstamp, FDI postmark, CDS or slogan postmark. | String | optional |
| Postmark location | postmark-location | Town, post office or other location shown in the postmark. | String | optional |
| Postmark date | postmark-date | Date shown in the postmark. | String | optional |
| Postmark inscription | postmark-inscription | Wording or slogan appearing in the postmark. | String | optional |
| Postmark notes | postmark-notes | Any additional information about the cancellation or postmark. | String | optional |
| Main postmark image | postmark-image | Filename of the principal postmark image, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| Additional postmark image 1 | postmark-additional-image-1 | Filename of an optional additional postmark image, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| Additional postmark image 2 | postmark-additional-image-2 | Filename of a second optional additional postmark image, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| Signed | signed | Whether the cover has been signed.
| String | optional |
| Signed by | signed-by | Name and role of each signer, such as artist, author or depicted subject. | String | optional |
| Signature details | signature-details | Location, ink colour, authentication or other details about the signature. | String | optional |
| Information sheet included | information-sheet | Whether an information sheet is included with the cover.
| String | optional |
| Information materials | information-materials | Description of all information cards, inserts and other materials included with the cover. | Content | optional |
| Information sheet title | information-sheet-title | Title or description of the accompanying information sheet. | String | optional |
| Information sheet image | information-sheet-image | Filename of the front of the information sheet, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| Information sheet reverse image | information-sheet-back-image | Filename of the reverse of the information sheet, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| Information sheet notes | information-sheet-notes | Additional information about the accompanying sheet. | String | optional |
| Certificate of authenticity included | authenticity-certificate | Whether a certificate of authenticity is included with the cover.
| String | optional |
| Certificate of authenticity image | authenticity-certificate-image | Filename of the front of the certificate of authenticity, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| Certificate reverse image | authenticity-certificate-back-image | Filename of the reverse of the certificate of authenticity, without the File: prefix. | File | optional |
| FDC owned | fdc-owned | Whether this first day cover is currently in the collection. This controls the ownership category.
| String | required |
| Condition | condition | Condition of the cover, including any faults or damage. | String | optional |
| Collection Comment | collection-comment | Private collection details such as damage, duplicates owned or replacement requirements. | String | optional |