July 20, 1984
Any organization or sponsor can request the use of a pictorial postmark from the USPS. These postmarks (as well as first day cancels) are applied on the day of use or during a grace period. In 1977 the USPS starting using a grace period of 30day for first day postmarks. This meant the collector would purchase the stamps after they were issued, apply them to the envelope and send them to the city of original issuance for the first day postmark. This saved time and costs for the postal staff who used to provide the service.
Eventually this practice was applied to pictorial postmarks. The stamps used had to be issued either on the day of the postmark or before. This allowed collectors to create unofficial first day covers.
When the Warren Moon postmark was announced, I noticed the date coincided with the 25th anniversary of the moon landing. I had attended the ceremony at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, so I already had the stamps on hand. I liked the idea of creating a Warren Moon Landing unofficial first day cover.
Warren Moon started his professional football career with the Washington Redskins and then moved to the Houston Oilers. The coincidence of Houston being home to the Oilers football team as well as the Johnson Space Center, was too good to pass up this opportunity.
I am hoping to someday get this signed by Warren Moon, I just have not had the chance to attend any shows he has been at...
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