Really Neat Find

Normally I don't pay that much attention to postmarks, but this one had a clear, readable date, which I thought would help me identify the stamp, which it did. On closer look, I realized that the date on the postmark is the date I was born. And, adjusting for the time zone difference, the time of day on the postmark also happens to be right about the time of birth listed on my unofficial "birth certificate" from the hospital. As a bonus, I needed this stamp for my collection - I had the other two from that set, but not this one. However, if I come across another copy of it, I'll probably take this one out of my album and put it in a special place.

What is an "unofficial birth certificate"? Notes on a cigarette pack?

I like it! I look for items with my birth date all the time (Jan 31, 1970), but haven't found any.

CanadaStamp, many or most US hospitals provide a document attesting to birth, often with the newborn's footprint. This is a souvenir for the family, not an official birth certificate. I'm guessing this is what Artful means.

That is neat, what are the chances of finding your birthday on a cancel.

That's pretty cool. :) I'd probably do that, too.

That's exactly what I mean. "Official" birth certificates are issued by the state, and I have mine in a safe place. The one from the hospital looks like a recipe card, showing the date and time of birth, weight and length and that's about it. Like you said, it's a souvenir for the family, nothing more. It's not a legal document in any sense of the word.



It was very unlikely in my case. Only when looking for a date to help me ID the stamp do I pay much attention to the date on any postmark. And had this been on a more common stamp - one that I knew at a glance that I already had - I wouldn't have looked at it, either; it would have gone straight to the discard pile. I bet I only look at the date on a postmark less than a hundred times in a year.