First-day cover collecting certainly has many byways, and I like to go back to it every so often because it is one of my roots in the stamp hobby.

On March 1, Canada Post will issue nondenominated (85¢) domestic letter-rate “P” permanent Hydrangeas stamps with two designs in self-adhesive booklets of 10, coil rolls of 50, two-stamp souvenir sheets, and postal cards imprinted for delivery anywhere in the world.

French-born aviation pioneer Octave Chanute designed and built early gliders for manned flight, and was a friend and advisor to the Wright Brothers during their successful efforts to achieve controlled and powered human flight in an airplane.

The letter, scribbled out on Dec. 6, 1870, was written by a Frenchman, Charles Mesnier (or Mesmier), and is addressed to his mother in Pont-Audemer, Normandy. At the time it was written, the Franco-Prussian War was in full swing, with German forces surrounding Paris for almost four months.

The Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History and the Mobile Post Office Society will present a symposium on surface transportation of mail in the 20th century.

The Penny Red replaced the Penny Black in 1841, which was taken out of circulation due to the potential of fraudulent reuse. Prior to the Penny Red’s launch the Rainbow Colour Trials was conducted to find the ideal color for the stamp.

As a fan of 19th-century trade cards that depict United States stamps, I’m pleased to share two examples of what appear at first glance to be the same card. The cards have the same margin design and show the same four stamps from the definitive series of 1870-71. However, they are not the same.

Michael Jordan's extraordinary basketball career included six championship seasons with the Chicago Bulls. He is now the majority owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.

On May 12, 1937, Newfoundland issued a set of 11 stamps with designs showing scenes of Newfoundland with an inset portrait of King George VI (Scott 233-243).

On Jan. 29, the United States Postal Service issued 10 nondenominated (49¢) Botanical Art stamps in panes of 10 and double-sided panes of 20. It also produced uncut press sheets of this issue, both with and without die cuts, which sold at face value for $78.40.

Cyrus McCormick, an American inventor instrumental in the development of the mechanical reaper, established a company that later became International Harvester (now Navistar).

According to a United States Postal Service press release, more than 150,000 cards and letters were handled last year by the Valentines. Those items came from senders who wanted their mail to carry the signuture Valentine's Day themed stamp of Loveland.

Richard Allen was an early civil rights leader and the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Born in Philadelphia, he obtained his freedom at age 23 and embarked on a career of religious leadership.

The news that production of ArtCraft cacheted first-day covers was discontinued as of the end of 2015 is making waves throughout not only the FDC segment of philately but perhaps beyond.

On Oct. 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager flew his Bell X-1 jet into the history books by becoming the first pilot to break the sound barrier. A stamp honoring his feat was issued 50 years later.

When President Barack Obama submitted his final federal budget to Congress Feb. 9, it was pronounced DOA — dead on arrival — by many. Little noticed among the myriad proposals was the president’s plans for the troubled United States Postal Service.

The nondenominated ($1.20) Moon global forever stamp for international letter mail will be issued in panes of 10 on Feb. 22, according to the United States Postal Service.

A rare unused variety of the Canada 15¢ gray Large Queen stamp from the 1868 series will be offered at auction March 1 by Sparks Auctions of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The upcoming Sparks auction is scheduled for March 1-3.

In 2012, the United States Postal Service began selling uncut press sheets of selected commemorative and definitive stamps that had no die cuts between the stamps. Imperforate stamps from these press sheets were initially footnoted (along with values) in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers.

Gen. Omar N. Bradley led the American forces during the 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. He would later serve as chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.