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HD Postmark for WESTPEX 2026

WESTPEX 2026

Showing all 6 custom covers created for this cancellation event.

Size: C63404/24/2026 • Sequence #

Rising from the Ashes (WESTPEX Station) - Burlingame, CA

Front Design View

Front Design

Back Layout View

Back Design

Official Pictorial Postmark View

Canceled with Pictorial Postmark

Rising from the Ashes: A History of Resilient San Francisco

On June 27, 1776, a Spanish expedition under Lieutenant José Joaquín Moraga and Father Francisco Palóu founded the Presidio of San Francisco, establishing a permanent colonial presence near the Bay. It was a modest start for the future metropolis. The city’s history is famously defined by resilience, most notably the catastrophic 1906 earthquake and subsequent firestorms that razed most of the urban core.

Yet, like the mythical phoenix, San Francisco rose swiftly from the ashes. Led by a determination that matched its dramatic topography, citizens rebuilt with innovation and speed. Today, from the historic Mission District to the iconic Golden Gate and vibrant tech hubs, San Francisco celebrates 250 years, embodying a timeless spirit of rebirth and innovation.

Philatelic Design Notes

  • Cachet Artwork: Features a bold, stamp-edged poster illustration centered on a multi-colored phoenix rising from vibrant flames over the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. The icon is flanked by vignettes of the Golden Gate Bridge on the left and Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores) on the right. The top text reads “SAN FRANCISCO • EST. JUNE 27, 1776 • 250 YEARS” over a banner reading “GOLDEN CITY • STILL YOUNG AT 250”. The lower banner notes “WESTPEX 2026 / THE SECOND LARGEST PHILATELIC GATHERING IN NORTH AMERICA”. The right side displays logos for the Western Cover Society, Collectors Club, City of Burlingame, Collectors Club of San Francisco, and The Hawaiian Philatelic Society.
  • Pictorial Postmark: A black ink pictorial cancel from Burlingame, California (ZIP code 94010) dated April 24, 2026. The cancel features a double-ring design reading “WESTPEX Station • Burlingame Calif •” encircling the date and zip code, placed adjacent to an architectural line-art engraving of the historic Mission Dolores chapel structure.
  • Franking: Features a standard USPS U.S. Flag “Forever” stamp canceled directly by the pictorial postmark lines.
  • Production Credits: Cachet designed with the assistance of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image / Nano Banana and digitally edited using paint.net. Part of the Cachets for Pictorial Postmarks series by TSL (Bayamón, PR).

🔬 Design Lab & Process History

Explore the complete creative journey behind this postmark event: Gemini prompt logs, rejected asset iterations, and final composition layouts.

View Creation Log →
Size: C63404/24/2026 • Sequence #

The Sanctuary That Survived (WESTPEX Station) - Burlingame, CA

Front Design View

Front Design

Back Layout View

Back Design

Official Pictorial Postmark View

Canceled with Pictorial Postmark

The Sanctuary That Survived

While the initial founding party arrived at the site in June 1776, the formal dedication of Misión San Francisco de Asís took place on October 9, 1776, under the direction of Franciscan Fathers Francisco Palóu and Pedro Benito Cambón. The sturdy adobe chapel seen today was completed in 1791, constructed by the labor of the local Ohlone people using traditional sun-dried adobe bricks and redwood timber.

Commonly referred to as Mission Dolores due to its proximity to a nearby creek (Arroyo de los Dolores), the structure stands as an architectural marvel. It famously withstood the catastrophic 1906 earthquake and fire completely unscathed, remaining the oldest intact building in the city and a timeless symbol of San Francisco’s enduring spirit.

Philatelic Design Notes

  • Cachet Artwork: Features an ornate circular architectural medallion showcasing a detailed illustration of Mission Dolores (Misión San Francisco de Asís), flanked by the United States flag on the left and the California Bear flag on the right amidst blooming golden poppies. An arched header reads “66th ANNUAL WESTERN PHILATELIC EXHIBITION / WESTPEX 2026”, with a lower banner reading “MISSION DOLORES” and a maroon date ribbon below reading “April 24 - 26, 2026”. The right side displays logos for the Western Cover Society, Collectors Club, City of Burlingame, Collectors Club of San Francisco, and The Hawaiian Philatelic Society.
  • Pictorial Postmark: A black ink pictorial cancel from Burlingame, California (ZIP code 94010) dated April 24, 2026. The cancel features a double-ring design reading “WESTPEX Station • Burlingame Calif •” encircling the date and zip code, placed adjacent to an architectural line-art engraving of the historic Mission Dolores chapel structure.
  • Franking: Features a standard USPS U.S. Flag “Forever” stamp canceled directly by the pictorial postmark lines.
  • Production Credits: Cachet designed with the assistance of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image / Nano Banana and digitally edited using paint.net. Part of the Cachets for Pictorial Postmarks series by TSL (Bayamón, PR).

🔬 Design Lab & Process History

Explore the complete creative journey behind this postmark event: Gemini prompt logs, rejected asset iterations, and final composition layouts.

View Creation Log →
Size: C63404/24/2026 • Sequence #

The Cornerstone of the Golden City (WESTPEX Station) - Burlingame, CA

Front Design View

Front Design

Back Layout View

Back Design

Official Pictorial Postmark View

Canceled with Pictorial Postmark

The Cornerstone of the Golden City

In June 1776, a small expedition of Spanish soldiers and colonists led by Lieutenant José Joaquín Moraga, alongside Franciscan friars Francisco Palóu and Pedro Benito Cambón, arrived at a site near a small lake named Laguna de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. There, they established the Mission San Francisco de Asís, named in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Completed in 1791, the humble adobe structure miraculously survived the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire, making it the oldest intact building in San Francisco today. For two and a half centuries, this historic sanctuary has stood as the quiet, spiritual heart of a tumultuous, fast-evolving metropolis—an enduring anchor connecting modern San Francisco directly to its 18th-century roots.

Philatelic Design Notes

  • Cachet Artwork: Features a detailed monochrome, sepia-toned architectural engraving of Mission Dolores (Misión San Francisco de Asís) flanked by olive branches and trees. An elegant top ribbon banner reads “SAN FRANCISCO / 250 YEARS / EST. 1776”. A prominent lower pedestal banner displays “WESTPEX 2026” sitting above the bold baseline text “STILL YOUNG AT 250”. The right side displays logos for the Western Cover Society, Collectors Club, City of Burlingame, Collectors Club of San Francisco, and The Hawaiian Philatelic Society.
  • Pictorial Postmark: A black ink pictorial cancel from Burlingame, California (ZIP code 94010) dated April 24, 2026. The cancel features a double-ring design reading “WESTPEX Station • Burlingame Calif •” encircling the date and zip code, placed adjacent to an architectural line-art engraving of the historic Mission Dolores chapel structure.
  • Franking: Features a standard USPS U.S. Flag “Forever” stamp canceled directly by the pictorial postmark lines.
  • Production Credits: Cachet designed with the assistance of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image / Nano Banana and digitally edited using paint.net. Part of the Cachets for Pictorial Postmarks series by TSL (Bayamón, PR).

🔬 Design Lab & Process History

Explore the complete creative journey behind this postmark event: Gemini prompt logs, rejected asset iterations, and final composition layouts.

View Creation Log →
Size: C63404/24/2026 • Sequence #

Parallel Faiths and Intertwined Destinies (WESTPEX Station) - Burlingame, CA

Front Design View

Front Design

Back Layout View

Back Design

Official Pictorial Postmark View

Canceled with Pictorial Postmark

Parallel Faiths and Intertwined Destinies

The year 1776 carries immense historic weight across the North American continent, marking two vastly different foundational milestones. On the East Coast, the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia birthed a new nation dedicated to liberty. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away on the rugged Pacific coast, Spanish Franciscan friars and soldiers were quietly establishing the Mission San Francisco de Asís and the Presidio.

These early encampments, built from humble canvas and adobe along the bay, laid the literal and spiritual groundwork for California’s “Golden City.” This unique design beautifully honors both parallel histories, linking the maritime exploration and missionary origins of the West with the enduring, revolutionary spirit of early America.

Philatelic Design Notes

  • Cachet Artwork: Features an intricate circular emblem centered on a majestic phoenix rising from a ring of fire. The mythical bird cradles an inner circular vignette depicting a historic Spanish colonial encampment with canvas tents and Franciscan friars on a shoreline, set against a faint background of the modern San Francisco skyline and Golden Gate Bridge. The layout is topped by an arched scroll reading “WESTPEX 2026 / APRIL 24-26, 2026”, flanked by small engravings of Independence Hall on the left and a Spanish galleon on the right. A lower ribbon banner reads “SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA”. The right side displays logos for the Western Cover Society, Collectors Club, City of Burlingame, Collectors Club of San Francisco, and The Hawaiian Philatelic Society.
  • Pictorial Postmark: A black ink pictorial cancel from Burlingame, California (ZIP code 94010) dated April 24, 2026. This second postmark variation features a double-ring station dial reading “WESTPEX Station • Burlingame, California •” encircling a central multi-star and Spanish galleon graphic, placed adjacent to a horizontal line-art engraving of the historic Presidio of San Francisco adobe layout.
  • Franking: Features a standard USPS U.S. Flag “Forever” stamp canceled directly by the pictorial postmark lines.
  • Production Credits: Cachet designed with the assistance of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image / Nano Banana and digitally edited using paint.net. Part of the Cachets for Pictorial Postmarks series by TSL (Bayamón, PR).

🔬 Design Lab & Process History

Explore the complete creative journey behind this postmark event: Gemini prompt logs, rejected asset iterations, and final composition layouts.

View Creation Log →
Size: C63404/24/2026 • Sequence #

The Presidio: A Century of Service (WESTPEX Station) - Burlingame, CA

Front Design View

Front Design

Back Layout View

Back Design

Official Pictorial Postmark View

Canceled with Pictorial Postmark

The Presidio: A Century of Service

Established in 1776 as the Presidio de San Francisco, this site has stood as a bastion of military presence at the Golden Gate for over two centuries. Initially a Spanish fort, it evolved into a major Mexican outpost and then, following the Mexican-American War, one of the United States’ most critical military bases on the Pacific Coast. Its strategically vital location shaped its development from a rustic colonial outpost into a bustling, meticulously planned Army post with iconic coastal fortifications, ornate buildings, and dense forests.

After 218 years of continuous military service, the Presidio was transferred to the National Park Service in 1994, transforming into a unique national park site—a place where history, nature, and community intertwine, ensuring its legacy endures into its third century.

Philatelic Design Notes

  • Cachet Artwork: Features a large circular travel-style medal titled “CELEBRATING THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO”. The central illustration captures a panoramic vista of the Golden Gate Bridge stretching over Fort Point, overlooking the grassy fields, barracks buildings, and coastlines of the Presidio grounds. An elegant top scroll reads “WESTPEX 2026 / (April 24-26, 2026)”. The deep blue and gold circular border inscription reads “THE GOLDEN CITY, SAN FRANCISCO, STILL YOUNG AT 250 • 1776-2026 •”. The right side displays logos for the Western Cover Society, Collectors Club, City of Burlingame, Collectors Club of San Francisco, and The Hawaiian Philatelic Society.
  • Pictorial Postmark: A black ink pictorial cancel from Burlingame, California (ZIP code 94010) dated April 24, 2026. This second postmark variation features a double-ring station dial reading “WESTPEX Station • Burlingame, California •” encircling a central multi-star and Spanish galleon graphic, placed adjacent to a horizontal line-art engraving of the historic Presidio of San Francisco adobe layout.
  • Franking: Features a standard USPS U.S. Flag “Forever” stamp canceled directly by the pictorial postmark lines.
  • Production Credits: Cachet designed with the assistance of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image / Nano Banana and digitally edited using paint.net. Part of the Cachets for Pictorial Postmarks series by TSL (Bayamón, PR).

🔬 Design Lab & Process History

Explore the complete creative journey behind this postmark event: Gemini prompt logs, rejected asset iterations, and final composition layouts.

View Creation Log →
Size: C63404/24/2026 • Sequence #

The Presidio: From Imperial Outpost to Civic Sanctuary (WESTPEX Station) - Burlingame, CA

Front Design View

Front Design

Back Layout View

Back Design

Official Pictorial Postmark View

Canceled with Pictorial Postmark

The Presidio: From Imperial Outpost to Civic Sanctuary

Founded in 1776 by Spain as an imperial military outpost (Presidio), this iconic San Francisco location began as a small fortified settlement with the twin goals of securing the port and establishing mission presence. Over its fascinating 218-year military career, its mission pivoted frequently: from defending the vast Alta California region for Spain, to becoming a key base for expanding American power in the Pacific, and finally, serving as a critical post during conflicts from the Spanish-American War to World War II.

Its closure as a military base in 1994 marked not an end, but a spectacular rebirth. Today, as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio stands as a thriving urban oasis, a park preserving hundreds of historic structures and acres of natural landscape, serving as a beacon of conservation and community.

Philatelic Design Notes

  • Cachet Artwork: Features an ornate travel-style vignette with a rounded top edge, showing a sweeping panoramic landscape of the historic Presidio barracks and brick chapel buildings nestled among pine forests. An American flag flies prominently in the central courtyard field. In the background, the Golden Gate Bridge spans across the bay toward the modern San Francisco downtown skyline. The scene is topped by a large scroll banner reading “THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO”. The bottom pedestal frame displays “WESTPEX 2026 / APRIL 24-26, 2026” flanked by American flags and golden poppies, sitting above a “CELEBRATING 250 YEARS” banner and a small gold medal insert. The right side displays logos for the Western Cover Society, Collectors Club, City of Burlingame, Collectors Club of San Francisco, and The Hawaiian Philatelic Society.
  • Pictorial Postmark: A black ink pictorial cancel from Burlingame, California (ZIP code 94010) dated April 24, 2026. This second postmark variation features a double-ring station dial reading “WESTPEX Station • Burlingame, California •” encircling a central multi-star and Spanish galleon graphic, placed adjacent to a horizontal line-art engraving of the historic Presidio of San Francisco adobe layout.
  • Franking: Features a standard USPS U.S. Flag “Forever” stamp canceled directly by the pictorial postmark lines.
  • Production Credits: Cachet designed with the assistance of Gemini 2.5 Flash Image / Nano Banana and digitally edited using paint.net. Part of the Cachets for Pictorial Postmarks series by TSL (Bayamón, PR).

🔬 Design Lab & Process History

Explore the complete creative journey behind this postmark event: Gemini prompt logs, rejected asset iterations, and final composition layouts.

View Creation Log →