Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Thanks.
Stan
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My old Scott specialized U.S. catalogue (1993!) gives a value of U.S. $3.50 for the basic cover, and $12 for basic special delivery stamp FDC's. The dual franking no doubt adds value, and those values have probably gone up a bit since then. Anyone with a recent Scott specialized?
Bob
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Stan, I am afraid that Scott values of FDCs are essentially useless. Almost all FDCs command simple prices from 10c to 50c, assuming you can get a buyer at all. There are exceptions, especially among hand-painted or otherwise truly unique or nearly unique covers done by private cachet makers in small batches, in which case it's the cachet maker, not the stamp per se, that drives the value. But run of the mill FDCs from ArtMaster, House of Farnam, etc., have little value in the secondary market, are commonly found, and ignored, in dealer 50c boxes.
Bob Parkin is a dedicated FDC collector, and he might add more light to this.
David
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My Scott 2014 US Specialized gives values on the two with Special Delivery stamps as $15.00 and $20.00 respectively, but like David stated, that seems way over-valued to me. The FDC with Corregidor shows a value of $9.00. Once again, I'm thinking that's over valued. But, I'm trying to get a feel or a happy medium.
Also, would a block of 4 stamps add value to the cover?
Thanks again David and Bob.
Stan
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04:06:49pm
The cv of the Corregidor FDC is for an addressed FDC with a cachet. While the catalog does not say specify with respect to the SD stamps, I wonder if the values given are for cacheted FDCs also. Although the cv for the special delivery stamps on cover is only slightly less that that given for FDCs, that value would be for regular usage, and not for a philatelic cover.
A 17c SD with cachet sold for $2.06 on ebay yesterday (CLICK HERE)
A 13c SD with cachet sold for $2.75 on ebay on 9/23/2014 (CLICK HERE)
Without a cachet, I doubt you could get more than a dollar for any of them. But I am often wrong...
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Wow. It would help if I read the manual when incomes to FDCs. So there is a substantial discount on the resale value without a cachet. As always, it's what the market will bear. Thanks Bobby.
Stan
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What about a Masonic Cover? I have one that is marked $35, but I'm not really sure if this kind of cover would sell for this. See photo.
Thanks.
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I'm not sure, but I think that the 35 marking, is 35 cents.
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03:26:56pm
Doodles is correct. There is nothing noteworthy about the cover and because the stamp club used poor quality envelopes, there is toning from the gum which detracts from the appearance.
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A useful rule of thumb: FDC's issued by virtually any country in the second half of the 20th Century are generally worth zip. That doesn't mean that they're not collectible, just that even a large collection of them would scarcely pay for a good meal in an expensive restaurant. I do have a few FDC's in my collection — occasionally they are useful as illustrations in exhibits and web pages.
Bob
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They are nice and add flair to topical collections too.
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I prefer to use the Mellone guide to US FDC; it has adjustments for different cachet types, is organized by the stamp Scott number, and has prices for singles and multiples on cover, as well as FD ceremony programs. It also includes airmail and other back of the book stamps. I have an older one, illustrated below, and I believe they update this annually.
You could also check the American First Day Cover site:
AFDC
Cheers,
Peter
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Adam, its value is in the fact that was issued by the Masons, and to have a good chance of sale, that would need to be highlighted in the description and, probably, the title. Not being either a Mason nor an FDC collector, I can't comment further.
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OK, here's another question. Why are the Scott values for First Day Covers so way off the mark? Why doesn't it better reflect the market? I mean if a cover is really worth 25 cents as opposed to 10 dollars, shouldn't the CV value show 25 cents?
What is the REASON Scott shows it this way?
Thanks!
Adam
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I have seen a lot of 100 FDC's from the 50's and 60's offered at a club auction with a minimum bid of a dollar and no one bid on it.
That being said FDC's of Special Delivery stamps can command a few bucks. Some values are parcel rates and very hard to find used on cover. I collect Special Delivery on cover and while I don't collect FDC's the E13 and E14 in my collection are FDC's. They are tough to find any other way. I would actually be interested in making you an offer on any of the Special Deliveries you have on cover. Even the FDC's. Please send me an email if you are interested.
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Adam,
Scott's prices are not realistic on a lot of things, especially anything after 1940.
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Right, I get that they are inaccurate for stuff post 1940, like you said, but WHY is that the case? Do they just willfully ignore the current stamp market?
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I once had an interesting and useful email exchange with one of the reps at Scott, about a different topic. I have no doubt that you could ask about the evaluation of modern FDCs, although you might not agree with the answer.
Bob
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01:09:59pm
I find the best place to find out the RETAIL value of FDC's is James McCusker's website.
http://www.jamesmccusker.com/shopping/
Just pop in the the catalog number or description. You can also search by Cachet Maker. Most of time I have found what I am looking for.
McCusker's is selling the Masonic Lafayette cover for $2.25.
The cachet is one of the major factors in pricing FDC's also if the cover is addressed or not. Not addressed is preferred.
For the Lafayette cover I found a range of $27.00 for a Brier hand painted cachet to $0.90 for an Anderson Cachet which is mass produced.
Bob
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Catalog values are just estimates at best. If you take Scott catalog values, collectors rarely want to pay full catalog value for any stamp listed in the catalog. How could Scott list realistic values when even if Scott lowered values down to 10 cents, collectors won't want to pay more than a nickle for those stamps. Then should Scott lower the values in the next year's catalog to 5 cents? Collectors won't want to pay more than 3 cents for those stamps. Next year Scott lowers the value to 2 cents, and on and on until everything is a penny. Totally unrealistic, of course.
The bottom line is always consider the values to be estimates. Remember that, for example, the Scott 2015 catalogs were published one a month starting in April 2014. That means that for the first volume, values had to be set, and the catalog ready to go to press in December 2013! As you see, the values reflect a market that no longer exists, were almost 4 months old at the time of publication, and will be over 1 year old when the year 2015 starts.
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Do not really know about Scotts, but in the UK the prices for stamps in Stanley Gibbons catalogues are what they charge you if you want to buy, thus SG catalogues are more sales price lists then catalogues.
They charge a lot of money for their price lists!
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Scott does not sell stamps, and they charge alot for their price lists despite that.
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08:21:46am
I think the values/price lists are more for insurance estimates. Like how much you would have to spend if your collection needed replaced at retail. Also it is helpful to get a general sense of how rare an item is which is good for trading stamps. No one would want to trade a stamp with a catalog "value" of $5 for one with a catalog value of 20 cents. At least this is how I view the whole thing.
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Good points. But I've seen people with minimum valued stamps wanting to trade basically one-for-one for stamps that catalog for much, much more.
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12:54:46pm
That's like a farmer saying I want your cow and I'll trade you my 1 chicken for it.
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Hi Everyone;
A very good metaphor, Alanna, and it puts this concept in prospective that everyone can understand.
A good one for beginner collectors to see and understand too.
Just Chillin'....
TuskenRaider
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I agree with Peter - the Mellone price guide is a good one to have handy for estimating values of FDC's. I use it often.
Online, Bob Parkin(lot) referenced an excellent site for more accuracy - James McCusker's website.
But the Mellone guide is a nice reference book to have in your stamp-collecting library.
Randy
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06:55:48am
Is anyone else just getting little "X" boxes where the pictures should be on the James McCuskers site?
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12:09:03pm
Hi Alanna,
I just went on the website. Everything looked normal. Perhaps they were having some technical issues. I'm using Firefox for my browser.
Bob
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12:31:23pm
I tried IE and Google. Is this the site? http://www.jamesmccusker.com/edu/
Maybe I need to DL Firefox....
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I got the same results as Alanna... broken images. Perhaps the folder containing his images got moved or deleted?
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01:40:20pm
I go directly to the main page or shopping. That is working fine.
http://www.jamesmccusker.com/shopping/
I am getting the same as you at the link you provide.
Bob
(Modified by Moderator on 2015-05-21 19:19:43)
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I've been slowly going through my Grandfather's collection which includes a lot of first day covers. I'm using the Scott Catalog 2014 to get ballpark valuations. I'm curious on what figure off catalog would be a good valuation?
Thanks.
Stan
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re: First Day Cover Question?
My old Scott specialized U.S. catalogue (1993!) gives a value of U.S. $3.50 for the basic cover, and $12 for basic special delivery stamp FDC's. The dual franking no doubt adds value, and those values have probably gone up a bit since then. Anyone with a recent Scott specialized?
Bob
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this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
Stan, I am afraid that Scott values of FDCs are essentially useless. Almost all FDCs command simple prices from 10c to 50c, assuming you can get a buyer at all. There are exceptions, especially among hand-painted or otherwise truly unique or nearly unique covers done by private cachet makers in small batches, in which case it's the cachet maker, not the stamp per se, that drives the value. But run of the mill FDCs from ArtMaster, House of Farnam, etc., have little value in the secondary market, are commonly found, and ignored, in dealer 50c boxes.
Bob Parkin is a dedicated FDC collector, and he might add more light to this.
David
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re: First Day Cover Question?
My Scott 2014 US Specialized gives values on the two with Special Delivery stamps as $15.00 and $20.00 respectively, but like David stated, that seems way over-valued to me. The FDC with Corregidor shows a value of $9.00. Once again, I'm thinking that's over valued. But, I'm trying to get a feel or a happy medium.
Also, would a block of 4 stamps add value to the cover?
Thanks again David and Bob.
Stan
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
28 Sep 2014
04:06:49pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
The cv of the Corregidor FDC is for an addressed FDC with a cachet. While the catalog does not say specify with respect to the SD stamps, I wonder if the values given are for cacheted FDCs also. Although the cv for the special delivery stamps on cover is only slightly less that that given for FDCs, that value would be for regular usage, and not for a philatelic cover.
A 17c SD with cachet sold for $2.06 on ebay yesterday (CLICK HERE)
A 13c SD with cachet sold for $2.75 on ebay on 9/23/2014 (CLICK HERE)
Without a cachet, I doubt you could get more than a dollar for any of them. But I am often wrong...
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re: First Day Cover Question?
Wow. It would help if I read the manual when incomes to FDCs. So there is a substantial discount on the resale value without a cachet. As always, it's what the market will bear. Thanks Bobby.
Stan
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this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
What about a Masonic Cover? I have one that is marked $35, but I'm not really sure if this kind of cover would sell for this. See photo.
Thanks.
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this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
I'm not sure, but I think that the 35 marking, is 35 cents.
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
24 Nov 2014
03:26:56pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
Doodles is correct. There is nothing noteworthy about the cover and because the stamp club used poor quality envelopes, there is toning from the gum which detracts from the appearance.
Login to Like
this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
A useful rule of thumb: FDC's issued by virtually any country in the second half of the 20th Century are generally worth zip. That doesn't mean that they're not collectible, just that even a large collection of them would scarcely pay for a good meal in an expensive restaurant. I do have a few FDC's in my collection — occasionally they are useful as illustrations in exhibits and web pages.
Bob
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11:32:39pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
They are nice and add flair to topical collections too.
1 Member
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07:28:11am
re: First Day Cover Question?
I prefer to use the Mellone guide to US FDC; it has adjustments for different cachet types, is organized by the stamp Scott number, and has prices for singles and multiples on cover, as well as FD ceremony programs. It also includes airmail and other back of the book stamps. I have an older one, illustrated below, and I believe they update this annually.
You could also check the American First Day Cover site:
AFDC
Cheers,
Peter
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re: First Day Cover Question?
Adam, its value is in the fact that was issued by the Masons, and to have a good chance of sale, that would need to be highlighted in the description and, probably, the title. Not being either a Mason nor an FDC collector, I can't comment further.
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re: First Day Cover Question?
OK, here's another question. Why are the Scott values for First Day Covers so way off the mark? Why doesn't it better reflect the market? I mean if a cover is really worth 25 cents as opposed to 10 dollars, shouldn't the CV value show 25 cents?
What is the REASON Scott shows it this way?
Thanks!
Adam
1 Member
likes this post.
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re: First Day Cover Question?
I have seen a lot of 100 FDC's from the 50's and 60's offered at a club auction with a minimum bid of a dollar and no one bid on it.
That being said FDC's of Special Delivery stamps can command a few bucks. Some values are parcel rates and very hard to find used on cover. I collect Special Delivery on cover and while I don't collect FDC's the E13 and E14 in my collection are FDC's. They are tough to find any other way. I would actually be interested in making you an offer on any of the Special Deliveries you have on cover. Even the FDC's. Please send me an email if you are interested.
Login to Like
this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
Adam,
Scott's prices are not realistic on a lot of things, especially anything after 1940.
Login to Like
this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
Right, I get that they are inaccurate for stuff post 1940, like you said, but WHY is that the case? Do they just willfully ignore the current stamp market?
Login to Like
this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
I once had an interesting and useful email exchange with one of the reps at Scott, about a different topic. I have no doubt that you could ask about the evaluation of modern FDCs, although you might not agree with the answer.
Bob
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
25 Nov 2014
01:09:59pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
I find the best place to find out the RETAIL value of FDC's is James McCusker's website.
http://www.jamesmccusker.com/shopping/
Just pop in the the catalog number or description. You can also search by Cachet Maker. Most of time I have found what I am looking for.
McCusker's is selling the Masonic Lafayette cover for $2.25.
The cachet is one of the major factors in pricing FDC's also if the cover is addressed or not. Not addressed is preferred.
For the Lafayette cover I found a range of $27.00 for a Brier hand painted cachet to $0.90 for an Anderson Cachet which is mass produced.
Bob
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08:42:42pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
Catalog values are just estimates at best. If you take Scott catalog values, collectors rarely want to pay full catalog value for any stamp listed in the catalog. How could Scott list realistic values when even if Scott lowered values down to 10 cents, collectors won't want to pay more than a nickle for those stamps. Then should Scott lower the values in the next year's catalog to 5 cents? Collectors won't want to pay more than 3 cents for those stamps. Next year Scott lowers the value to 2 cents, and on and on until everything is a penny. Totally unrealistic, of course.
The bottom line is always consider the values to be estimates. Remember that, for example, the Scott 2015 catalogs were published one a month starting in April 2014. That means that for the first volume, values had to be set, and the catalog ready to go to press in December 2013! As you see, the values reflect a market that no longer exists, were almost 4 months old at the time of publication, and will be over 1 year old when the year 2015 starts.
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06:28:21am
re: First Day Cover Question?
Do not really know about Scotts, but in the UK the prices for stamps in Stanley Gibbons catalogues are what they charge you if you want to buy, thus SG catalogues are more sales price lists then catalogues.
They charge a lot of money for their price lists!
Login to Like
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08:28:47am
re: First Day Cover Question?
Scott does not sell stamps, and they charge alot for their price lists despite that.
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Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations
17 May 2015
08:21:46am
re: First Day Cover Question?
I think the values/price lists are more for insurance estimates. Like how much you would have to spend if your collection needed replaced at retail. Also it is helpful to get a general sense of how rare an item is which is good for trading stamps. No one would want to trade a stamp with a catalog "value" of $5 for one with a catalog value of 20 cents. At least this is how I view the whole thing.
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08:48:18am
re: First Day Cover Question?
Good points. But I've seen people with minimum valued stamps wanting to trade basically one-for-one for stamps that catalog for much, much more.
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Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations
17 May 2015
12:54:46pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
That's like a farmer saying I want your cow and I'll trade you my 1 chicken for it.
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re: First Day Cover Question?
Hi Everyone;
A very good metaphor, Alanna, and it puts this concept in prospective that everyone can understand.
A good one for beginner collectors to see and understand too.
Just Chillin'....
TuskenRaider
Login to Like
this post
re: First Day Cover Question?
I agree with Peter - the Mellone price guide is a good one to have handy for estimating values of FDC's. I use it often.
Online, Bob Parkin(lot) referenced an excellent site for more accuracy - James McCusker's website.
But the Mellone guide is a nice reference book to have in your stamp-collecting library.
Randy
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this post
Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations
21 May 2015
06:55:48am
re: First Day Cover Question?
Is anyone else just getting little "X" boxes where the pictures should be on the James McCuskers site?
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
21 May 2015
12:09:03pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
Hi Alanna,
I just went on the website. Everything looked normal. Perhaps they were having some technical issues. I'm using Firefox for my browser.
Bob
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Wanting to bring the joy of stamp collecting to younger generations
21 May 2015
12:31:23pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
I tried IE and Google. Is this the site? http://www.jamesmccusker.com/edu/
Maybe I need to DL Firefox....
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re: First Day Cover Question?
I got the same results as Alanna... broken images. Perhaps the folder containing his images got moved or deleted?
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Immediate Past President - West Essex Philatelic Society www.wepsonline.org
21 May 2015
01:40:20pm
re: First Day Cover Question?
I go directly to the main page or shopping. That is working fine.
http://www.jamesmccusker.com/shopping/
I am getting the same as you at the link you provide.
Bob
(Modified by Moderator on 2015-05-21 19:19:43)
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