1940 FDC Pony Express

Your thoughts/comments about value appreciated.

Jim

Nice covers and a nice selection of different cachets:

Scan #1: Artcraft (Mellone #11)
Scan #2: House of Farnum (Mellone #7)
Scan #3: C. Stephen Anderson (Mellone #10)
Scan #4: W.M. Grandy (Mellone #18)

Unfortunately, as to your question of value, I'm sorry I can't provide more positive information, however as is typical of most first day covers, there is no longer much of a market for them. They were issued in such vast quantities (nearly 200,000 for this issue alone) and although they are listed in the Scott catalog as having a "value" of $12 apiece, that's typically inflated to reflect a dealer's cost and overhead to keep that specimen in stock. Typically sales on the secondary market from collector to collector are in the 10% to 20% range of that figure. You also have to take into account the condition (yellowing, stains, corner folds, etc.) which diminishes value, and addressed covers such as yours typically sell for even less.

A good indicator is to check ebay auction listings occasionally and see what the sell for there. In just checking ebay, covers similar to yours are being listed from $1.50 to $10 (depending on whether or not they are addressed or contain certain cachets) with NO BIDS on any of them.

Thanks, vt...I realize my question about value was half answered a week or so ago in another thread when I started posting about the covers.

Jim

Don't let it discourage you that these covers may not be all that valuable. They are still a nice collection. I have a collection of covers, too, from a similar period, and I get enjoyment about finding out about the various cachetmakers that produced the artwork on the covers or sometimes even the addressee to whom the covers were mailed. Just because they may not have a big value on the resale market, doesn't mean you can't get a wealth of enjoyment out of having the collection in your hands.

Well said wt1. I am actively collecting Pony Express material, and to me the subject matter and place in US history add the real value.

Thanks for posting the scans Jim, very nice covers.

Bill

Thanks, wt...I'm not really discourage about value. I'm discourage at the sheer volume my father and grandfather left me...I've just begin to dig into the collection that was left to me in 2003.

Bill; I plan, somehow, to properly divest myself of the collections. Presumably, the signed CSA cachets are part of a set, although, the signed covers of various subject matter are not all in one album.