Differences: Fleetwood, Classic, Silk & Mystic Covers?

Hi Everyone,
I have a couple of covers, and when I looked them up on mysticstamps.com, it shows different prices for different types of covers at this link:
http://www.mysticstamp.com/viewProd...asp?sku=3130

Thought I know that their prices are just a guideline, I can't figure out the differences between silk, classic, fleetwood and mystic covers.

I also included a photo of the cover that I have.
Thank you!
SueStamps

The two covers that you scanned are Artcraft, produced by the Washington Press, and are arguably the most common first day cover made today.

The "silk" first day cover have a "silk" image adhered to the cover (usually with a gold border around it). They are considered a bit more "exclusive" as less of them are made because it's a more involved process and, as with many kinds of cover collecting, some like them and others hate them, so it's more of a personal thing about their desirability.

Fleetwood had been an independent first day cover producer for a number of years and were recently bought out by Mystic, I believe. At one time, Fleetwood's cachets had been considered "better" in quality (and also higher cost) in that they were often multi-colored and some were produced on linen-based envelopes that gave a very nice appearance. As a result some found Fleetwood covers more desirable than the more common (and less expensive) ones from Artcraft, Artmaster, etc. However, as the years went on, Fleetwood began flooding the market with their wares and the values typically did not keep pace with the waning demand in first day cover collecting, so while they are nice looking, any perceived increase in value is marginal at best.

"Mystic" apparently sells their own line of first day covers (a quick check on ebay lists a few). I don't have any of that type, but I suspect they are just another money making venture for the company, since the advent of cheap printing technologies allow virtually anybody to create their own cachets.

I'm not sure what a "Classic" first day cover is (in Mystic's terms) but I suspect it's a typical common first day cover of the generation in which they were made (i.e. Artcraft, Artmaster, Cachetcraft, House of Farnum, etc.) that were some of the more common cachetmakers of that time.

Some specialty covers (particularly the hand painted ones by notable artists) can command a significant premium over the value of a common one, often because they were created in very limited quantities. So it does pay to know the cachets and the artists, however, some of the catalogs that document many of these varieties can be very elusive to find and very expensive to acquire when they do come to market.

There's information on the website that breaks it down under the "Fleetwood and First Day Covers Section"

Fleetwood began producing First Day Covers in 1941 with the Vermont Statehood issue. Mystic Stamp Company acquired Fleetwood in 2007 and is proud to continue its tradition of excellence today. Most Fleetwood cachets (designs) are full-color works of original art. Most Fleetwood First Day Covers feature interesting information about the stamp subject. Fleetwood First Day Covers are produced for both commemorative and regular issue U.S. stamps of all denominations.
Mystic began producing First Day Covers in 1992 with the Pledge of Allegiance issue and ended in 2007 with the Henry W. Longfellow issue. With few exceptions, Mystic First Day Covers have full-color cachets, neat information about the stamp subject, and feature commemorative U.S. stamp issues at the first class rate.

"Silk" First Day Covers produced by Colorano were introduced in 1971 with the America's Wool issue and continue to the present. Each color illustration is printed on satin-finish fabric, fastened to the cover and surrounded by a luxurious gold fabric border. "Silk" First Day Covers feature regular issue and commemorative stamps. They have no additional information about the stamp subject.

Fleetwood, Mystic, and Silk First Day Covers are unaddressed.

Classic First Day Covers are from various sources and can date from the 1920s to the present. Classic covers are interesting because of the diversity of their cachets. Classic First Day Covers may be addressed or unaddressed, illustrated or unillustrated with printed or rubber design in one or more than one color. They may feature regular issue or commemorative stamps.


Hope that helps.
Will

Very interesting.
I recognize the word Colorano, so I must have come across some. I am guessing that both Fleetwood and Mystic do not have either of those words stamped on the envelopes.

The only Fleetwood I am familiar with is Mac, Fleetwood Mac!


Thank you so much for this information.
I have copied it for reference.
SueStamps

An example of a Fleetwood FDC from their heydey in the 1970's. As a comparison, I pulled this scan from an ebay listing where the cover shown is offered at a BIN price of $1.40, which only goes to confirm that they aren't really all that valuable:



(Note the Fleetwood name in the lower right hand corner of the cachet.)

Don't Stop looking for tomorrow, Don't stop it'll soon be here...


Seriously, though-
Here are a few cards from some of the same makers I thought you might enjoy.

1st: Art Craft, (This one actually has an attached reply card)
2nd: Artmaster,
3rd: Cachet Craft.

Here are some earlier examples, too. Some of these old-time cachetmakers kept with a very common style of cachet, so it was relatively easy to identify them, even if they didn't always include there name within the artwork:

C. Stephen Anderson:


Grandy:


Grimsland:


House of Farnum:


Kapner:


Kershner:


Rice:

Although I do not any longer collect first day covers to the extent I used to, I do have a fair amount of FDC's. I usually look for unusual ones or ones which for some reason I like. I am going to put together a little FDC presnetation which I add to the US Covers forum.

I think some of Cachet Crafts covers by Ken Boll are quite advanced for their year. e.g this one from 1948 - 100th Anniversary of the Discovery of Gold.

That's a nice and colorful Cachet Craft (Ken Boll) cover. Here's another that he did for the very same issue, although much less colorful:

wt1 - yes - he was a prolific artist on FDC covers. Not sure of his directive from Cachet Craft but there seems to be huge variations in the colour and complexity of his finished designs

UN - Clear the Tracks 1947

Anyone know the cachet maker - C in a circle??

One (of many) Patriotic Cachets produced by Jacques Minkus during World War II. According to this website, the cover shown was copyright 1943 and was used for several years thereafter.

http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=2...&img=1&pg=14

Thanks wt1 - you are a mine of useful information and greatly appreciated.

I also have this one which I think is Minkus



According to James McCuster it is "913 5c Netherland unlisted, Jacques Minkus multicolor cachet"

Yes. Another Jacques Minkus cachet. (If you look in the LR corner of the cachet it does have the "J.M." initials.)
In fact, if you refer to the link I provided in the last post, the same cover is illustrated at the very bottom in the LR image. (Click on it to see a larger illustration.)

As these were generic patriotic covers, you will note that the same covers were used for any variety of stamp issues.