Starting A Cover Collection

Any tips? I suppose the sources for covers are no different than for stamps, but I have no idea of how to gauge value. Although I am interested in the stamps that accompany covers, my real fascination with them, especially the older covers, has to do with the handwriting that is on them. I have seen some exquisite Spencerian hands demonstrated on old covers. And as a collector and restorer of vintage fountain pens I really appreciate how unique that handwriting is. Those old fountain pens had flexible nibs which allowed the writer to vary the width of the ink line by applying different pressure to the nib. That's what gives the handwriting that calligraphic quality. I digress. Again, any tips on acquiring covers would be appreciated.

Cheers...

Rem

Rem....


Rules are always the same.......collect what you like....don't buy anything you think is over priced.....unless you REALLY want it.

Right. But at this point I really don't have a sense of what cover values are like, so I'll have to do some investigating.

Rem

Rem, it pays to compare...look at similar covers where ever they are sold..at a stamp show, from a dealer..on the net..you will be surprised how prices vary.....

Ok...good deal. Actually, as I posted somewhere else earlier, I found a terrific stamp store which is not far from me. I'm sure that I can get some good advice from the owner, who also turned me on to a stamp club in my area that I attended for the first time last Friday evening. I'll just start asking questions.

Cheers...

Rem

Prices vary quite a lot. A cover that might be $20 at one dealer could be $70 at another. Stamp dealers who carry just a few covers on the side can have the best deals or or they may be way overpriced. Dealers that specialize in covers have more consistent pricing and higher quality material but also generally less bargains to be found. Spend as much time as you can hunting and thinking about what appeals to you most.

Rem, the common cover U.S. or foreign..lets say of the last 60 years goes for less than a buck...i have one guy who buys from me in bulk..hes really hooked..i sell him a mix of 100 U.S. and foreign covers for 40 bucks and the cost of large priority envelope so it costs him about 45 cents a cover...when you get into the classic stuff...the sky is the limit...but I would have no idea how to price them...

I try not to pay over 50cents to $1 for most of my common covers.
Check out estate auctions--sometimes they will advertize stamp and cover collections as part of the sale--that's where I have gotten my best deals (example: 40 covers in primo shape and in an album for $15!)

Gussyboy1

Gussy..even at the last couple of stamp shows..i picked up a couple of books of covers and feel that I got the cover albums..probably worth 15 bucks each for free with what I paid for the covers..i will use them for my own cover collectiions !!

Remember, I'll probably need to be looking for rather old covers if they are going to have the kind of writing on them that I am looking for.

Rem

Rem....

Most sellers don't usually even consider the possible value of handwriting unless it is particularly striking. You're basically creating a new type of topical collection, only you can determine your value of penmanship, to you.

You could start searching through cover listings to see prices for the covers you want.....sellers don't usually list covers by handwriting....compare highs and lows to find an average....then use that number to decide which to buy, if any.

Really nice looking covers with great stamps and proper markings will have higher values. But, you might be able to find covers you like with great handwiting examples with very common stamps and very common markings for considerable discounts.

As with all aspects of the hobby all decisions are yours. Here's a link to some cover auctions to get you started.

http://stamps.shop.ebay.com/items/P...3286.c0.m282

Thanks to all. I'm off to Yosemite for the weekend, but I'll be checking the forum from the laptop. And I'll keep everyone posted on my cover acquisitions.

Cheers...

Rem