US Scott #623 FDC With Block Of 4?

I recently picked this up off ebay for relatively cheaply, but it isn't really an area I collect. Is this a cover that a FDC collector would be interested in?

I personally don't really have an interest in the plain uncatcheted FDCs so I would be looking to resell it if possible- what would be the best way to do so? Is it really "worth" anything?





Thanks!

It is a cover that some first day cover collectors may be interested in. Due to its age, uncacheted covers of this period are very much acceptable. The Scott is #623. The stamp was issued on December 28, 1925.

My 2011 Scott Specialized Catalog suggests the retail value is $15, increased by 1.5x for a block of 4, making the catalog value $22.50. Of course, on the secondary market, the value is typically only a percentage of that number, especially since the postmarks are somewhat smeared and hard to read. Many of these covers range in value significantly depending on the condition of the specific cover, postmark, auxiliary markings, backstamps and how neatly the cover was addressed.

As far as I can tell, the stamps are perfectly-centered. Ideal for ebay, start $15.

Is the postmark on the cover Dec. 28th ?

My very outdated 2001 Mellone FDC catalog has an addressed uncacheted cover listed at $25 for single stamp and $27.50 for block of 4. The catalog price, of course, is for a clean cover with no faults.

The block does appear well-centered when considering the right/left margins. However, it looks like the horizontal perforations may be "touching" the top frame line of each stamp.

Nice cover. Love the writing -- I could never write that nicely.

It does look like Dec 28, 1925 -- although I had to examine all three postmarks to confirm.

Hmm... A $15 ebay auction sounds good. These are just the sellers images. Here is a slightly better picture of the stamps/ cancels provided in the listing.

http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages...0,0&format=0

On second look, the top row perfs are closer than the center row (?). That's what you run into with flat plate printings.

my Scott 2005 fdc catalogue shows $27.50 for an uncacheted block of 4. Interestingly, the first cachet fdc it shows is the scott 617 Lexington Concord issue of 1925. I wonder if that is really true?

For reference, I have an old 2002 Scott Catalog wherein the catalog value of an uncacheted FDC for #623 is listed at $27.50 for a single, plus a 1.5x premium for a block of four, valuing the item at $41.25. Then, as referenced by others, the value circa 2005 declined. Finally, as confirmed by my 2011 Scott Specialized Catalog (and 2012 USPS Guide to US Stamps) the value of a FDC further declined to $22.50 for a block of four.

It sounds like supply exceeds demand and therefore the values have been adjusted accordingly through the years.

Just for comparison, I found that I had a single copy of Scott #623 in a first day cover that was airmailed from Washington, DC to Chicago to New York. Interesting backstamps, too:

I'm going against opinion here. But it looks as if there is some gum soak from the envelope flap grinning through the face of the cover, which could possibly affect the stamps. As there is nothing particularly interesting about the cover I would carefully soak this block off the paper. The date postmark on the block is readable so issue is still determinable. If you decide to put it on here, or the bay, I would bid on it.

Terry

Why would anyone want to soak off the stamps from a first day cover of this vintage? The +/- $22.50 value of the uncacheted cover declines to a mere 30 cents for each of the stamps if not on a cover. There is no valid reason to touch the cover.

As with any 88 year old cover, the value is in the cover itself. Once the stamps are removed, there is no putting it back into that state. You are always better off to keep the stamps on cover, even if it wasn't a first day cover. But in this case, it IS a first day cover, so that is even more reason to just leave it alone.

No way I'd take those stamps off the cover.
I don't take ANY stamps off of cover that old, much less a postally used FDC.

I thought that would stir you up. But I have explained my reasons. In addition, despite the age of the cover, there is nothing of particular interest about it and though the handwriting is neat it is not exceptional. I would rather have the block off the cover.

Terry

For anybody interested I managed to sell this for $15 on ebay earlier this afternoon....

Congratulations, you found the buyer's sweet spot.