FDC = Cto?

I responded to another topic about CTO's and asked if they thought FDC's were CTO's. I decided to start this as a separate topic. In my opinion they are. The FDC's are sent in a separate envelope so the stamp is never used as postage. The only difference between a CTO and a mint copy of the stamp is its cancelled and not able to be use to pay postage. However I believe if someone had a mint copy of the CTO stamp they could use it to pay the cost of postage. And what about Souvenir Sheets. Are they collectible as stamps? If I get one I collect it. Though most of them never end up on a letter.

some souvenir sheets do not even fit on a letter :-)

By definition, I believe you are right in saying that prepared FDC's like the Artmaster and others are CTOs. They are not meant to be sent through the mails and are basically prepared strictly for collectors.

That being said, that doesn't make them uncollectible. Even though I wouldn't personally collect them others do, and should if they want to.

>And what about Souvenir Sheets. Are they collectible as stamps? If I get one >I collect it. Though most of them never end up on a letter

That's what I used to think Ironhelm, however most of my trading partners in Europe send their packets emplying souvenir sheets, certainly philatelically inspired,I guess, but a delight to receive, I must say.

There are also plenty of examples of FDC's that traveled through the mail. Some foreign FDC's by registered mail. Here are some collector created, postally used FDC's from 1950.

ironhelm.....


I agree...... I like my items postally used......but I do save unaddressed FDC's that have higher value stamps.

There's nothing wrong with collecting any type of material as long as you understand they are valued differently.


Larry......nice covers !

Yes, most FDC's are CTO's, that's for sure.
Some dealers in the UK [and maybe elsewhere too] try to pull a fast one by taking advantage of gullible collectors.
Some years ago I ordered from two 'top' UK dealers some high value GB commemoratives. They were substantial orders.
When they arrived I was in shock.
I was sent by BOTH dealers, high values soaked off First Day covers !!

I sent both lots back. One was very angry and asked questions. They did not have a case to answer. I even demanded the postage costs.
They had no postally used HV's to send me !!

More recently, and I wrote about this elsewhere at SCF, I was at some provincial Stamp Fairs in the UK and a number of dealers were selling GB FDC's for under face value, including recent.

Now you know why !!

Londonbus1.....used to collect FDC's...er CTO's...er FDC's..er

Most FDCs of the KGVI Reign were sent through the mail. The stamps would be, in my opinion, favour cancelled , as opposed to CTO. CTO generally refers to mint stamps cancelled by the issuing postal authority and selling the stamps at a discout from face.

David

I guess, in one sense, CTO's are FDC's, however, I would suggest to newcomers to the hobby, there is a subtle difference in the two.
I offer this for your reflection, and hope it may clarify the two.

Here is the US years ago I think that the only way to get a FDC was at the ceremony or to send an addressed cover prior to the issue date to the FDOI post office with payment to purchase the newly issued stamp and have returned back to them in the mail stream. Wouldn't that qualify as a valid postal use of a FDC? Like the ones shown by Modern who.

Now you can send a cover for FD servicing upto 60 days after the issue date.

A favor/favour cancel is handed right back and does not travel through the mail. I still think they would be postally used since they traveled through the mail stream. The manufactured FDC's that are delivered to ArtCraft, Artmaster, Fleetwood etc. for distribution would be favors/favours.

It is interesting how the terminology is different for USA,Canada etc. I have mentioned this before a few times.

In the UK, the term 'Favor/favour [even the spelling is different!] is hardly used. Indeed, I don't think I ever heard it until I started using US-based Philatelic forums, except maybe for the odd high class cover [Royalty connected,etc].

Generally in the UK, and also here in Israel [to a lesser extent because used stamps are not widely collected within Israel], a Stamp soaked off a first day cover and placed in a collection is taboo. Hence my story about the orders I placed with dealers in an earlier post......shock,horror !.
So the bottom line if you have a 'used' stamp in your collection that came from a FDC and it's OK, then it must be OK to have the 'other' used , stamps too. After all, and this is the bottom line, they are both CANCELLED TO ORDER. !

Londonbus1.....Always doing favors/Favours