First 10 Of My Covers Are They Worth Anything?

British gardens 1st day of issue 24th aug 1983 date stamp 4 stamps and issue card, 16p sissinghurst kent house, 20. 1/2p Biddulph Grange, 28p Blenheim Palace, 31p Pitmedden, issue of stamps printed by John Waddington and son, embossed enverlope.
British fairs 1st day of issue 5th October 1983 date stamp, 4 stamps and issue card, merry go round,201/2 p rides and menageries, 28p slide show, 31p trading farm produce, Harrison and son's of high Wycombe. Embossed envelope
1983 Christmas 1st day of issue, 16th November 1983, 5 stamps, depicting seasonal wild birds, designed by Tony Meeuwissen, printed by Harrison and sons high Wycombe. Embossed enverlope
Fishing, fisherman's year 1st day of issue 21st December 1981, 4 stamps, 14p cockle dredging, 18p hauling side trawl, 22p lobster potting, 25p seine netting. Designer Brian Saunders, embossed envelope
Fishing, fisherman's year 1st day of issue 21st December 1981, 4 stamps, 14p cockle dredging, 18p hauling side trawl, 22p lobster potting, 25p seine netting. Designer Brian Saunders, (THIS ONE IS A FIRST DAY COVER with unique stamp marked) with fisherman,s year, 1981, fishmongers company London ec4 with crest.
Christmas 18th November 1981, 5 stamps, all about the post competition bbc blue peter program,11.½ p designed by Samantha brown age 5, 14p Tracy Jenkins 14, 18p Lucinda Blackmore age 6, 22p Stephen Moore age 16, winner Sophie sharp age 8, printed by Harrison and sons, Designed by the children, embossed envelope
Christmas 18th November 1981, 5 stamps, all about the post competition bbc blue peter program,11.½ p designed by Samantha brown age 5, 14p Tracy Jenkins 14, 18p Lucinda Blackmore age 6, 22p Stephen Moore age 16, winner Sophie sharp age 8, printed by Harrison and sons, Designed by the children, embossed envelope ( THIS IS A FIRST DAY COVER, WITH UNIQUE STAMP FROM SEASSON GREETINGS TO HRH THE PRINCESS OF WALES) 18th November 81 stamped regent street London w1, no address.
The royal birthday 21st june 1982.embossed silver rocking horse, embossed. special designed cover by Stewart Petty . Stamped royal birthday. Commemorative card reading a son for a princess, complete with court circular . No name mentioned , "unnamed prince".
9. 250th anniversary of Sir Richard Arkwright (textiles) 23rd july 1982, first day of issue.151/2p strawberry thief, William Morris, 191/2p Scarlet Tulip , 26p Cherry orchard by P Nash, 29p Chevrons by A foster. Published by Stuart covers ltd .Embossed.
Golden jubilee July 16th 1977, commemorative cover of the Romney /Hythe and dim church light rail way, 1st day of cover ( DELIVERED BY THE BUG!#) rhdr cover no 2 ( this date stamp was only issued on this day only) 10p Romney Hythe and dim church stamp, no 9 Winston Churchill train, queen stamped with the train stamp.

In terms of monetary value, cash on the barrel head, these are not worth much. But, as an excuse to begin a hobby that can transport you and introduce you to new people and places, these could very well be invaluable.

All these covers are recent and most stamps and prepared first day covers issued since some point in the 1930/40s don't have much monetary value above face value. (There are exceptions but these are rare, especially for GB) Stamps are issued in the 100s of millions and sometimes billions and they are everywhere. Since stamps cannot rely on an underlying commodity value to support a price, they depend on scarcity and demand and those would be issues here.

I have gone through your list and have annotated them for the catalog number in the Stanley Gibbons catalog and the value Gibbons assigned them as FDC. The reality is that most dealers probably would not be interested in these and if you were intent on disposing them, I would give ebay a try and see what happens.

Alternatively, thing about staying and giving this hobby a try. It does not have to cost much and can be a source of pleasure.

British gardens 1st day of issue 24th aug 1983 date stamp 4 stamps and issue card, 16p sissinghurst kent house, 20. 1/2p Biddulph Grange, 28p Blenheim Palace, 31p Pitmedden, issue of stamps printed by John Waddington and son, embossed enverlope.

SG 1223/6 GBP 2.25

British fairs 1st day of issue 5th October 1983 date stamp, 4 stamps and issue card, merry go round,201/2 p rides and menageries, 28p slide show, 31p trading farm produce, Harrison and son's of high Wycombe. Embossed envelope

SG 1227/30 GBP 3.00

1983 Christmas 1st day of issue, 16th November 1983, 5 stamps, depicting seasonal wild birds, designed by Tony Meeuwissen, printed by Harrison and sons high Wycombe. Embossed enverlope

SG 1231/5 GBP 3.50

Fishing, fisherman's year 1st day of issue 21st December 1981, 4 stamps, 14p cockle dredging, 18p hauling side trawl, 22p lobster potting, 25p seine netting. Designer Brian Saunders, embossed envelope

SG 1166/9 GBP 2.00

Fishing, fisherman's year 1st day of issue 21st December 1981, 4 stamps, 14p cockle dredging, 18p hauling side trawl, 22p lobster potting, 25p seine netting. Designer Brian Saunders, (THIS ONE IS A FIRST DAY COVER with unique stamp marked) with fisherman,s year, 1981, fishmongers company London ec4 with crest.

see above. This is nice stuff but doesn't much change the value

Christmas 18th November 1981, 5 stamps, all about the post competition bbc blue peter program,11.½ p designed by Samantha brown age 5, 14p Tracy Jenkins 14, 18p Lucinda Blackmore age 6, 22p Stephen Moore age 16, winner Sophie sharp age 8, printed by Harrison and sons, Designed by the children, embossed envelope

SG 1170/4 GBP 2.75

Christmas 18th November 1981, 5 stamps, all about the post competition bbc blue peter program,11.½ p designed by Samantha brown age 5, 14p Tracy Jenkins 14, 18p Lucinda Blackmore age 6, 22p Stephen Moore age 16, winner Sophie sharp age 8, printed by Harrison and sons, Designed by the children, embossed envelope ( THIS IS A FIRST DAY COVER, WITH UNIQUE STAMP FROM SEASSON GREETINGS TO HRH THE PRINCESS OF WALES) 18th November 81 stamped regent street London w1, no address.

see above and no problem addressing letter to Di but a letter from Di? That'll be another story.

The royal birthday 21st june 1982.embossed silver rocking horse, embossed. special designed cover by Stewart Petty . Stamped royal birthday. Commemorative card reading a son for a princess, complete with court circular . No name mentioned , "unnamed prince".
9. 250th anniversary of Sir Richard Arkwright (textiles) 23rd july 1982, first day of issue.151/2p strawberry thief, William Morris, 191/2p Scarlet Tulip , 26p Cherry orchard by P Nash, 29p Chevrons by A foster. Published by Stuart covers ltd .Embossed.

Looks like SG 1192/5 GBP 3.00

Golden jubilee July 16th 1977, commemorative cover of the Romney /Hythe and dim church light rail way, 1st day of cover ( DELIVERED BY THE BUG!#) rhdr cover no 2 ( this date stamp was only issued on this day only) 10p Romney Hythe and dim church stamp, no 9 Winston Churchill train, queen stamped with the train stamp.

I am not sure what this is.

-Larry

The last cover may be one similar to this one I found on ebay:

1978 Coronation - Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway FDC
. . . asking GBP 1.95 from a store.



It looks like a private short line tourist railway of a sort. They probably make up covers to horseshoe in (sorry) with regular issues of official FDCs.

Thie above cover was made with Coronation stamps and cancel on and a railway stamp, special railway cancel and a railway cachet added to give it added collector interest.

If the cachet (picture on envelope) is of a locomotive or something to do with the railway (which it sounds like it is) then it would be of interest to Railway buffs indeed.

The notation carried on the bug probably means itthe cover was actually carried on a locomotive or car on a trip on the railway. A bug may mean a doodlebug, a special kind of locomotive, but that is a guess only.

When selling aa of the special railway things are features or benefits and should be mentioned so the prospective buyer(s) understand the added value.

The caveat on these is that some postmarks on GB FDC's are extremely collectable. If you are considering collecting them you must get a copy of Collecting British First Day Covers by Bradbury.

Sammymeme, are you one of the winners one of the children's christmas stamps competiton in 1981?

Bradbury might be a good reference for what kinds of cancellations were produced but the values assigned are unrealistically high.


For actual valuations I would look at ebay realizations.

The same applies to all catalogues, but I would never recommend ebay as the arbiter of market prices.

Why not? Prices realized on ebay are market prices! I prefer actual sales to establish market prices than dealer-owned catalogues. And yes I know that catalogue prices are not meant to be taken literally, that they are a guide to establish relative scarcity and popularity, etc., etc. I prefer real prices achieved at auction.

I have been purchasing covers on ebay since 1999 and can tell you that there is no other source that reflects real valuation as does ebay.




Bradbury is in a league of its own when it comes to making up "values".

Postal History and Catalogues

As a postal history collector I do not use catalogues to establish what price I am willing to pay for a cover. That comes with an understanding of market prices. And that's where ebay comes into play.

Jubilee

Are you a vendor or a collector? Do you collect British First Day Covers? Do you have any experience with ebay?

George VI Postal History Blog

I publish a blog dealing with George VI postal history.

http://greatbritainphilately.blogspot.ca/

All covers shown are in my collection. I did not use a catalogue to establish the prices I paid for them.

My point is this : for covers, the market establishes prices and not dealer-owned catalogues.

I have just a smidgin of experience.

I've been buying and selling on ebay and elsewhere for over 15 years, I write a blog that has received 24,000+ visitors, run the most successful philatelic page on Facebook, and collect KGV Empire stamps and postal history. For the items I collect, ebay is not even in the ballpark on market price, hence my answer.

Many of the items I buy and sell actually go for catalogue or better. I browse ebay for bargains, but, like most collectors looking for better items, the bulk of my purchasing dollar goes to auction houses.

Oh, and yes, I do collect GB QEII pre-decimal FDC's, and all covers relating to Rowland Hill and penny postage commemorations (as shown on your blog). I do indeed buy on ebay. I buy most of my items for peanuts, as most sellers and buyers don't have a clue regarding relative scarcity. Hence my response to the initial question (almost 3 years ago), suggesting buying Bradbury!

Just a note on courtesy. If you quote me, please do not change what I said by adding your own commentary to the quote

Some of your covers make interesting reading, sammymeme, so would benefit from a photo/scan or two if possible.
As already stated, a lot depends on the condition, the cachets, and numerous other things... such as the cancel location.
A 1981 Fishing set on FDC for example with "anytown" FDI cancellation is worth a few pennies, one with a fishing connection (Hull, Lowestoft etc) worth a few pounds, your Fishmonger's Company FDC might be worth three or four times that.

Jubilee

You have your opinion and I have mine when it comes to Bradbury and to ebay as reflecting market value. We will have to agree to disagree

I can assure you and other members of this forum that I meant no discourtesy when I quoted your statement. I added the term "unrealistically high prices" in brackets in order to explain what I thought you meant by "the same". Obviously that's not what you meant. I clearly misunderstood what you were trying to say.

I appreciate your lesson on courtesy though. I'll try harder to live up to your standards.




I did not notice when this thread was started. Your comments are ancient history and need not be rehashed. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Hello Sammy,

I am new here but an old collector

I think we can all agree that putting the image of your covers on the website will not only be more fun, but provide you with better answers on them.