Question Regarding Maximum Cards

Hello Everybody, I have a question regarding Maximum Cards.

I have been given the responsibility of selling a family friend's stamp collection that includes many maximum cards. From the research that I had done, collecting maximum cards is quite popular in Europe, but not so much in the U.S.

My question is, how can I properly determine the value of individual maximum cards. I have seen some sites where they include a Scott #, but I have not been able to find those in the catalog.

Any help that you may have would be very helpful.

Thank You.

What is a maximum card? Can someone show an example?

I maybe wrong, but I believe it is on a card stock souvenir/replica of a actual stamp sold often by the PO's.

Mike

I will post some examples in a minute.

Hello Awmartin, its been my experience that cover dealers at shows sell maxi cards generally for the same price as their dollar covers..of course there are exceptions to the rule..depending on the scarcity of the item..i am just giving a rule of thumb !! I have a post office priority box of Dutch maxi cards like this I would be happy to take 50 cents apiece for...

These are some of the maximum cards that I have.

warrehouse is correct. It is a postcard with stamp attached to it which resembles the cover of the postcard.

Phil is right. Based upon what you have shown, they tend to sell for $1. Some may bid up higher on ebay due to topical interest, but probably not much more than $3. Do you have any British ones? They do have a few goodies in them.

David

I mostly have some Vatican Pope Pius VI cards, a set of polish insect cards (see above) and some random Spanish cards and many soviet cards. Off the top of my head I do not believe that I have any British cards, but I will take a look and let you know if I do.

From www.wikipedia.org :
Maximaphily is a branch of philately involving the study and creation of maximum cards.

On the web site delcampe.com which is a France eBay-like stamp site that has worldwide coverage and members (perhaps more Europeans use this site than www.ebay.com/b/260/" rel="nofollow">ebay? (except Great Britain)) (Perhaps that is where to best market your cards?) there is a maximum card set listed under Poland with the title:

12 Maximum Cards 1961 Number: Mi 1277-88, Sc 1029-40 Insects
ITEM NUMBER: 41479499

which looks like your insects. The seller is asking around $30 for the set.
(Mi = Michel = German stamp catalog)
(Sc = Scott = US and Canada stamp catalog)
Perhaps they just use the Scott catalog (or whichever catalog) for the stamp numbers?

DelCampe has a Maximum Card section under some countries.

Stanley Gibbons Great Britain Concise catalog (2005) that I have list P.H.Q. cards (Postal Head Quarters), cards that show the stamp enlarged, (1973 on) as mint or used. With or without a stamp affixed that is. Special cancels (first day of issue, special events) or handstamps make it worth more to different collectors.

I think most maxi (maxim,maximum,PHQ) cards sell on delcampe for a EURO (1.00 € ± $1.47) except if they have topical interest (like David mentioned above) which I think is the major market for maxi cards.

I kind of like the idea of them myself. I have tried to make some FDI ones but usually the cancel ink smears on the postcard, plus a rectangular postmark was used. It got the date on there but is not eye pleasing.

I think they would add a special touch of interest to a stamp collection. Or just to a special stamp, as a lead in or header on an album page or something like that.

The Great Britain dealers seem to have grasped onto the idea of another area of collecting interest and marketed it successfully. Some people just collect the cards.

Canada maximum card, Australia PHQ card