1965 FDC Questions

Scott specialized only shows this one with the Washington DC postmark as "Tagged", is this correct ? Also, is it worth trying to clean up ?



This one I can't seem to find.

Both have the correct first day of issue dates for the stamped envelopes, U547 and U549. Both have minimal FDC catalog value for the 6 3/4 size. The #10 size envelopes of the same type have higher values ($1 vs $10). The stamps were added to make 1st class rate in case they were to be mailed.

If you can find a Scott First Day Cover Catalogue it's actually more detailed than the U.S. Specialized.

How does one clean up a cover? I'd be curious to find out actually. Thanks.

Wiki suggests the following, although I wouldn't recommend it on stamps and/or covers:




In reality, the minimal value of the above scanned covers (SCV $1) is only worth about 10% to 20% of that figure on the secondary market (less because of the foxing and considering they are uncacheted) -- so (in my opinion) it wouldn't be worth the exercise to try to "clean up the cover". Bottom line: It is what it is!

If you really want clean, cacheted specimens, they can be had for $1 or so on ebay as in these examples (with no bids):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-U547-Cac...em2336e5e585

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scott-U549-...em20e2380d18

I wouldn't both cleaning them up. As noted by wt1, clean copies with a cachet can be had for $1 or even less if you shop around.

Uncacheted first day of issue postal stationery from the 1950's through the 1970's or 80's is a hard sell. I've seen many a dollar box of these covers at shows and they do not move. There's also large lots of like material through the online auctions where these types of FDCs can be had 5-10 cents per cover or less if you want several hundred or more with duplicates.