FDC

Is this a true FDC or a CTO ?

It's an FDC.

But this is not postally use !

Rolle, many FDC's are not postally used. Collectors will buy them from a post office, etc. and just put them in their collection. And I agree with Cursus that it's an FDC - CTOs are normally cancelled on sheets of stamps.

The UK is the only European country where FDC should bear an address, on the other ones that I know (no idea about Finland) most FDC that you see, or buy from Philatelic Services, are uncirculated.

For me CTO are gummed stamps, cancelled on sheets and not affixed to any enveloppe.

In some countries, you can even buy a cancelled FDC at the PO counter, write an address, and send (within a given period of time), without adding any other stamps.

Every FDC is a CTO ... not that I would want to start a food fight ;)

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

"Every FDC is a CTO"

What utter nonsense. All penny blacks on cover dated 6 May 1840 are FDCs. Whom were they CTOed for, given that the entire number of stamp collectors in the world on that date was precisely 0?

In the U.S. one can find quite a few FDCs that are commercially used, i.e. businesses or special event organizations send statements or promotional correspondence which are postmarked as first days, usually with a distinctive envelope noting the event. Certainly these are special mailings, but it would be a stretch to call these items CTOs.

Don

Actually "first day cover" means a cover with a new issue stamp affixed on it cancelled on the first day the stamp was available for sale. So - there are many "FDCs" that are non philatelic - and eagerly sought for earlier issues - of any country.

PS And even more rare and valued are covers carrying stamps cancelled BEFORE day of issue.

Please allow me to take this opportunity to agree that covers with GPU (Genuinely Postally Used) stamps, posted on their date of issue, are indeed FDCs and not CTOs.

I imagine that accounts for less than one percent of the 'FDCs' in collectors' hands, but I've got my foot carefully positioned in front of my mouth ...

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey