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Maybe it's just the lack of coffee this morning but I cant see an Air Mail cover just postal stationery/embossed envelopes? Still neat group of covers.
The second image is of a cover with Scott #C11.
maverickx,
Maybe to fill in for stalizer, first day covers usually have a special cancellation indicating that they are first day covers, or otherwise have special cachets or envelopes indicating that they are first day covers. Prior to the 1920's, I don't think that was so, but first day covers prior to 1922 are quite rare. It was in the 1920's that first day and first flight covers explicitly began to be collected (became "collectibles"). I don't know which US stamps received the first special first day type of cancellation -- perhaps someone else knows and could provide that information. But I'm pretty sure it would be sometime in the 1920's [edit: actually, maybe not even until the late 1930's or 1940's?]. My topical interest is in aviation and airmail stamps, and if they are any guide, before the post office began using special cancellations, collectors were using special envelopes and cachets to indicate first day covers.
That said, I happen to have a first day cover for Scott #C11, and it does not have a distinctive cachet or cancellation, but it does have the correct cancellation for a first day cover of that stamp.
I saw in another thread where somewhat recommended Scott's US Specialized catalog, and I agree with that recommendation. And especially for the older stamps and covers, you don't need the latest version (which is quite expensive). You can get a version that is two or three years out of date for much much less. I've bought mine through
Amazon (though it came from some other bookseller). The following link is for various vendors using
Amazon to sell the 2013 edition at a price as low as $32.29 (+ $3.99 shipping):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...ndition=usedA lot better than paying $130 for the current edition!
Posted 09/08/2014 10:21 am
