C11 Commercially Used Covers

After browsing through and down sizing my cover hoard via trash bin, I decided to keep a few C11 covers. I noticed they were commercially used and solo usage to boot. After checking on ebay's sold listings for C11's to see what a commercially used covers were fetching and I was a bit shocked to find that they bring virtually no return while some of the Philatelic creations were fetching upwards of $10 per cover. What gives ? I would think that a commercially used solo usage would be much scarcer and more valuable than it's Philatelic counter part.

I'm going to venture a guess here, that "modern" used covers simply do not attract collectors the same way older -- 19th century -- covers do. With C11 you are just getting into the "modern" era of FDC's and FFC's (what I take you to mean when you refer to "Philatelic creations"). As that practice developed, mail itself becomes more common, so that used covers become ubiquitous and FDC's and FFC's relatively less common and more collectible. I guess all I am saying is that as FDC's and FFC's became more common in the 1930's and onward, they simply pushed aside any interest in used covers per se. Used covers from the 19th Century are another matter. They are somewhat rare or less common, and thus have an intrinsic value of their own. Jump ahead to the 1930's and later, where the "Philatelic creations" exist along side used covers, and the later are not as interesting to collectors.

stallzer, hope this cover doesn't end up in the "trash bin".

There were over 106 million issued of C11, it is not scarce on or off cover, in plate imprint strips of 3, or in most plate block forms. It is a popular and attractive stamp, and so has some modest catalog value but covers are certainly around. The philatelic covers are usually flights or zeppelins, plus event covers. These are all widely collected areas, much more so than an ordinary commercial use would be, so the market is stronger.

Even though there were over 100 million, the number greatly reduces when looking for solo commercial usage. FFC's/ event covers are 20 -1 on the market and while there probably are more collectors, that does not always decide market value. Specialized 1¢ 1851 - 1861 Frankiln collectors are far fewer than 1930's commem collectors and that has no bearing on the market value and all in all, how many 1¢ franklins were issued ? Relatively speaking, in 1851 alone over 13 million 1¢ Franklins were issued.

Ideologically committed to GPU (Genuinely Postally Used) as I am, your plea has reached sympathetic ears.

One thing that works in favor of FDCs & FFCs is that they have an 'ideal' to work towards. Just as everyone can agree on what a MNHOG stamp looks like, everyone can agree on what a pristine FDC or FFC looks like.

That grants them a certain, uh, cachet; whereas every commercial cover is a little bit different - and there is no one single ideal commercial cover - the ability to narrowly define the pristine FDC or FFC means that it will also be easier to find a market for some day.

It is the same difference as trying to sell 5,000 bushels of #2 Yellow corn or trying to sell the equivalent standardized CME corn futures contract; the latter is the more liquid investment, except in the case of an actual zombie invasion.

How's this: it is the difference between owning 'a' commercial cover and 'the' FDC.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

If one were to look beyond the postally used cover itself, some research will reveal that the named people mentioned on the cover were quite prominent in their day. That study, if researched and provided with the cover, could make it much more desirable to a potential buyer.

1851 Franklins are not really a good comparison. The #9 and #24 account for a very large percentage of the quantity issued (or at least the quantity that survived); all the others are somewhat less common to MUCH less common. There are FAR less of the 1851's in nice condition that any 1930's commemorative. FFC's/event covers are 20-1 on the market because collectors are 20-1 looking for them, not because solo commercial usages are so scarce. There simply isn't that big a market for them.

The letter is sent to my Grandfather Thatcher Wheeler Hoyt. The Wheeler & Hoyt names are very prominent names in Chicago history.