FDC Discussion - Bob Issues

My main collection interest is US Issues, mint (or if pricey VF used), To get an insight into the issue back-story I like to accompany an issue with a FDC, usually cached. Recently I purchased a bulk lot of 500 mixed covers, mostly US, (1/3 UN). Interestingly there was a large assortment (w/duplicates) of BOB issues, Special Delivery, & Certified issues. Although not pristine, they are a good complement to my collection. Using a 2011 Scott Specialized I find some of the issues (w/o reference to maker)priced MUCH higher than the $2-$5 range (for pristine). All covers have the necessary back-stamping for the services used and some have a very nice cache. So I am thinking that this unique niche of BOB-FDCs has somewhat a limited inventory and the vendor (a Linn's advertiser) may have missed something when doing a stock clearance dump (to my collections benefit). Are First Day Covers (early pre-1940 to mid 1950), really valued high, based on issue and cover-maker as the Scott Catalog hints?? (as examples FA1, E15b, E17, & E18,E22 and several earlier). I will try to load up some pictures later.

Perhaps your mention of them being "not pristine" is a clue. Most FDC collectors I know insist on pristine and anything less is a space filler unless it is one of the very earliest FDCs. Also, catalog values for FDCs in pristine condition are often very much higher than what they actually sell for especially give the glut of FDCs on the market compared to the number of collectors.

Kimo: I agree that pristine condition does play a large part into the value aspect so I realize that my non-pristine 90 year old covers would be of a significant lower value. But after 90 years, & given the make-up of the paper (& chemistry of early paper production & pristine being relevant)I see even my covers wanting a higher value than the $1 box assortments. I am happy with just the fact that I have obtained some nicely cached covers and that @ $8 - $10 reduced value (well below catalog ) for inventory purposes. (What might be realized at an estate sale is another thing).

You will have to forgive me I do not know what BOB's are?
However, I have to say, as a collector myself "pristine" applies only to the individual collector. To expect anything of age to be of perfection is asking a lot. As regards to FDC/covers/mail anything that has been through the postal system will be exceptional if "Pristine" as any stamp taken off a envelope is not "pristine". Condition is not everything and in fact it just inflates prices for no real reason and if you take a coin, it is far better to have its condition as used over time than to have it cleaned! So this concept of condition only applies to the individual.
As I have been discussing with Kimo, FDC/Covers produced in sets can produce oddities and if you have duplicates it is sometimes wise to try and understand why! The illusion of a FDC / Cover being the main focus of the item is overlooked, for it is STILL the stamp and cancel which is main.
We all know stamps have a whole swathe of things which make them valuable, this does not change just because its on an envelope?
I learned this the hard way because my idea was exactly which I now dispute. I always found it odd why there were duplicates amongst sets and it has nothing to do with the cover or its condition usually but more to do with whats on it.
I find the best way to view a FDC / cover, is to say to yourself the old saying " I am but the messenger" and that is exactly what the envelope is!
As a last point, MOST mass produced sets of these covers have normally been on a mount page, which is normally done by corner inserts and normally back to back which makes "Pristine" a non starter anyway and those that are plastic sleeved are so tight that when inserting them they get creased or indeed, the actual stamp gets caught when inserting them.
Something that did change my view on Covers as well, was reading a thread on someone saying about the room these sets take up? The answer was simple and again shows a completely different view to covers of any kind, this is simply to cut around the stamp and cancel or just keep the front.
So for some, who have little space or who can afford albums, this is a considered answer???! If you think about it, what difference does it make?

BOB = Back of Book (like Special Delivery, Airmail stamps, etc.)
There is a glossary of terms located in the upper hand corner of this page (but BOB is not in this list).

Many commercially produced FDC are 'pristine' because they have never been in the mail stream. Heck, some of them have never even been in the country they were issued from never mind the mail stream. Because of this, some collectors prefer covers which were actually mailed.
Don

I collect FDC's of the certified mail stamp FA1. It is a very small collection that I can display on ONE page. I am looking for the lowest and highest control numbers I can find so my collection always consists of exactly 2 covers. I'd be interested if you have numbers below 00796 or above 979759. My experience with FDC's of this era is they almost always come 'pristine' except for the ugly staining on the back caused by the terrible glue from the cheap envelopes used by the FDC servicers.
The best way to find out what buyers actually pay for FDC is the ebay sold items listings. They rarely go for high prices and of course most of them do not sell at all.

Thank you for the discussion. The history presented in a First Day Cover is immediate and compliments the stamp (as far as my collection). Some interesting facets of having a combination stamp/FDC displayed on a page sometimes yearns more investigation. Why was the coil 2-1/2c Bunker Hill Stamp (1056), of the Liberty Issues, issued in Los Angeles CA and not Boston MA?? (The 1034 sheet stamp was issued in Boston.) There are some other instances of stamps depicting landmarks or historical places/events not being issued from the landmark/historic location, (so I chock it up to Postmaster's choice). Also, there are some interestingly nice cachets. Some expanding on the history, some on the theme, and some to make a statement, even a political view. As for me, it expands the intrinsic value, (and all knowledge has intrinsic value). I am in the process of cataloging and placing these items into my collection (or in some cases stock vault) and enjoying the history, knowledge gathering and adrenalin pump.

An innocence pastime for amateur sleuths...........

Why would you pay £6,000 for this First day Cover?

No tricks, genuine, but I am not giving out the answer. Just a confirmation of a correct reply.

The 13p. stamp. The above set is suppose to have a 14p. stamp as the second-class rate was raised during production, but a few 13p. stamps escaped into circulation.

Well, there you go, it is obvious this Forum has too many bright, intelligent, and well sourced individuals for this, MM (Mere mortal.)

Well done you.

The cover is only 1 of 2 known to exist.

This is my point exactly about FDC's. However I am not sure I would pay £6000 for it.

I sure wouldn't

Note : Bumped thread.

1993
Grace Kelly FDC Sc# 2749 (KH Cachets, 10 issued.)
Joint issue with Monaco (Sc#1851)

eligies:
If you are interested, just email me your email address and I will let you know who has the most comprehensive listings of the different cachets available for some USA BOB (like FA1) FDC issues. At least, that I am aware of. I did not say this information was free, but it might be? I am just the copper wire here, not the generator.
Respectfully submitted:
jrc

jrc531: once you get to the 50 benchmark just click the letter/envelope icon & send the info. (putting an email address in a post is not recommended) Thanks for the discussion.

Sorry, my mistake.
jrc