Mulready Cover - Help With Valuation

I am thinking of getting a mulready cover. The MX is somewhat faint and so is the cancellation at the back. What is a fair value for this item? Thanks



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I think $75.00 would be reasonable.

Anyone you come across selling £75 on ebay?

I would pass on this one.
Specifically, when this piece was originally mailed, the top was folded about 1/4 inch lower as seen from the crease just below the top edge and the gap in the two portions of the cancel on the reverse side. The refolding to "improve" the appearance of the front side down-grades the postal history aspects of the reverse side. It should have been left in its "as mailed" condition, which makes the front side less attractive.
I would wait to find a more displayable example.

John Becker, thanks for your input, I am aware of the fold which explains the lowered black seal. I am however still keen to know a value that the market would place on this item.

It's great to see an experienced eye, comment on material.
I had to look twice before picking that up.

I agree with bobmill on the value as an ebay lot. The Maltese cross is rather poorly struck, aside from the refold crease. Like John Becker, I'd prefer a better one and spend $30-40 for a better strike and no crease.

Think I will probably skip this cover as well. All about the price at the end of the day. The seller was asking £144 which I felt was too high for the condition it is in. At the right price, I think it is still worth keeping. After all you don't come across mulreadys sent to the seaport town of Cowes all the time.

These regularly turn up at auction, so you should be able to choose a good one. This lot of ten (used and unused, plus caricatures) went for £600 (limited pictures, sadly)

https://www.warwickandwarwick.com/a...hived/202124

Geof, I think the lot does not have a used mulready envelope if I am reading correctly. I only read a used 1d wrapper and some unused covers and wrappers.

A nice clean collectible Mulready with clear cancels and red Maltese cross can run between $100 and $150, though some collectors pay more for very unusual postmarks. Towns to which covers are going rather than being posted from add little if any value. The Mulready posted has some serious issues which have been pointed out making it more of a space filler rather than something one would have as a good example in a collection. As such I would not pay anything for it though I would guess to see it go for as much as $40 on ebay to someone who wanted it as a space filler. From what I have seen Mulreadys are not at all rare - there are many for auction on ebay every week. Their relatively high price for one in excellent condition is due more to the demand for them rather than their rarity.

Certainly not a rare item, but determining the right price to pay can sometimes be tricky. Would one with a nice Maltese cross with a slight tear at the side be worth the same or more than one with a faint Maltese cross with a fold but no tears? I have yet to find any used mulready with a Maltese cross cancellation going for 40 bucks as what you indicated.

Sorry, I meant that paying $30-40 more over $75 would be the thing to do to get a better example. Expect to pay more on ebay UK.

"Slight tear" is up to the interpretation of seller and buyer and it would depend on the location for me. I see one sold well above $100 with a big and evident tear in the backflap; I assume the buyer only cares about the front, where I would not since the postmark is on the back.

The "right price" is up to you. You are certainly appearing to be hedging on having to pay more for what some of us consider to be a reasonably sound cover. More pricing research for yourself is suggested.

I notice many listings for used mulready letter sheets, but not as many used mulready envelopes. I am careful to purchase the right items so will wait for a reasonably priced good one to come along.

Just another question about the valuation that I need some opinions. Would you put a higher value on a mulready used in May 1840 (later than 6 May) but with a weak Maltese cross cancellation or one that is used outside of May 1840 (let's say in 1841) but with a nice Maltese cross with all other things being equal?