First day covers

Hello all, Meow has bought a random lot with some first day covers. So Meow wanted to learn a bit more about them and their value. But Meow cannot seem to find a recent book about FDC. Know its a coin place, but if anyone knows the best most recent book about them, Meow would like to know how to get one. TIA, Meow

 

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At one time many years ago I did collect them. Don't waste your money, you'll only lose.
As a matter of fact just a month or so ago I took all mine to a local shredding event.
Now they are all gone.
But if you like them and cheap enough collect them.

 

Eyeappealingcoins needs more details. First day covers of what? State quarters?

 

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/first-day-covers-worthless-3125465

 

That's the stamp variant. I assumed the question implicated numismatic versions.

 

I don't know if the cat is talking about the stamp variant. If so, yeah, a 50+ year old cover is probably only worth $2 or $3 (practically worthless), but some of them are still a lot of fun to own as a way to remember certain events.

Here's one from the day John Glenn orbited the Earth back in 1962.



I have a few others for different space events, including Mercury missions, Gemini missions, Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, and the launch of some satellite missions.

Even got a few Soviet covers for some of their space flight milestones. Again, not worth much, but who cares? As a space buff it's a fun cheap memento to own. Certainly a lot cheaper than some space-flown medal or hardware, and you still get a historic connection to the event.

 

I have a bunch as well. Not much value, but you can get some interesting pieces.

 

The best easy way to price covers is the same as the best easy way to price coins: go on eBay and check out the sold prices. Most collectors use the Brookman stamp catalog. The prices listed are almost always way high [$2 seems to be their current default price for common covers; actual resale value of most of them is a few cents at best.] Medium price stuff - $5 to $20 or so - figure you may get 10 to 20 percent of catalog price. Stuff before 1920 can be really expensive - thousands of dollars. You can get an old Brookman on eBay fairly cheap. You don't need to spring for the latest one; prices don't change that much.

 

If you like them after your "CAT SCAN" then go for it. Just not a very popular collecting theme.

 

Thanks for the input. Meow bought some state quarter FDCs in a lot that came with some ones without coins. Meow was wanting to buy a book with pictures, and values of them to learn more about them. Meow has noticed they do go for very cheap. But finding a recent book or guide was difficult online. Guess collecting them is not very popular, so publications about them are scarce. Meow likes them, and will buy ones that have subject matter that appeals to Meow. But now know not to pay to much as they seem to be worthless. Here is one that Meow would like to buy eventually.

 

Meow has found that there are new ones this year for the Moon landing anniversary. Meow will save up and get some eventually. But they seem to make covers for every single stamp, that might be overkill for boring subjects.

 

I have a "First Flight" of the Hindenburg somewhere (if the ex wife didn't shred it, she was a *&^#%)… I got it just because my Dad saw the Hindenburg on it's first flight in 1936.

 

A great idea for sales but a losing cause for us. I can't give them away in my antique business. People just aren't interested in them.

 

That sounds like it would have some value to it.

 

Meow also notices that the fdc have something called a Scott number to them to catalog them. How or where do you find a listing of those numbers for FDCs?

 

I almost forgot I have these 2.
The one from Bethlehem Pa I purchased there
the last shows images I took that day and the bumper sticker off my 76 Chevy Suburban.

 

Same as KM#'s are used for coins.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_catalogue.

 

Meow, The Scott Catalog is the official numbering system for stamps, for example, the first stamp, the 5 cent Ben Franklin of 1847, is Scott #1, and the 1927 10 cent Lindbergh Airmail stamp is #C10... the blue 10 cent stamp above is #1520 from 1973...
If you plan on collecting stamps, the Scott Catalog is a must have!
I stopped collecting about 30+ years ago, and gave all my stamps to my father-in-law at the time... he's got quite a collection, now.

 

I have a 2007 Brookman for free if someone wants to reimburse me for postage.

 

I really need the Ogden Utah Freedom Train cover.