Types of Stamp Cancellations & Postmarks: Part II
What in the world is a "favor cancel?" And how is a favor cancel different from a philatelic usage, since they're both for stamp collecting purposes?
Favor Cancels:
Favor cancels are applied by post office works at the specific request of a stamp collector. The cover or stamps that are favor canceled are never mailed. Favor canceled stamps are different from CTO stamps in two ways, even though neither type is ever used in the mail: The difference is intent. The post office sells the stamps intending that they be used in the mailstream. The stamp collector intentionally asks for the cancellation, never intending the stamps or cover to actually be mailed. The post office cancels the stamps or cover as "a favor."
Many First Day Covers (FDCs) fall into the favor cancel classification.
Philatelic Usages:
Philatelic usages result when someone mails an envelope intending that the recipient receives a collectible stamp, group of stamps or a specific collectible stamp usage. Although the mailer's decision of which specific stamps are used to mail the envelope revolves around stamp collecting rather than just the delivery of a mailpiece, unlike favor cancels and many FDCs, philatelic usages are in fact mailed. People sending mail with philatelic usages are usually stamp collectors, friends or relatives of a stamp collector, or stamp dealers. Used stamps from some tiny island countries would probably never be seen by a collector were it not for philatelic usages.
Showing posts with label first day covers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first day covers. Show all posts
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
What stamp materials can I collect in addition to single stamps?
Many philatelists collect postal stationery—paper envelopes (covers) or cards with a pre-paid, printed or embossed stamp design — Stamped Envelopes, Stamped Cards (or postal cards), and Aerogrammes.
Another type of philatelic collectible are plate numbers (including plate blocks). Found most often on sheet stamps, plate number blocks are the stamps — usually a block of 4 but sometimes more — that have the printing plate numbers in the adjoining selvage, or margin.
Booklet panes are panes of stamps affixed in, or as part of, a thin folder to form a booklet. Collectors of booklet panes usually save the entire pane or booklet. If entire booklets are collected completely intact, meaning the panes of stamps inside are all still attached to the booklet cover, they are called unexploded booklets or full booklets.
Marginal blocks (including copyright blocks) feature marginal inscriptions other than plate numbers. The most common is the copyright block, which in the case of United States stamps features the copyright symbol ©, copyright date, and U.S. Postal Service. All U.S. stamp designs since 1978 are copyrighted.
First Day Covers (FDCs) are envelopes bearing newly-issued stamps postmarked on the first day of sale. For each new issuance, the U.S. Postal Service (or the postal authority of some other country that issued the stamps) generally selects one location, usually related to the stamp subject, as the place for the first day dedication ceremony and the first day postmark.
First Day Ceremony Programs are passed out to those who attend first day ceremonies. They contain a list of participants and information on the stamp subject, with the actual stamp attached and postmarked.
Many philatelists collect postal stationery—paper envelopes (covers) or cards with a pre-paid, printed or embossed stamp design — Stamped Envelopes, Stamped Cards (or postal cards), and Aerogrammes.
Another type of philatelic collectible are plate numbers (including plate blocks). Found most often on sheet stamps, plate number blocks are the stamps — usually a block of 4 but sometimes more — that have the printing plate numbers in the adjoining selvage, or margin.
Booklet panes are panes of stamps affixed in, or as part of, a thin folder to form a booklet. Collectors of booklet panes usually save the entire pane or booklet. If entire booklets are collected completely intact, meaning the panes of stamps inside are all still attached to the booklet cover, they are called unexploded booklets or full booklets.
Marginal blocks (including copyright blocks) feature marginal inscriptions other than plate numbers. The most common is the copyright block, which in the case of United States stamps features the copyright symbol ©, copyright date, and U.S. Postal Service. All U.S. stamp designs since 1978 are copyrighted.
First Day Covers (FDCs) are envelopes bearing newly-issued stamps postmarked on the first day of sale. For each new issuance, the U.S. Postal Service (or the postal authority of some other country that issued the stamps) generally selects one location, usually related to the stamp subject, as the place for the first day dedication ceremony and the first day postmark.
First Day Ceremony Programs are passed out to those who attend first day ceremonies. They contain a list of participants and information on the stamp subject, with the actual stamp attached and postmarked.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Commercial Covers vs. Philatelic Covers - How to Tell the Difference
As we said yesterday, sometimes the distinction between commercial covers and philatelic covers can be a bit blurry. But if you're a cover collector, it is essential to be able to determine if a particular cover is commercial or philatelic.
There are perhaps three ways to determine whether or not a cover is commercial in nature:
1. What postage rate is the cover paying as compared to what franking should be on the cover? In other words, were stamps with a face value that is more than what was necessary to mail it used? If so, the cover may be philatelic, although sometimes commercial covers do have more postage than actually necessary on them.
2. In what timeframe were the stamps used on the cover? In other words, were the stamps used within a short period of time after they were issued (more likely to be a commercial use, although first day covers would be an exception), or were they used much later than they were issued (more likely to be a philatelic cover)?
3. How does the cover look? By that we mean, is its overall appearance philatelic or commercial? This is a judgment call, but here are some things to consider in making that judgment.
Have the stamps been very neatly placed on the cover or is their appearance on the envelope a bit haphazard?
Are all the members of a stamp set present or is a single definitive stamp the only franking?
Is it a philatelic cancel from a stamp show or exhibition?
Is it a first day of use?
How is it addressed?
Has it been opened very neatly or a bit roughly?
Some stamp collectors focus on commercial covers, while others focus on philatelic covers. There is nothing wrong with either type, it's all a matter of individual preference. Commercial covers demonstrate how stamps are used in the mail, but their appearance (as far as the stamps are concerned) is usually nothing special. Philatelic covers (because of the stamps that are used) are often quite beautiful. Which type of cover you decide to collect is up to you.
As we said yesterday, sometimes the distinction between commercial covers and philatelic covers can be a bit blurry. But if you're a cover collector, it is essential to be able to determine if a particular cover is commercial or philatelic.
There are perhaps three ways to determine whether or not a cover is commercial in nature:
1. What postage rate is the cover paying as compared to what franking should be on the cover? In other words, were stamps with a face value that is more than what was necessary to mail it used? If so, the cover may be philatelic, although sometimes commercial covers do have more postage than actually necessary on them.
2. In what timeframe were the stamps used on the cover? In other words, were the stamps used within a short period of time after they were issued (more likely to be a commercial use, although first day covers would be an exception), or were they used much later than they were issued (more likely to be a philatelic cover)?
3. How does the cover look? By that we mean, is its overall appearance philatelic or commercial? This is a judgment call, but here are some things to consider in making that judgment.
Have the stamps been very neatly placed on the cover or is their appearance on the envelope a bit haphazard?
Are all the members of a stamp set present or is a single definitive stamp the only franking?
Is it a philatelic cancel from a stamp show or exhibition?
Is it a first day of use?
How is it addressed?
Has it been opened very neatly or a bit roughly?
Some stamp collectors focus on commercial covers, while others focus on philatelic covers. There is nothing wrong with either type, it's all a matter of individual preference. Commercial covers demonstrate how stamps are used in the mail, but their appearance (as far as the stamps are concerned) is usually nothing special. Philatelic covers (because of the stamps that are used) are often quite beautiful. Which type of cover you decide to collect is up to you.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Collecting Covers - A Stamp Collecting Specialty
New stamp collectors may wonder just what "covers" are, and why they are collectible.
The most simple answer is that a "cover" is an envelope that has been stamped and sent through the mail. They can be collectible for the stamp(s), for the postmark, for the recipient or for the sender, or a combination of these factors. There are two main types of covers: commercial covers and philatelic covers.
Commercial covers are those that are mailed for ordinary (non-collecting) purposes. Since by definition they are not created expressly for stamp collectors but are instead used to transmit material (whatever was inside the cover) they always contained some type of content (although that content often is removed by the recipient before the cover gets into a collector's hands).
Philatelic covers, on the other hand, are covers that are created and mailed specifically for the purpose of someone collecting them. Sometimes they originally include(d) some type of meaningful content inside, but other times there may only be a blank cardboard stiffener. First day covers are a subcategory of philatelic covers.
Sometimes the distinction between commercial covers and philatelic covers can be a bit blurry. But if you're a commercial cover collector, it is essential to be able to determine if a particular cover is commercial or philatelic.
Tomorrow we'll discuss how many stamp collectors make this determination.
New stamp collectors may wonder just what "covers" are, and why they are collectible.
The most simple answer is that a "cover" is an envelope that has been stamped and sent through the mail. They can be collectible for the stamp(s), for the postmark, for the recipient or for the sender, or a combination of these factors. There are two main types of covers: commercial covers and philatelic covers.
Commercial covers are those that are mailed for ordinary (non-collecting) purposes. Since by definition they are not created expressly for stamp collectors but are instead used to transmit material (whatever was inside the cover) they always contained some type of content (although that content often is removed by the recipient before the cover gets into a collector's hands).
Philatelic covers, on the other hand, are covers that are created and mailed specifically for the purpose of someone collecting them. Sometimes they originally include(d) some type of meaningful content inside, but other times there may only be a blank cardboard stiffener. First day covers are a subcategory of philatelic covers.
Sometimes the distinction between commercial covers and philatelic covers can be a bit blurry. But if you're a commercial cover collector, it is essential to be able to determine if a particular cover is commercial or philatelic.
Tomorrow we'll discuss how many stamp collectors make this determination.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Collecting First Day Covers
If you are interested in the historical, geographical and cultural facts surrounding the issuance of a particular stamp, then collecting first day covers may be just your thing.
A first day cover consists of an envelope on which a newly issued stamp has been affixed, and then postmarked on the date that the stamp was first available for use in the mails. Often there is an offically-designated location, and a cancellation from that location, on the first day of issue, is desirable.
There are three basic elements of a first day cover:
1. The stamp
2. The postmark
3. The cachet (optional but desirable, a cachet is a graphic design on the envelope itself that relates to the stamp in some way). The cachet often incorporates some information about the subject of the stamp.
Although some first day covers are quite scarce and demand quite high prices, there are thousands of other first day covers that are readily available and sell for $1.00 or less.
If you are interested in the historical, geographical and cultural facts surrounding the issuance of a particular stamp, then collecting first day covers may be just your thing.
A first day cover consists of an envelope on which a newly issued stamp has been affixed, and then postmarked on the date that the stamp was first available for use in the mails. Often there is an offically-designated location, and a cancellation from that location, on the first day of issue, is desirable.
There are three basic elements of a first day cover:
1. The stamp
2. The postmark
3. The cachet (optional but desirable, a cachet is a graphic design on the envelope itself that relates to the stamp in some way). The cachet often incorporates some information about the subject of the stamp.
Although some first day covers are quite scarce and demand quite high prices, there are thousands of other first day covers that are readily available and sell for $1.00 or less.
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