Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Now that is interesting.
Mystic does alot of business selling new and newer issue collections from many countries. I wonder if they'll start with FDCs from some of those countries too. 
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Mystic does many things besides being the most visible philatelic company in the popular media today. I stopped at a house sale and got to talking to the people and they had just sold Mystic an extensive collection of civil war patriotics. I mentioned it to a friend who said he had made an offer on the collection which he was told was comparable but he needed a few days to fund and Mystic didn't.
Cash talks.
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A few years ago I was talking to the head buyer about a certain Jenny sheet, but they returned my call days too late for that. We got to talking about my collection. He asked me for some highlights. When I told him of my PRC "Monkey", he fixated on that. He also made me an offer for the entire collection sight unseen. With the Jenny, Monkey and entire collection, I was surprised how much he was willing to pay. I told him that the collection wasn't for sale, but if it was, I would have wanted a little more than his offer. He said that was possible, but it would have required a trip to actually view it. All in all, he was very fair and open about it. I did not set up a visit, though.
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I trust I'm not abrogating any rules by cross-referencing my contribution to the discussion in "talking about CTOs" but...
I asked Mystic about my $400 (I was apparently ripped off!) estate-purchased hoard of $1,800 FV MNH Canada 1980-2012; 200 1930s-60s Christmas seals; 100,000 worldwide beautiful but CTO-tainted so-called "stamps"; and a single jolly good SON postally-used, certified, VF, gum intact, 1940 1c Washington Irving.
Their response (surprisingly sight unseen) was: "Wallpaper a bedroom; line a kitty litter box; shred and make some duvets; keep in a safety deposit box; and FRIG OFF". Nice chaps, really.
And I even forgot to mention the 300 FDCs I had found in the pile because I thought I read somewhere they were useless to "real collectors" so had used them to start our family Thanksgiving bonfire. Who knew?
The ways of the Philatelist are indeed ... truly Mystic.
G'Night chums.
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Obsess much?
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...and I thought you said you were done being cranky.
WB
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youpiao:
My obsession hasn't deteriorated to the level of making a "stamp beard" yet, but my wife swears I'm just 3 CTOs and 2 FDCs away from it.
WB:
Fortunately, I spent some time looking at A-Ra's amazing posts today and I'm inspired to actually create a page with stamps on it - in some semblance of order. We'll see if I can successfully obsess on that task this weekend. So goodbye crankiness, hello ...uh... the opposite of that...
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WB
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Sorry Guys I am not American but I know Mystic took over Fleetwoods and when I emailed them about a collection their response was pitiful. Why take over a FDC maker and then have no inventory upon the collections Fleetwoods sold.
I find it interesting that they have also took over Colorano's and it makes you wonder what their purpose is for doing this if they are not interested in past products?!
But this attitude is the way of the world it seems when nothing of age seems to hold value or respect. If its not a Ipod or smart phone, forget it!
With covers and especially old ones, I just love the thought it is of age and sometimes the writing of address is better than anything else.
I started my first collection of covers based on cancel marks but soon gave that up as the world is your oyster. I then moved onto different styles or makers and again collecting becomes to vast to do.
I still collect covers but I concentrate on stamp sheets these days and it is much more controllable. Until I found out about "Cinderellas"!!!
The world of stamps is just to amazing by half to grasp and has caused me many headaches but also many loves.
But Mystic will fall by doing what they are unless there is a specific reason in the states why they would do what they are doing.
Julian
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Julian-
I am not in the know so this is speculation. The larger first day cover / cachet makers always sold their product as new, and didn't keep back stock. Their focus is the next stamp issues. So there was likely no stock with the purchase of the brand.
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Julian,
I believe Tom is right; it's always been about massed-produced and pre-ordered covers that cost nothing to produce but bring big returns, per unit. Mike's speculation that it wasn't the business, per se, but the mailing lists, that Mystic wanted makes sense.
David
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"... makes you wonder what their purpose is ... this attitude ... nothing of age seems to hold value or respect ... Mystic will fall ..."
Good grief!
They bought the assets of related businesses that were going nowhere fast.
Mystic is the largest single 'sponsor' of new members to the American Philatelic Society.
Give 'em a break, will ya'?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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Mystic has been around for almost 100 years.....
....I don't see them "falling" any time soon.
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Hi again folks,
I just find the sense of producing something for a quick buck as in sell an run, a rather funny outlook and actually makes these companies rather tacky. Don't get me wrong we have them here in the U.K and they are all the same mainly coins rather than covers though. When I was younger I got hooked into this with coins and they pumped out silver coins which you thought and purchased, not only for the theme but would also be a investment.
However they sell now for under half what you paid for them back then and when you think how much de valuation of currency is from then to now, again it shows what a scam these things are.
I was into coins before I got interested in stamps which really only came about because of Princess Diana dying in 97. I had respect for the girl because she actually brought the Monarchy up to date and then the fact she was just used as a baby machine, where upon Charles went back to his horse meat has never made the Monarchy so low in popularity. Diana showed up the Monarchy for what they are, this is why I collect her as a theme in stamps.
I have purchased the odd Colorano from Ebay again not knowing what they really are but for the depiction on the envelope.
But my main question is not answered for the purpose of buying a previous production NAME in company, if your not going to use old products, I just do not get the point unless of course Mystic still sell Fleetwoods in name?
For instance America Comp buys UK Comp, but still sells the product under the UK Comps brand name and I am talking Cadburys chocolate.
I understand the premise of buying a company to knock them out the production selling process which means you have more grasp on the market as business is business but you would still think, you as a buying company would want an archive of what has been previously produced and indeed what it was worth?
I am beginning to think I am not human in the field of stamps because the more I learn the worse I am getting in attitude towards the subject.
As Musicman has said, if Mystic has done this all over America and they are the only FDC producer it makes sense they will be the empire and probably will not fall as I previously said and thought.
Thanks though for your answers
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Hi Folks,
I have just had an email from a member which has made me re Google on Fleetwoods and low and behold a Mystic article turned up and it was 2015. (still no info on Fleetwoods though) and I now understand what you mean about Mystic. I cannot believe the prices they are asking for new stamp sheets and thus I think I get the drift to the premise of why they are knocking out smaller FDC / Stamp comps. Also that Mystic is like our own stamp issuers here, also they sell the same sort of coin stuff as I said in a previous post!?
However, I bet they wished Ebay would disappear off the face of the Earth 
.
Well folks, I am so pleased I joined you guys and girls on this forum because you have now changed my stamp collecting outlook.
I am going back to my focus on the finishing my FDC collections with PCS and Fleetwoods. As regards stamps I have had my eyes opened and am not going to pursue this collecting with the same vigor. I shall most certainly not pay what I have been for Cinderella's on actually knowing & learning what they are. I will still buy them if they catch my eye in theme but not with the interest I have had previously.
Many thanks.
Julian
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Tigger,
I certainly hope with all the discussion here and the somewhat disillusionment you have mentioned that this will not cause you to be less of an avid stamp/cover collector.
Our intentions here were not discouragement, but rather educational - hopefully for your benefit of learning the best way to continue your collection and to hopefully expand your interests as well!
As our member Dan would say,
All the best!
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"... I think I get the drift to the premise of why they are knocking out smaller FDC / Stamp comps ..."
Why "knocking out"?
Mystic did not drive anyone out of the FDC business.
Rather, as that business has become less viable, they bought-out publishers' assets.
As noted above, the main asset at closing was probably the customer lists.
People who have subscribed to an FDC service are very sensible prospects for a company that offers subscriptions to new issues.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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Has Mystic commented on the future of either FDC line?
In my model car hobby, there was a point that much of the old tooling for classic model car kits was in the hands of a toy company that had no clue of the market and the broad rumor was that they were going to sell it all for scrap metal and a write off. Everyone was calling it the end of the hobby.
I wrote an article that basically said that all we needed was a smaller, nimble company that knew the market and the potential in the tooling and could work on margins for the reduced volume of sales. Sure enough, a millionaire collector came along who had the money and vision to revive the old AMT, MPC product lines and bring back many of the classic kits we enjoyed as kids... and in nostalgic boxes!
Would Mystic, set up as a subscription service, be able to continue the FDC lines, and market them to their broader audience, with combined shipping and discounts for subscribing to the multiple FDC lines? Suppose you could get Colorano and Fleetwood covers through a single source much more efficiently?
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No Musicman, you guys have done exactly what you said, its been fun. I will not give in but I have re-valued my stamp collecting FDC priorities
My problem is I cannot put much input into your debates because half the time I do not have a clue what your talking about
But I shall be watching for those titles that I can and I am thinking about joining the ATA or something similar.
All comments have helped in one way or another.
Julian
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It looks as if this thread may be winding down, so thought I would add a few closing thoughts.
First, Mystic does a wonderful job maintains and cataloging an extensive stock. Even better, no one does more to promote the hobby at many different levels. This comes at a price.
Buying two old FDC houses makes sense.... They employ similar models for complimentary products.
Mass produced commemorative products, whether plates, coins, covers, or stuffed animals, have little value on the secondary market. One buys these things because one likes them, not because there is any realistic hope of profit.
Cinderellas are just a thing, neither good nor bad. They don't have face value or franking value. Their value, at least in early seals, was delivering funds to sanitarian and research facilities. In some cases, their success dictated their demise or reconstitution as something else. Sheets of regular seals can range from priceless to worthless, based on demand and, to a lesser essential, supply. My area, tied seals, has few adherents, but still huge price spreads.
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A clarification concerning the Colorano sale. Mystic purchased the inventory and website only. They do not hold the Trademark. Colorano silks are alive and well. They did not end in 2015. Colorano covers for 2016 are available and will be available long term. This includes regular issues and special events. They are available thru several well established dealers including Marilyn Novak in NY, Knottywood Treasures in GA, and Oakmore covers in CA. They will be produced in smaller quantities to maintain value.
These beautiful covers are being continued for the love of the hobby and those dedicated to collecting these covers for almost 45 years.
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Here is a good website regarding the Colorano silks.
http://www.canadafdc.org/Drupal/book/export/html/95
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Although I do not collect FDCs, over the years I have handled a fair amount of them when they come as a part of bigger lots. Several of these lots contained letters written to the various original FDC producers expressing extreme frustration. These subscribers felt strongly that they had been ‘taken’ by the marketing that presented them as ‘good investments’.
I think that the damage this kind of marketing has done to our hobby is considerable. On the other hand, the marketing also exposed others to our hobby and got them started.
Postal historians do not tend to view many of the prepared FDCs kindly. I assume this is because many of these FDCs have never been in the mail stream, some have never been in the city of issue, and some may not have even really been cancelled on the day of issue.
On balance I simply cannot get those angry letters out of my mind. They say that every ‘bad story’ gets repeated many times. Given the passionate and emotional content of some of these letters (many asking if the company would be interested in buying them back at a fraction of their cost which of course they declined) I am surprised that other recourse(s) was not sought.
I only wish that instead of these being promoted as ‘great investments’ the companies would have emphasized the intrinsic fun, educational, and hobby value of these items.
Don
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Don, well said!
You can't blame me. I've never suggested to anyone to collect FDC's
I have long had the same thoughts although I never took the bait.
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We need to find a way to teach people about this sort of thing without throwing blame around.
Howzabout this:
When you buy any collectible from a serial marketing company, you are buying (and paying for):
1) the collectible, and
2) the upfront marketing expenses (that lovely ad you saw), and
3) the onesy-twosy packing & delivery expenses.
We should expect that the resale price of batches of these items will not include:
1) the upfront marketing expenses (that money is gone), and
2) the onesy-twosy packing & delivery expenses (that money is gone).
Since the resale price is only for the 'collectible' - and not those other services - it is going to be much less than we paid for the whole package deal.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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I never liked FDC's but did end up liking and collecting USPS Souvenir Pages. They are also a manufactured collectible. However, I like them due to standard size, easy to acquire, low cist to store, and educational. I do not buy them from the USPS but am a second (or later) buyer so the acquisition cost (face value + markup is gone) is much less. In some ways it has changed how I collect modern US stamps.
I would note there is a marketing and selling fees for many resellers. Mystic's prices are high for new and resold material (FDC, stamps, etc) due to its marketing costs. Some costs can exist for every transaction such as shipping costs. For stamps the only cost that is lost is the intrinsic value of the stamp sold. The other costs can persist to varying degrees.
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"... A clarification concerning the Colorano sale. Mystic purchased the inventory and website only. They do not hold the Trademark. Colorano silks are alive and well ..."
Q/ Why in the world would Mystic buy only the valueless inventory and easily-replicated website?
Q/ Surely it makes more sense that Mystic bought the brand in order to continue the brand?
Perhaps the owner sold the business front end to Mystic, and continues to produce artwork to be marketed thru Mystic under the Colorano brand.
Perhaps Mystic is producing Colorano cachets with other artists.
I'd ask Marilyn to whom she's writing checks, but I do not expect to be at the MPC meeting next week.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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First day covers have always been a collector generated item. Except for the very early days where stamps weren't released to a schedule and people collect "earliest usage date". Even as early as the 1893 Columbians, people were servicing covers. On the website Vince posted of great exhibits, there is an amazing Columbian collection with first day covers of all values up to the $5.00.
As far as those "instant collectibles" of covers, first day or otherwise, those were a product of that era. Everyone thought their collector plates, diecast Nascar cars, Hess Trucks and a million other things would be valuable someday. It focused on the basic human trait of greed. Still to this day when I show a non-collector a stamp, the first question they ask is "How much is it worth?" I doubt that would be successful today.
Personally, I'm happy enough that the collectibles bubble popped. It's allowed me to amass a fairly complete collection of US 1930s to 2000. I've got singles, multiples, plate blocks and FDCs for most issues at this point. I don't care that they'll never increase in value. They're just a nice collection that reminds me of collecting when I was a kid. And if that kid could see my collection today!
I've always liked FDCs, especially the odd cachets, unofficial cancels and combo covers. I find an album of all Artcraft boring. I especially like creating my own, as I did in the 1970s with my ODDITY brand of cover. I find it pleasing to see some of those on eBay today.
I do have a few albums of those "special collectible covers" in the plush binders. I got them from a friend of mine. His wife's father had subscribed, and his name and address is on each cover. They asked me for advise as to the value etc. Once I told them they just gave them to me. They've been sitting in my basement for years.
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http://www.colorano.com/
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Now that is interesting.
Mystic does alot of business selling new and newer issue collections from many countries. I wonder if they'll start with FDCs from some of those countries too.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Mystic does many things besides being the most visible philatelic company in the popular media today. I stopped at a house sale and got to talking to the people and they had just sold Mystic an extensive collection of civil war patriotics. I mentioned it to a friend who said he had made an offer on the collection which he was told was comparable but he needed a few days to fund and Mystic didn't.
Cash talks.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
A few years ago I was talking to the head buyer about a certain Jenny sheet, but they returned my call days too late for that. We got to talking about my collection. He asked me for some highlights. When I told him of my PRC "Monkey", he fixated on that. He also made me an offer for the entire collection sight unseen. With the Jenny, Monkey and entire collection, I was surprised how much he was willing to pay. I told him that the collection wasn't for sale, but if it was, I would have wanted a little more than his offer. He said that was possible, but it would have required a trip to actually view it. All in all, he was very fair and open about it. I did not set up a visit, though.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
I trust I'm not abrogating any rules by cross-referencing my contribution to the discussion in "talking about CTOs" but...
I asked Mystic about my $400 (I was apparently ripped off!) estate-purchased hoard of $1,800 FV MNH Canada 1980-2012; 200 1930s-60s Christmas seals; 100,000 worldwide beautiful but CTO-tainted so-called "stamps"; and a single jolly good SON postally-used, certified, VF, gum intact, 1940 1c Washington Irving.
Their response (surprisingly sight unseen) was: "Wallpaper a bedroom; line a kitty litter box; shred and make some duvets; keep in a safety deposit box; and FRIG OFF". Nice chaps, really.
And I even forgot to mention the 300 FDCs I had found in the pile because I thought I read somewhere they were useless to "real collectors" so had used them to start our family Thanksgiving bonfire. Who knew?
The ways of the Philatelist are indeed ... truly Mystic.
G'Night chums.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Obsess much?
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
...and I thought you said you were done being cranky.
WB
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
youpiao:
My obsession hasn't deteriorated to the level of making a "stamp beard" yet, but my wife swears I'm just 3 CTOs and 2 FDCs away from it.
WB:
Fortunately, I spent some time looking at A-Ra's amazing posts today and I'm inspired to actually create a page with stamps on it - in some semblance of order. We'll see if I can successfully obsess on that task this weekend. So goodbye crankiness, hello ...uh... the opposite of that...
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06:07:00am
re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Sorry Guys I am not American but I know Mystic took over Fleetwoods and when I emailed them about a collection their response was pitiful. Why take over a FDC maker and then have no inventory upon the collections Fleetwoods sold.
I find it interesting that they have also took over Colorano's and it makes you wonder what their purpose is for doing this if they are not interested in past products?!
But this attitude is the way of the world it seems when nothing of age seems to hold value or respect. If its not a Ipod or smart phone, forget it!
With covers and especially old ones, I just love the thought it is of age and sometimes the writing of address is better than anything else.
I started my first collection of covers based on cancel marks but soon gave that up as the world is your oyster. I then moved onto different styles or makers and again collecting becomes to vast to do.
I still collect covers but I concentrate on stamp sheets these days and it is much more controllable. Until I found out about "Cinderellas"!!!
The world of stamps is just to amazing by half to grasp and has caused me many headaches but also many loves.
But Mystic will fall by doing what they are unless there is a specific reason in the states why they would do what they are doing.
Julian
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Julian-
I am not in the know so this is speculation. The larger first day cover / cachet makers always sold their product as new, and didn't keep back stock. Their focus is the next stamp issues. So there was likely no stock with the purchase of the brand.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Julian,
I believe Tom is right; it's always been about massed-produced and pre-ordered covers that cost nothing to produce but bring big returns, per unit. Mike's speculation that it wasn't the business, per se, but the mailing lists, that Mystic wanted makes sense.
David
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
"... makes you wonder what their purpose is ... this attitude ... nothing of age seems to hold value or respect ... Mystic will fall ..."
Good grief!
They bought the assets of related businesses that were going nowhere fast.
Mystic is the largest single 'sponsor' of new members to the American Philatelic Society.
Give 'em a break, will ya'?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Mystic has been around for almost 100 years.....
....I don't see them "falling" any time soon.
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05:36:04am
re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Hi again folks,
I just find the sense of producing something for a quick buck as in sell an run, a rather funny outlook and actually makes these companies rather tacky. Don't get me wrong we have them here in the U.K and they are all the same mainly coins rather than covers though. When I was younger I got hooked into this with coins and they pumped out silver coins which you thought and purchased, not only for the theme but would also be a investment.
However they sell now for under half what you paid for them back then and when you think how much de valuation of currency is from then to now, again it shows what a scam these things are.
I was into coins before I got interested in stamps which really only came about because of Princess Diana dying in 97. I had respect for the girl because she actually brought the Monarchy up to date and then the fact she was just used as a baby machine, where upon Charles went back to his horse meat has never made the Monarchy so low in popularity. Diana showed up the Monarchy for what they are, this is why I collect her as a theme in stamps.
I have purchased the odd Colorano from Ebay again not knowing what they really are but for the depiction on the envelope.
But my main question is not answered for the purpose of buying a previous production NAME in company, if your not going to use old products, I just do not get the point unless of course Mystic still sell Fleetwoods in name?
For instance America Comp buys UK Comp, but still sells the product under the UK Comps brand name and I am talking Cadburys chocolate.
I understand the premise of buying a company to knock them out the production selling process which means you have more grasp on the market as business is business but you would still think, you as a buying company would want an archive of what has been previously produced and indeed what it was worth?
I am beginning to think I am not human in the field of stamps because the more I learn the worse I am getting in attitude towards the subject.
As Musicman has said, if Mystic has done this all over America and they are the only FDC producer it makes sense they will be the empire and probably will not fall as I previously said and thought.
Thanks though for your answers
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06:48:31am
re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Hi Folks,
I have just had an email from a member which has made me re Google on Fleetwoods and low and behold a Mystic article turned up and it was 2015. (still no info on Fleetwoods though) and I now understand what you mean about Mystic. I cannot believe the prices they are asking for new stamp sheets and thus I think I get the drift to the premise of why they are knocking out smaller FDC / Stamp comps. Also that Mystic is like our own stamp issuers here, also they sell the same sort of coin stuff as I said in a previous post!?
However, I bet they wished Ebay would disappear off the face of the Earth .
Well folks, I am so pleased I joined you guys and girls on this forum because you have now changed my stamp collecting outlook.
I am going back to my focus on the finishing my FDC collections with PCS and Fleetwoods. As regards stamps I have had my eyes opened and am not going to pursue this collecting with the same vigor. I shall most certainly not pay what I have been for Cinderella's on actually knowing & learning what they are. I will still buy them if they catch my eye in theme but not with the interest I have had previously.
Many thanks.
Julian
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Tigger,
I certainly hope with all the discussion here and the somewhat disillusionment you have mentioned that this will not cause you to be less of an avid stamp/cover collector.
Our intentions here were not discouragement, but rather educational - hopefully for your benefit of learning the best way to continue your collection and to hopefully expand your interests as well!
As our member Dan would say,
All the best!
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
"... I think I get the drift to the premise of why they are knocking out smaller FDC / Stamp comps ..."
Why "knocking out"?
Mystic did not drive anyone out of the FDC business.
Rather, as that business has become less viable, they bought-out publishers' assets.
As noted above, the main asset at closing was probably the customer lists.
People who have subscribed to an FDC service are very sensible prospects for a company that offers subscriptions to new issues.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Has Mystic commented on the future of either FDC line?
In my model car hobby, there was a point that much of the old tooling for classic model car kits was in the hands of a toy company that had no clue of the market and the broad rumor was that they were going to sell it all for scrap metal and a write off. Everyone was calling it the end of the hobby.
I wrote an article that basically said that all we needed was a smaller, nimble company that knew the market and the potential in the tooling and could work on margins for the reduced volume of sales. Sure enough, a millionaire collector came along who had the money and vision to revive the old AMT, MPC product lines and bring back many of the classic kits we enjoyed as kids... and in nostalgic boxes!
Would Mystic, set up as a subscription service, be able to continue the FDC lines, and market them to their broader audience, with combined shipping and discounts for subscribing to the multiple FDC lines? Suppose you could get Colorano and Fleetwood covers through a single source much more efficiently?
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01:01:38pm
re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
No Musicman, you guys have done exactly what you said, its been fun. I will not give in but I have re-valued my stamp collecting FDC priorities
My problem is I cannot put much input into your debates because half the time I do not have a clue what your talking about
But I shall be watching for those titles that I can and I am thinking about joining the ATA or something similar.
All comments have helped in one way or another.
Julian
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
It looks as if this thread may be winding down, so thought I would add a few closing thoughts.
First, Mystic does a wonderful job maintains and cataloging an extensive stock. Even better, no one does more to promote the hobby at many different levels. This comes at a price.
Buying two old FDC houses makes sense.... They employ similar models for complimentary products.
Mass produced commemorative products, whether plates, coins, covers, or stuffed animals, have little value on the secondary market. One buys these things because one likes them, not because there is any realistic hope of profit.
Cinderellas are just a thing, neither good nor bad. They don't have face value or franking value. Their value, at least in early seals, was delivering funds to sanitarian and research facilities. In some cases, their success dictated their demise or reconstitution as something else. Sheets of regular seals can range from priceless to worthless, based on demand and, to a lesser essential, supply. My area, tied seals, has few adherents, but still huge price spreads.
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01:13:46am
re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
A clarification concerning the Colorano sale. Mystic purchased the inventory and website only. They do not hold the Trademark. Colorano silks are alive and well. They did not end in 2015. Colorano covers for 2016 are available and will be available long term. This includes regular issues and special events. They are available thru several well established dealers including Marilyn Novak in NY, Knottywood Treasures in GA, and Oakmore covers in CA. They will be produced in smaller quantities to maintain value.
These beautiful covers are being continued for the love of the hobby and those dedicated to collecting these covers for almost 45 years.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Here is a good website regarding the Colorano silks.
http://www.canadafdc.org/Drupal/book/export/html/95
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Although I do not collect FDCs, over the years I have handled a fair amount of them when they come as a part of bigger lots. Several of these lots contained letters written to the various original FDC producers expressing extreme frustration. These subscribers felt strongly that they had been ‘taken’ by the marketing that presented them as ‘good investments’.
I think that the damage this kind of marketing has done to our hobby is considerable. On the other hand, the marketing also exposed others to our hobby and got them started.
Postal historians do not tend to view many of the prepared FDCs kindly. I assume this is because many of these FDCs have never been in the mail stream, some have never been in the city of issue, and some may not have even really been cancelled on the day of issue.
On balance I simply cannot get those angry letters out of my mind. They say that every ‘bad story’ gets repeated many times. Given the passionate and emotional content of some of these letters (many asking if the company would be interested in buying them back at a fraction of their cost which of course they declined) I am surprised that other recourse(s) was not sought.
I only wish that instead of these being promoted as ‘great investments’ the companies would have emphasized the intrinsic fun, educational, and hobby value of these items.
Don
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
Don, well said!
You can't blame me. I've never suggested to anyone to collect FDC's
I have long had the same thoughts although I never took the bait.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
We need to find a way to teach people about this sort of thing without throwing blame around.
Howzabout this:
When you buy any collectible from a serial marketing company, you are buying (and paying for):
1) the collectible, and
2) the upfront marketing expenses (that lovely ad you saw), and
3) the onesy-twosy packing & delivery expenses.
We should expect that the resale price of batches of these items will not include:
1) the upfront marketing expenses (that money is gone), and
2) the onesy-twosy packing & delivery expenses (that money is gone).
Since the resale price is only for the 'collectible' - and not those other services - it is going to be much less than we paid for the whole package deal.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
I never liked FDC's but did end up liking and collecting USPS Souvenir Pages. They are also a manufactured collectible. However, I like them due to standard size, easy to acquire, low cist to store, and educational. I do not buy them from the USPS but am a second (or later) buyer so the acquisition cost (face value + markup is gone) is much less. In some ways it has changed how I collect modern US stamps.
I would note there is a marketing and selling fees for many resellers. Mystic's prices are high for new and resold material (FDC, stamps, etc) due to its marketing costs. Some costs can exist for every transaction such as shipping costs. For stamps the only cost that is lost is the intrinsic value of the stamp sold. The other costs can persist to varying degrees.
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
"... A clarification concerning the Colorano sale. Mystic purchased the inventory and website only. They do not hold the Trademark. Colorano silks are alive and well ..."
Q/ Why in the world would Mystic buy only the valueless inventory and easily-replicated website?
Q/ Surely it makes more sense that Mystic bought the brand in order to continue the brand?
Perhaps the owner sold the business front end to Mystic, and continues to produce artwork to be marketed thru Mystic under the Colorano brand.
Perhaps Mystic is producing Colorano cachets with other artists.
I'd ask Marilyn to whom she's writing checks, but I do not expect to be at the MPC meeting next week.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Colorano FDCs sold to Mystic
First day covers have always been a collector generated item. Except for the very early days where stamps weren't released to a schedule and people collect "earliest usage date". Even as early as the 1893 Columbians, people were servicing covers. On the website Vince posted of great exhibits, there is an amazing Columbian collection with first day covers of all values up to the $5.00.
As far as those "instant collectibles" of covers, first day or otherwise, those were a product of that era. Everyone thought their collector plates, diecast Nascar cars, Hess Trucks and a million other things would be valuable someday. It focused on the basic human trait of greed. Still to this day when I show a non-collector a stamp, the first question they ask is "How much is it worth?" I doubt that would be successful today.
Personally, I'm happy enough that the collectibles bubble popped. It's allowed me to amass a fairly complete collection of US 1930s to 2000. I've got singles, multiples, plate blocks and FDCs for most issues at this point. I don't care that they'll never increase in value. They're just a nice collection that reminds me of collecting when I was a kid. And if that kid could see my collection today!
I've always liked FDCs, especially the odd cachets, unofficial cancels and combo covers. I find an album of all Artcraft boring. I especially like creating my own, as I did in the 1970s with my ODDITY brand of cover. I find it pleasing to see some of those on eBay today.
I do have a few albums of those "special collectible covers" in the plush binders. I got them from a friend of mine. His wife's father had subscribed, and his name and address is on each cover. They asked me for advise as to the value etc. Once I told them they just gave them to me. They've been sitting in my basement for years.
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