Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I made this mistake before (when I was an ill-informed SOR rookie) in soaking stamps off covers (including old/interesting ones) only to find that the covers were often more collectible.
So, before I screw this up again, I have some questions...
Are these cards issued (as I suspect) as official "First Day" equivalents to FDCs?
Are these types of cards of interest to collectors in general, or to any SOR members specifically? (You can PM me if you don't want to answer in public).
Do these cards have a recognized "name" that I should use if offering for sale?
Given the additional postage costs of purchasing a stamp attached to a heavy card, would I be better (for buyers moreso than myself) offering these at 10-15% CV removed from the card-stock or 5-10% as-is?
I am not interested in maximizing my economic returns, but would like to know how best to get these stamps into the hands of someone who wants/needs them
Many thanks. Dave.
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that seems a reasonable approach all the way around
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Depending on how many you have, I'd post an approval book of these, just as they are!
Definitely worth more than soaked stamps, let the buyers decide.
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10:26:37pm
As a collector of Germany - please leave FDCs intact. They are very desirable.
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Q/ Howzabout "First Day Souvenir Cards" ?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey (who is gonna ass-u-me that you know how to spot a maxicard, and to not disassemble them, Johnny Five)
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Thanks for all the sage advice, and "I like Ike"(y's) FDSC nomenclature.
I'll fly a test sale for a couple to gauge the reaction.
BTW, most of these were attached to album pages with double-sided tape or hinges (fortunately on the back, so the fronts are free of marks). However this has sometimes caused some of the cardboard paper on the back to tear away when being removed (minor surface amounts).
Is it safe to assume that since it is cardboard and not gum on the back (and these will be mounted properly) that this is not an impediment to a collector?
Thanks, Dave.
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08:51:57am
Dave, I am assuming that your original image was cropped for the stamps.
If that's the case, the whole thing should look something like this:
If that is correct, these are properly known as "ETB's" = Ertstagsblatt (First Day Sheet).
Buckacover.com has a category for them:
https://www.buckacover.com/covers/search.php?code=germetb
They sell for about $1.00-$1.50 each. The ones with sets tend to sell pretty quickly. I can't say whether the buyers are soaking them for the stamps or not, however they are actively collected as-is in Europe.
As to condition: If your sheets have actually been cut down to what is shown in your image, they are just "stamps on piece" with a First Day cancel. If that is the case, the "scuffing from previous mounting on the back" (which is how I would describe it), is immaterial. If, however, they are complete ETB's, then the scuffing IS material. Since these are pretty common (well marketed by Deutsche Post), that pretty much destroys them for anyone who actually collects them as ETB's. The same thing would be true for FDCs of any country. Muck up the back and you have mucked up the FDC. If it is a rare one, it will sell at a "damaged" price, if not, it gets relegated to the "pick box" for a few cents.
Roy
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Thanks Roy.
My scans were not cropped. They are all on a plain cue-card size card-stock.
I have seen the ETBs (a person in London was selling them on Kijiji - around $150 for 300 or so - and I recall many being from Berlin.
Dave.
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Funnily enough in conversation with another member, they said that when they were in Germany in around 1969 they were in a post office and someone came in and they put the stamps on paper and asked the postal clerk to cancel them. I have seen many examples of these "cards" kicking around throughout the years.
Its amazing how different cultures do things differently.
In the UK the philatelic bureau used to add a couple of commemoratives on plain white cards as receipts for purchases during the 1960's.
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Y'all know that the USPS has been issuing these sorts of things for, like, ages ... right?
Linn's 2001 article: Stamp hobby souvenirs are saved enjoyed
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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It may not matter much whether you soak them off or not. Personally I would leave them on the card as many people would prefer them that way. Those that would rather have them separated can do it themselves if they wish. It also saves you the bother in soaking them also.
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Thanks for all the great advice.
I'll post a few trial sales at low-to-CV prices next week to see who would benefit from having these.
Dave.
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I tried a book of these a long time ago and nothing sold. I'll have to watch your book and see how it does. I have probably 150-200 of them. Also I have had little success with maxim cards. I have a bunch of those (Liechtenstein) as well
Greg
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I found a bunch of these, primarily from the mid-1970s to early 1980s, in regular and semi-postal issues.
I made this mistake before (when I was an ill-informed SOR rookie) in soaking stamps off covers (including old/interesting ones) only to find that the covers were often more collectible.
So, before I screw this up again, I have some questions...
Are these cards issued (as I suspect) as official "First Day" equivalents to FDCs?
Are these types of cards of interest to collectors in general, or to any SOR members specifically? (You can PM me if you don't want to answer in public).
Do these cards have a recognized "name" that I should use if offering for sale?
Given the additional postage costs of purchasing a stamp attached to a heavy card, would I be better (for buyers moreso than myself) offering these at 10-15% CV removed from the card-stock or 5-10% as-is?
I am not interested in maximizing my economic returns, but would like to know how best to get these stamps into the hands of someone who wants/needs them
Many thanks. Dave.
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Auctions
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
that seems a reasonable approach all the way around
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this post
Approvals
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Depending on how many you have, I'd post an approval book of these, just as they are!
Definitely worth more than soaked stamps, let the buyers decide.
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
29 May 2018
10:26:37pm
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
As a collector of Germany - please leave FDCs intact. They are very desirable.
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re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Q/ Howzabout "First Day Souvenir Cards" ?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey (who is gonna ass-u-me that you know how to spot a maxicard, and to not disassemble them, Johnny Five)
Login to Like
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re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Thanks for all the sage advice, and "I like Ike"(y's) FDSC nomenclature.
I'll fly a test sale for a couple to gauge the reaction.
BTW, most of these were attached to album pages with double-sided tape or hinges (fortunately on the back, so the fronts are free of marks). However this has sometimes caused some of the cardboard paper on the back to tear away when being removed (minor surface amounts).
Is it safe to assume that since it is cardboard and not gum on the back (and these will be mounted properly) that this is not an impediment to a collector?
Thanks, Dave.
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories
30 May 2018
08:51:57am
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Dave, I am assuming that your original image was cropped for the stamps.
If that's the case, the whole thing should look something like this:
If that is correct, these are properly known as "ETB's" = Ertstagsblatt (First Day Sheet).
Buckacover.com has a category for them:
https://www.buckacover.com/covers/search.php?code=germetb
They sell for about $1.00-$1.50 each. The ones with sets tend to sell pretty quickly. I can't say whether the buyers are soaking them for the stamps or not, however they are actively collected as-is in Europe.
As to condition: If your sheets have actually been cut down to what is shown in your image, they are just "stamps on piece" with a First Day cancel. If that is the case, the "scuffing from previous mounting on the back" (which is how I would describe it), is immaterial. If, however, they are complete ETB's, then the scuffing IS material. Since these are pretty common (well marketed by Deutsche Post), that pretty much destroys them for anyone who actually collects them as ETB's. The same thing would be true for FDCs of any country. Muck up the back and you have mucked up the FDC. If it is a rare one, it will sell at a "damaged" price, if not, it gets relegated to the "pick box" for a few cents.
Roy
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re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Thanks Roy.
My scans were not cropped. They are all on a plain cue-card size card-stock.
I have seen the ETBs (a person in London was selling them on Kijiji - around $150 for 300 or so - and I recall many being from Berlin.
Dave.
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Auctions - Approvals
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Funnily enough in conversation with another member, they said that when they were in Germany in around 1969 they were in a post office and someone came in and they put the stamps on paper and asked the postal clerk to cancel them. I have seen many examples of these "cards" kicking around throughout the years.
Its amazing how different cultures do things differently.
In the UK the philatelic bureau used to add a couple of commemoratives on plain white cards as receipts for purchases during the 1960's.
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Y'all know that the USPS has been issuing these sorts of things for, like, ages ... right?
Linn's 2001 article: Stamp hobby souvenirs are saved enjoyed
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
It may not matter much whether you soak them off or not. Personally I would leave them on the card as many people would prefer them that way. Those that would rather have them separated can do it themselves if they wish. It also saves you the bother in soaking them also.
Login to Like
this post
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
Thanks for all the great advice.
I'll post a few trial sales at low-to-CV prices next week to see who would benefit from having these.
Dave.
Login to Like
this post
Auctions - Approvals
re: Germany: First Day "Cards"? Collectable - or Soak the Stamps Off?
I tried a book of these a long time ago and nothing sold. I'll have to watch your book and see how it does. I have probably 150-200 of them. Also I have had little success with maxim cards. I have a bunch of those (Liechtenstein) as well
Greg
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