I've been looking around at some possible covers I'd like to purchase, and found a few First Day of Issues and First Flights. What exactly are these? I'm assuming first day of issues are just that, the first day a stamp came out. But first flight? Is that like, the first air-mail trip from that city, or...?
Yep. First flight is the first trip for a new air mail route. There are also first days of a new post office or last day of a retired post office. First day covers, as you note are cancels dated the first day of the stamp. Like post offices and air mail routes, there were also traveling post offices, highway post offices, that had regular routes to extreme remote rural areas. Special cover from those are very collectible too. I am sure I am leaving some other related types out. Firsts/lasts are a broad area when it comes to mail routes, stamps, and cancels. The good thing about this area of collecting is that it ties together several aspects of the system, not just the stamp or cancel alone. It's postal history.
Good stuff! I found some nice ones for my home city on eBay and have been considering buying them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/John-Steinb...aultDomain_0&hash=item5adf7e739c#ht_500wt_986 http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIRST-FLIGH...ltDomain_0&hash=item1c1e2ccd0f#ht_1157wt_1219 What do you think of those prices? Fair? They seem pretty cheap, but I'm not as familiar with pricing in stamp collecting.
Quick update, I just bought the first flight because I feel that even if it's not technically worth the cost to collectors, it has a higher value to my collection considering its origin. My mind isn't set on the Steinbeck first issue though.
They are priced about normal. If you notice, they are both about the same money after shipping. Just the one put the shipping in the price and said "free". When it's all said and done, they are about the same... IMO the First Flight is worth the money. The other would be a good one to buy if you wanted to get 5 or 10 from the same seller and combine shipping. That way you can spread that 1.50 out over several cover and essentially lower the price of each by half. Just a thought. I would never buy from a seller that charged that much and didn't combine.
Good job. I like to collect covers from New Orleans. Normally I dont like to pay more than just a couple of dollars for each. Thats just me, though. I have several first flights of New Orleans and other cities in Louisiana.
I think for now I'll skip the Steinbeck one until I know a few more I'd like so I can combine shipping. I can't wait to get the first flight though, it looks SO COOL. lol
Some of the more interesting covers of mine along this thread. Jim View attachment 808 View attachment 809 View attachment 811
That experimental helicopter service and the space capsule covers look great. Those are some super unique covers! I didn't even know there were other covers besides first shipment and first flight.
To me, Postcards and covers have to have some historical importance, or oddity ( A prime reason for me) One oddity factor is the method of delivery. Here are a few that fit that category, 2 boat, 2 balloon, 1 railroad View attachment 819 NASA local post labeled is also an important area of "Space topicals" View attachment 820 and Baseball Topicals. The tickets were used , but the "rain check" tickets saved for collectors. View attachment 821 And this is a very small area of postcards, the end of a post office, Comanche, Calif. This is the only one I have, and I would like to find others. View attachment 822
