First Day Issue USPS

[gonefishin]

I have recently picked up a few First Day Issue envelopes, many autographed, and was curious if anyone out there collects them. I seem to find them very interesting, affordable and don't see a big collecting interest in them. Any thoughts why they aren't as popular as cards, baseballs, programs, tickets, etc.? I've attached a couple of pictures of some of the ones I have.

[SyrNy1960]

like the Arod

[gonefishin]

Thanks Tony! There doesn't seem to be a shortage of high quality autographed FDI's. I know nothing about stamps, but some people probably collect the stamps, others the envelopes, and still others the autographed version. I prefer the autographed version. Here is a nice Valvano.

[steve B]

Those are really neat.

From the stamp side, first day covers used to be a big thing, but they aren't anywhere near as widely collected anymore unless they're from about the 1930's or older. I passed up a batch of maybe 25,000 of them for $200.

But the signed ones are much more interesting!

The pages for the basketball ones I've never seen before, but the art style is familiar.
It looks like they were done as a set of sorts including the additional stamps matching a particular team. Probably done by the same place that did the pages.(except the one not on a page)

The baseball ones are made by Gateway, and have a following. They did some that were like the McCovey usually both autographed and not. And usually something like 500 or 1000 autographed ones.

Then they did ones for more immediate and less plannable events, like the Arod. They had people in every league city with post office connections, so they could get "some" envelopes cancelled on the right day and city for events like that or no hitters etc. Sometimes as few as 500. Sometimes more. For Arod they would have anticipated it and would have arranged to have more done.

Gateway and their competitors do still have a decent following even with stamp collectors.

[gonefishin]

Thanks for the information Steve. When I bought a collection of the envelopes, they were really organized. There were 3 or 4 binders broken down by sport. One of the most impressive was the college basketball coach's collection. The names were impressive and several of them have unfortunately passed away. I've attached a few pictures from the binder (there are several others not pictured). I'm assuming the collector also focused on specific stamps to match the theme and autograph.

[skooter]

I have some 1939 Baseball Centennial covers. This is the only one signed.

[Snapolit1]

When I was a kid I collected stamps and loved these. Me
And my friend used to buy the covers and then mail them to post offices to get
Them stamped on for first day. Seemed like such a cool amazing
Thing. I still think they are beautiful and unique items. You basically can’t find people to take these off your hands as others have said. As far as respect and interest in this hobby, it’s pretty Minimal. Not sure why the poor FDC has largely been relegated to the dust bin of collecting but they have. A shame.

[gonefishin]

Unfortunately I agree. Like stamp collecting, it seems there is simply no interest. I hope it never goes that way with baseball cards!

Maybe it they ever make a comeback I will be in the money! LoL

[Jay Wolt]

Louis like the 1939 Centennial FDC

Over 30 years ago I put this piece together 1 by 1 & all but 1 or 2 were in person.
I handed Ted Williams a green pen for signing & told him that Ty Cobb signed a ton in green, he smiled.

I didn't want players that didn't play in 1939 to be on it, so no Robin Yount's or Early Wynn types.
The only exception is Waite Hoyt who retired in 1938

My eldest son has this piece, hopefully he hands it down to his son when he's old enough to appreciate it, he's 10 now

[Jay Wolt]

Gone Fishin
Love that Wooden FDC w/ the Basketball & California stamps
& great signature as well

had a nice 1961 Naismith FDC that Red Auerbach signed

[gonefishin]

Jay, that envelope is amazing along with all the others shown!

I do have some baseball, Aaron etc. that I will post pictures when I take them. I also have a Auerbach along with a couple other Celtics.

[Jay Wolt]

GF that's a nice vibrant sig

[steve B]

While regular first day coves don't get much, these would.
Whoever did them went to the extra effort to add stamps that went along with certain schools, and got the signed. That's sort of on another level.

Being the odd collector I am, I also collect first day covers signed at the first day ceremony, usually by the designer or some local dignitary with some connection to the subject. Or more commonly the postmaster of the place the ceremony was held. Not worth much, I can often find them in cheap lots or the dollar box.
Touger and less valued still are first day covers that got ruined. Damaged in the mail, return to sender, Postage due?! The more messed up the less others like them and the more I like them. (unless they're incredibly messed up, then everyone wants them)

[Rad_Hazard]

This is my only one but it's one of my favorite items.

[steve B]

A few I picked up from the collection of a Padres employee





And a strange one from a local first day ceremony intended to be sold by the post office as a souvenir, but while it was signed, it was never cancelled.

[gonefishin]

Wow - thanks to everyone - maybe there are some collectors out there. I appreciate the kind comments about the album. Below are the rest of the photos in the basketball album. I've also got several baseball that includes Mantle, Aaron, etc.

It's also nice to see some Woman coaches represented, especially Ms. Pat Summit.

Hopefully I'm not boring anyone with the photos, but I'm excited there is still interest in FDIs.

[Michael B]

I like signed FDC's and event covers. Between envelopes and postal cards I have over 100. They are quite predominant for Olympic athletes

The basketball collection is nice. Back in the 1980's and early 1990's you could go to the Basketball HOF and buy the 1961 covers signed by HOFers for $6 each. This included some that died in the 1960's and 1970's (Ed Wachter, Ralph Morgan, Dave Tobey) and two players who participated in the first game (Ernest Hildner, Raymond Kaighn). I only purchased one of each though I should have bought more. When Ed 'Moose' Krause died I was working at the courthouse in Springfield and did go in and buy more, but that was the only time.

fdc 1.jpg

fdc 2.jpg

fdc 3.jpg
A friend got the top one signed by Penny Pitou (1960 silver medal skiing) for me in Switzerland when he had lunch with her. I got the bottom one signed in person in Sweden at the World Olympic Collector's Fair.

fdc 4.jpg
I got both of these in person at the World Olympic Collector's Fair in Sweden.

fdc 6.jpg
The other Cy Young. These are postal cards.

fdc 7.jpg
Sam Graddy won a gold medal in 1984. He also played in the NFL. The Italian Postal Authority or the Italian Olympic Committee issued a set of envelopes for each gold medal individual or team. I have gotten a few signed. Peter Snell competed for New Zealand but spent many years as a research scientist at the University of Texas.

fdc 8.jpg
Souvenir sheets also look nice signed, especially when the athlete is depicted.

fdc 9.jpg
Two covers where the athlete is depicted on the stamp. Capilla is a 1956 Olympic champion stamp from the Dominican Republic. Stukelj is on a stamp from Slovenia.

fdc 11.JPG
One of the few U.S. stamps that depicts a living person. LeConey, 1924 gold medalist in the 4x100m relay, posed for this stamp which was used as a fundraiser for the 1932 Olympics.

[roarfrom34]

Back in 1989/1990 as Cal Ripken Jr. moved up the ladder on the most consecutive games played list, being a fan of the Gateway Cachets, I decided to make my own.

When he moved into 5th place in April of '89, surpassing Joe Sewell, I drove down to Baltimore got a few envelopes postmarked (fortunately each game was a home one), carefully typed my own copy & added a Topps sticker. I then sent it to Mr. Sewell to sign & added Cal at a later date (Sewell would pass away less than a year later).

Anyways I did the same thing when he surpassed Billy Williams, Garvey & Everett Scott.....

[gonefishin]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

Back in 1989/1990 as Cal Ripken Jr. moved up the ladder on the most consecutive games played list, being a fan of the Gateway Cachets, I decided to make my own.

When he moved into 5th place in April of '89, surpassing Joe Sewell, I drove down to Baltimore got a few envelopes postmarked (fortunately each game was a home one), carefully typed my own copy & added a Topps sticker. I then sent it to Mr. Sewell to sign & added Cal at a later date (Sewell would pass away less than a year later).

Anyways I did the same thing when he surpassed Billy Williams, Garvey & Everett Scott.....

I think it is fantastic when that you planned it all out like that and ended up with some really cool, one of a kind, items. Great! The postmarks validate the time line. Congrats!

[guy3050]

I got these 2 framed with the game tickets

[gonefishin]

I like the no hitter framed displays. I have a few from no hitters in Oakland. The tickets are also autographed, except for Warren.

[Lordstan]

I have a crapload of them. Mostly from shows I attended in the 80's

[Gary Dunaier]

I have an interesting 1982 Wayne Gretzky Gateway cover from when he broke Phil Esposito's single-season scoring record. Gateway produced 2,000 covers, but Gretzky signed most of them in the area where the cachet was supposed to go.

The full story behind the cover is on dealer Steve Ciniglio's flyer from 1994, an image of which is included along with the cover. At the time, I paid the issue price of $40.00; I have no idea what its current value is.

[gonefishin]

Great story on Gretzky! I had no idea that ever happened. I wouldn't mind owning one - either signed in the wrong, or right, place! I do have one autographed from 12/5/1982, but haven't taken a picture of it yet.

Thanks for the information and story!