First Day Covers Valuation

iheartbristol

Hi Everyone

I've got some first day covers that I'd like to get valued. Does anyone know how I might go about it?

I've scoured the internet but I can't find anything about the ones I've got, they're not for sale anywhere on eBay or listed on any catalogue or auction list, which is why I wonder if I'm sitting on something very valuable and hence I'd like to add it to my contents insurance if necessary! I'm not planning to sell.

If it helps someone signpost me in a more accurate direction, they're Dam Busters 50th anniversary, each signed by a different crew member and flown over the dam on the 50th anniversary, issued from RAF Scampton I think. There's 22 of them.

iheartbristol

Ok, finally starting to figure it out - if anyone out there has the same question then this might yield some results but not entirely sure I want to pay for it: http://www.stanleygibbons.com/stanleygibbons/view/content/sg_page_virtual_album

porto_bello

Hi, Stanley Gibbons give a price for the usual, commercial First Day Covers. But you've got something really quite special there.

I think (though they are covers), due to the signatures and the fame of the Dambusters Squadron, they would sell better as military memorabilia than as stamps.

I also think that kind of item will appreciate in value faster than cash, so unless you really need the money, I'd keep them.

George_Michael

porto_bello wrote: »

I also think that kind of item will appreciate in value faster than cash, so unless you really need the money, I'd keep them.

With the pathetic interest rates in the UK at the moment, I'm pretty sure that even my toenail clippings will appreciate in value faster than cash.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand.
You may be able to get a valuation from here:
http://www.bfdc.co.uk/

& there is a catalogue available
http://www.bfdc.co.uk/products/2012_bfdc_catalogue.html
(but it costs £20), but you may be lucky and find one on ebay for less.
Even if you can only get one from a year or two ago, it should still give an approximate value for your covers.

Irn-Bru-Kid

Does this help?

http://www.cambridgecovers.co.uk/Dambuster-50th-Anniversary-Cove

porto_bello

George_Michael wrote: »

With the pathetic interest rates in the UK at the moment, I'm pretty sure that even my toenail clippings will appreciate in value faster than cash.

To put my comment more explicitly, though the fame of the Dambusters will live on, the crew members who signed the covers will not. [By last report, I believe the living members of the Dambusters raid are now down to just a handful].

Though the autograph market is saturated with fakes, these items are undoubtedly genuine and it's a safe bet that they will appreciate in value... Personally, I'd keep them.

shaun_from_Africa

If you do decide to sell, don't bother putting them on ebay.de.
The chances are it won't sell for too high a price on there.

iheartbristol

Thanks everyone, your advice is really appreciated.

If all of them are worth the same as the linked one above, then they'll definitely need to be specified in the policy, I think some of them are a little rarer. Thanks for the link, my googling turned up nothing!

Definitely keeping them, they are very special.

iheartbristol

Hi Everyone

I've been around the houses trying to get a valuation. One stamp shop told me that they don't buy FDCs as they're in a low ebb at the moment; pretty much what's been confirmed on this forum.

It was recommended that I get in touch with 'Dreweatts' in Bristol. I've found that they have regular free valuation days and the collectors expert has told me he will be able to value them.

Result!

Thanks to everyone who's helped.

soolin

Autographs are not worth what they were.

I have a painting of a ww2 plane, signed by both the artist and I think it is group captain Townsend , all authenticated and cost me £8 at auction.

Yet same auction got almost £50 for some Krays signatures on a boxing photo, seems wrong somehow to value criminals more than heroes.