What Price a First-Day Cover?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382147)
Rockingham, Australia
February 8, 2017 6:11pm CST
When our sons were small, they were given pocket-money. The elder would spend some of his on first-day covers. These are, according to Wikipedia, 'postage stamp(s) on a cover, postal card or stamped envelope franked on the first day the issue is authorized for use within the country or territory of the stamp-issuing authority.'
I was quite happy with this as I thought in time they might be worth something, like when he got to 40 or 50. I saw them as an investment. Now he is about to turn 45 and they are worth a pittance. What's more, he doesn't really want to be bothered with them so I'm about to put them up on Ebay.
Did you save or collect stuff in the hope that you'd benefit later?
15 people like this
16 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Feb 17
I collected "stuff" as a kid, but not anything of worth . . . I probably wasn't even thinking of that. With the whole Pokemon craze, I do know a lot of adults who collected the cards as a kid, but got rid of them all . . . they never thought the craze would come back and they think for sure they'd be worth something now. My kids now collect Pokemon cards, but the way they take care of them, they will never be worth anything 
.
.2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Feb 17
Collecting for the sake of future investment return is a bad idea. People invested in Beanie Babies and baseball cards in the 90s and took a bath. Stamp collecting is declining which will affect values. You must collect something for the joy not monetary profit.
2 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Feb 17
@JohnRoberts I remember in the 90s when McDonald's was selling those Beanie Babies (was it with the Happy Meals? I don't remember). But at my skating rink with the McDs in it (where not many people knew there was a McDs there), all these unfamiliar adults would come in to line up at lunch just to get those Beanie Babies . . . and for what? Now I see bags and bags of them at the thrift stores!
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
9 Feb 17
I collected baseball cards and comic books, which my mother threw away while I was off in the Army. I have a few collector stamps and some coins, but they aren't worth much other than their sentimental value because the relatives who gave them to me have passed away.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Feb 17
they aren't worth more? how sad! I think they are super neat
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Feb 17
@JudyEv that is pretty sad, well maybe some kid collector around would be glad for them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382147)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Feb 17
@Jessicalynnt I'll sleep on it all for a bit longer.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
9 Feb 17
It is always unlikely to show any financial gain from such collections because far too many people buy them. After all these years Postal Services still churn them out regularly, so people concentrate on purchasing new ones rather than old.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (39034)
• Petaluma, California
9 Feb 17
I collected comic books, but they never really amounted to anything money-wise. When I did collect them though, I don't recall how much I thought of the future monetary value.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382147)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 17
I should think most people would just collect things because they liked them. Eventually they grow out of that phase or whatever and then think about whether their collection is worth money.
@JudyEv (382147)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 17
I have a lot of old Australian stamps. It's hard to know what their value is but I guess they are worth whatever you can get for them.
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
9 Feb 17
I have collected a few things, but just for my pleasure.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382147)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 17
I'm sure that's the best way to do it. :) How are your folks these days?
@teamfreak16 (43610)
• Denver, Colorado
9 Feb 17
No, I really only collected stuff that I thought was cool at the time. I have absolutely none of it now.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382147)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 17
As I've said to others, it is hard to pick what will be valuable in years to come. Who would have thought board games would be worth money? Vince collects the odd coin here and there but the valuable ones are the ones with faults or errors which surprises me.
@allknowing (153530)
• India
9 Feb 17
It is difficult to assess what could be considered an investment. I have a painting done by a new artist - a gift from my family on a milestone birthday. They feel it will increase in value but I hardly get to hear his name in the world of art (lol)
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
9 Feb 17
Join the club! So many collected things that are almost worthless now. We have baseballs cards, stamps, coins, crystal, and the list goes on!
No one really seems to watch such things these days. Hope eBay is the answer b/c I'm headed there too!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382147)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Feb 17
My Beswick china horses are/were quite collectable but our postage prices are so horrendous now they'd cost a fortune to post anywhere.
