What Is A First Day Cover?

Published on: 17th April 2020

People often ask what makes a First Day Cover, which is a specially designed envelope bearing stamps newly issued by the Post Office. These will have been postmarked on the first day the stamps have gone on sale. Therefore a First Day Cover will contain the three elements of the Cover or envelope, the new postage stamps and the postmarks.

Covers to mark special events or dates

Souvenir or Commemorative Covers can be confused with First Day Covers, as they may look similar. There is an important difference. First Day Covers are issued on the same date as the new postage stamps. Souvenir Covers are generally issued to mark the date of a special event or anniversary.

Are there different types of Covers ?

Standard or commercial covers are envelopes produced for general sale to collectors who buy them blank, without stamps or postmarks. They then affix their own postage stamps and arrange to have them postmarked.

Many different companies have produced standard covers in the past as well as those produced by Royal Mail. These are available both blank and fully stamped and postmarked.

Official or sponsored covers are usually produced by private organisations or cover producers. They then sponsor a specially designed handstamp for use on the envelope. Formerly created by societies or companies whose activity or work related to the theme of a new stamp issue, they now are more likely to be produced by cover producers in limited numbers.

Are First Day Covers valuable?

Like all aspects of collecting, it very much depends on a number of factors. First Day Covers are very common, but there are many exceptions. The value will be affected by the postmark and the design of the envelope. The year of production is also important.

For collectors wishing to specialise in collecting covers, there is an informative catalogue Collecting First Day Covers, which details sponsors and dates of every postmark

Come and ask the experts