The Bottom Line
Pros
- Thorough list of commemoratives, definitives and other issues
- Good introduction to FDCs, cachets and FDC collecting
- Guide to cachet values
Cons
- Images lack detail
Description
- Listings of almost every U.S. postal issue
- Compact and portable
- Detailed information on every aspect of First Day Cover Collecting
Guide Review - 2009 U.S. First Day Cover Catalogue & Checklist
The 2009 First Day Cover Catalogue & Checklist is the latest edition in a long-time series of guides to the FDC. This year's version keeps up the high standards of its predecessors, providing a valuable resource to FDC collectors.The first part of the catalog offers a thorough description of every aspect of the First Day Cover. It explains how they are made, how to collect them, both from FDC service companies and servicing your own. The book discusses cachet-making, its history and a directory of current cachet-makers. There is a "cachet calculator", a listing of various cachet-makers, years of production and a multiplier to apply to the catalog value listing.
The actual stamp listings follow the standard Scott's organization, commemoratives & definitives, followed by the back of the book material such as airmail, parcel post, envelopes and the like. It also includes Plate Number Coil covers and special covers commemorating the Presidents, as well as World War II covers. The catalog lists the earliest stamps (up to 1922) as referring to their earliest known use as First Day Covers were not yet established.
The listings are thorough differentiating between different issuing cities and other factors that make for variations in a single stamp issue. Like other catalogs, the values provided in the 2009 FDC Catalog are reasonable estimates, with a basic minimum given to items. The values offered will give a basic sense of what items are worth but further information may be required, especially for more valuable items.
The book is well put together physically, with a readable font, and advertisements that aren't too intrusive. There are plenty of images of the stamps in question as well as specific covers listed, but the images are not at the highest resolution, however they will suffice for basic identification.