Types of Collectible Stamped Covers
So what I'm saying is that the covers you will collect will not be the obvious first day covers, event covers, special cancellations and the like exclusively. With all the meters, postal permits and non-stamped envelopes that pass through the world's postal systems, future stamp collectors may be hungry for stamps properly used on cover. Just one example of a dealer's junk box becoming a treasure trove: Once U.S. zeppelin commemorative covers were everywhere, obtainable for a couple dollars each.Zeppelin Stamps Play Havoc with Stamp Market
But then, in the 80s zeppelin fever struck, fueled by rocketing prices for the U.S. zeppelin stamps, that a few years earlier could have been bought for a reasonable price. Thanks mostly to speculators, they were suddenly going for many thousands of dollars for the set of three. This had the effect of raising all boats (or lofting all zeppelins in this case) and those countries of questionable stamp issuing policies decided it was time to cash in: it was amazing how any excuse to put a zeppelin on a stamp was used.Meanwhile in more serious stamp collecting circles -- philatelic circles if you will -- new zeppelin post catalogs were produced. One of them was written by John Ullmann, a dealer and serious student of philately, who nevertheless had a blast researching and cataloging...guess what. Right, all those zeppelin commemorative covers that suddenly were out of the junk boxes and selling for anywhere from fifteen to several hundred dollars. With thousands of illustrations and listings Mellone's USS Macon Akron Photo Encyclopedia of USS Akron & Macon Event Covers is the last word on the subject.
