First day sheet
A first day sheet (short: ETB) is a sheet issued and distributed by the post office, provided with a postage stamp that bears a first day cancellation, i.e. was canceled on the first day of validity. Descriptions of motifs and technical information are also common.
In philately, ETBs are valued separately and often reach a multiple of the catalog value of the respective stamp. In fact, however, the real value is often significantly below the value of the loose stamp, especially for specimens from the 1970s and 1980s. On the one hand, this is due to the very high editions of this time, and on the other hand, ETBs are unpopular with many collectors, as their storage takes up very space. In addition, the stamps are not suitable for detaching, as in this case only little of the cancellation can be seen.
In Germany, Deutsche Post AG (previously Deutsche Bundespost) issues first day papers. The first ETB appeared in 1974. The first ETB in recent history for Berlin stamps was published in 1975. However, as early as the 1950s, the Post published some very popular first-day papers for Berlin.
First day cover
A postal item (letter or postcard) that was canceled on the first day of validity of the stamps used for franking is referred to as a first day cover or FDC (abbreviation of First Day Cover). In contrast to the requirement letter, it is typically created out of purely philatelic interests.
The first day letters issued by the postal administrations or private providers are mostly obtained by subscription by the collectors. Postage-correct franking is not necessary for these letters. Whether the entire set or only individual parts of it are glued depends solely on aesthetic considerations and the space available on the envelope. If this is not enough, the stamps of a set are distributed over several envelopes. The first day special stamps are usually applied using a suitable printing process (e.g. letterpress).
In the last few years the interest in such first day covers among many collectors has clearly decreased. Really sent first day covers are more popular.
The collection of first day covers is not limited to contemporary stamp issues. In the case of editions of the classic period, the date of publication of which cannot be documented in appropriate files, collectors are always on the lookout for mail items with the earliest use date.
Some examples of the early ETB's from BERLIN :
Berlin No 1
Berlin no 2
Berlin no 3
THESE ARE SCANS STILL WRAPPED IN PLASTIC
THE COLOR DIFFERENCES ARE ON THE PLASTIC AND NOT ON THE ETB's
Some modern issues from Berlin :
Some from Bundes Republik
A different design was introduced in 1994
And another design in 1996 (why not eh?)
Did not like this design?
Oke we got another in 1998
DO NOT MIND THE STICKER
IT IS ON THE PLASTIC COVER AND NOT ON THE ETB
Oke now some examples of early FDC's
If you want more examples I will scan them and place them here.
Let me know........
Hello HockeyNut,
Thanks for sharing these.
It would be great to see more if you would like to post more of them.
Although I don't collect FDC, I bought some from "opa" through stamporama auction.
They are very beautiful.
Oke,
here we go.
1 or 2 FDC's a year.
1956
1957
1958
1959
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
I forgot that I had these ones too............
from the DDR
1947 and 1948
1950
1952
1953
1954
These are great. And it reminded me I've always wanted to ride on the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn.
great post - sharp clear images and content
however I don't understand how you can post so many clear images. Every time I try with a single image, I get an image too large error and finally give up. Please share your tips. Hopefully I am not the only tech challenged one here.
Some other early ETB'sfrom BERLIN
The MOST expensive one ! 360 Euros
ETB 17
ETB 29
ETB 30
ETB 38
ETB 45
ETB 46
ETB 48
NOTE :
ALL ETB issues after number 43 are PRIVATE releases.
That is why they DO NOT appear in the Michel Catalog.
Some DDR First Day Covers :
"great post - sharp clear images and content
however I don't understand how you can post so many clear images. Every time I try with a single image, I get an image too large error and finally give up. Please share your tips. Hopefully I am not the only tech challenged one here."
Maybe the administrator has a good place for this post above.
So everybody on this forum can read this and use this for better pictures.
Hello everyone,
This is not a populair item to collect but I will show some examples of Germany here.
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
First day sheet
A first day sheet (short: ETB) is a sheet issued and distributed by the post office, provided with a postage stamp that bears a first day cancellation, i.e. was canceled on the first day of validity. Descriptions of motifs and technical information are also common.
In philately, ETBs are valued separately and often reach a multiple of the catalog value of the respective stamp. In fact, however, the real value is often significantly below the value of the loose stamp, especially for specimens from the 1970s and 1980s. On the one hand, this is due to the very high editions of this time, and on the other hand, ETBs are unpopular with many collectors, as their storage takes up very space. In addition, the stamps are not suitable for detaching, as in this case only little of the cancellation can be seen.
In Germany, Deutsche Post AG (previously Deutsche Bundespost) issues first day papers. The first ETB appeared in 1974. The first ETB in recent history for Berlin stamps was published in 1975. However, as early as the 1950s, the Post published some very popular first-day papers for Berlin.
First day cover
A postal item (letter or postcard) that was canceled on the first day of validity of the stamps used for franking is referred to as a first day cover or FDC (abbreviation of First Day Cover). In contrast to the requirement letter, it is typically created out of purely philatelic interests.
The first day letters issued by the postal administrations or private providers are mostly obtained by subscription by the collectors. Postage-correct franking is not necessary for these letters. Whether the entire set or only individual parts of it are glued depends solely on aesthetic considerations and the space available on the envelope. If this is not enough, the stamps of a set are distributed over several envelopes. The first day special stamps are usually applied using a suitable printing process (e.g. letterpress).
In the last few years the interest in such first day covers among many collectors has clearly decreased. Really sent first day covers are more popular.
The collection of first day covers is not limited to contemporary stamp issues. In the case of editions of the classic period, the date of publication of which cannot be documented in appropriate files, collectors are always on the lookout for mail items with the earliest use date.
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Some examples of the early ETB's from BERLIN :
Berlin No 1
Berlin no 2
Berlin no 3
THESE ARE SCANS STILL WRAPPED IN PLASTIC
THE COLOR DIFFERENCES ARE ON THE PLASTIC AND NOT ON THE ETB's
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Some modern issues from Berlin :
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Some from Bundes Republik
A different design was introduced in 1994
And another design in 1996 (why not eh?)
Did not like this design?
Oke we got another in 1998
DO NOT MIND THE STICKER
IT IS ON THE PLASTIC COVER AND NOT ON THE ETB
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Oke now some examples of early FDC's
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
If you want more examples I will scan them and place them here.
Let me know........
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Hello HockeyNut,
Thanks for sharing these.
It would be great to see more if you would like to post more of them.
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Although I don't collect FDC, I bought some from "opa" through stamporama auction.
They are very beautiful.
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Oke,
here we go.
1 or 2 FDC's a year.
1956
1957
1958
1959
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
1986
1987
1988
1989
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
1996
1997
1998
1999
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
2000
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
I forgot that I had these ones too............
from the DDR
1947 and 1948
1950
1952
1953
1954
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
These are great. And it reminded me I've always wanted to ride on the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn.
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
great post - sharp clear images and content
however I don't understand how you can post so many clear images. Every time I try with a single image, I get an image too large error and finally give up. Please share your tips. Hopefully I am not the only tech challenged one here.
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Some other early ETB'sfrom BERLIN
The MOST expensive one ! 360 Euros
ETB 17
ETB 29
ETB 30
ETB 38
ETB 45
ETB 46
ETB 48
NOTE :
ALL ETB issues after number 43 are PRIVATE releases.
That is why they DO NOT appear in the Michel Catalog.
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Some DDR First Day Covers :
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
"great post - sharp clear images and content
however I don't understand how you can post so many clear images. Every time I try with a single image, I get an image too large error and finally give up. Please share your tips. Hopefully I am not the only tech challenged one here."
re: First Day Sheets First Day Covers / Ersttag blätter Ersttag briefe
Maybe the administrator has a good place for this post above.
So everybody on this forum can read this and use this for better pictures.