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
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
"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."
Oke,
First of all I have a PRINTER/SCANNER/COPIER A4 size. Second I use a computer program called FSVIEWER 7.0 from Faststone ( Its free for Home use !) and I use the drivers that came with my printer.
This is what I do.
1) Get an object to scan (Stamp, FDC cover, ETB Sheet, whatever. It only can not exceed the A4 format!)
2) Place it on the scanner and start your scanner software from that printer.
3) Save the object you scanned as a JPG format
4) Use the FSVIEWER software to browse through your JPG files
My JPG files are at that time 2,5 Mb big and have a height and width around 2600 x 2000 pixels (TOO BIG TO SHOW HERE)
5) Then I open de JPG file with FSVIEWER when to picture appears on the screen click the right mouse button and a menu appears click on ëdit" and then on "Resize/Resample"
6) On the next screen you have to experiment a little bit because after resizing the picture you have to look if the filesize does not exceed 350 Kb.
In most cases I give in something like 600 or 700 on the pixel width.
The program automatically change the height value
7) Your picture is now scaled. Click the right mouse button and choose "Save as" (See figure above)
8) Then check the size of your scaled picture with FSVIEWER by moving your mouse cursor over the thumbnail.
So you see that the size is 243 Kb and that is allowed on this forum
Now you can upload that picture here and voila...........
Hope that the explanation is clear.
So download and install FSVIEWER on your computer and GO..........