Stamp collector's dismay as rare first day cover is destroye

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Stamp collector's dismay as rare first day cover is destroyed in catalogue of disasters

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An over-enthusiastic member of staff at the Royal Mail has destroyed a rare set of stamps.

The envelope was sent from Switzerland and included a rare first day cover – when a stamp is issued and used on the first day of its existence.

first day cover.png

Collecting first day covers is a popular aspect of philately and stamps marked in this way have enhanced value and collectability.

Unfortunately for collector John Richard from Glastonbury, his stamps arrived on Friday morning – complete with a Royal Mail special delivery sticker slapped right across them.


"I've been collecting stamps on and off since I was a kid," he said.

"These were sent to me by a friend in Switzerland – they probably cost around £15 on face value, but obviously I'm not sure what the value would have been with the first day stamp on it.

"To say that I was unimpressed is something of an understatement."

To make matters worse, when Mr Richards took the envelope to the post office to complaint, an enterprising member of staff tried to peel the sticker away from the stamps – tearing some of them.

And adding insult to injury, when Mr Richards asked for a complaint form to be sent to him on Friday, it still hadn't arrived by Tuesday morning.

"Our usual postman is brilliant, but we've had a few bits of items going missing somewhere in the system, or turn up late over the years," he said.

"And we only live about 150 yards from the sorting office.

"It's hardly surprising people are turning away from Royal Mail."

A spokesman for Royal Mail said the incident was being investigated by their customer services department.

[PhilthyPhil]

I've never seen one of those stickers before. Also afaik foreign priority items are not guaranteed by 1300.

[DGP1]

Sorry but what is his problem? If the stamps where so valuable then shouldn't they be INSIDE the envelope

[RedBagMan]

Sorry but what is his problem? If the stamps where so valuable then shouldn't they be INSIDE the envelope

Doesn't excuse rank stupitidy ....

[fishtank]

Sorry but what is his problem? If the stamps where so valuable then shouldn't they be INSIDE the envelope

The point in sending them on the outside is this....

stamps.jpg

It's a philately thing,so i'm informed.
I have a customer who regularly sends them to himself,just a piece of cardboard in a special delivery bag with the stamps on the outside.
I wouldn't use the words "get a life" but.....

[DB1100]

Sorry but what is his problem? If the stamps where so valuable then shouldn't they be INSIDE the envelope

Doesn't excuse rank stupitidy ....

You cannot expect everybody to know about stamp collectors way of doing things,I would have done the same it's just a letter with stamps on,how are you supposed to know they are first day covers.

[Mr Rush]

The contents of a letter or package traditionally go on the inside of the container. There's no indication the stamps were the content and for the person (or perhaps machine) that slapped the sticker there - anywhere except covering the address is acceptable.

"It's hardly surprising people are turning away from Royal Mail."

Good luck getting one of our "competitors" to deliver it in future.

[TeeferTiger]

Well, seeing as Royal Mail tell us to cancel stamps, he's lucky there wasn't a biro through them all

Honestly, what a complete non story about something that happens all the time i.e. a sticker being placed on the front of a package. Unless there was a notice on the outside saying "Please don't destroy these stamps" then he should've had them sent INSIDE with them having been cancelled by the Post Office where they were bought.

[scoobydo79]

Reminds Me of the time I saw a postman who liked to number his bundles scribble number '3' on a first day cover...oops

[RedBagMan]

You cannot expect everybody to know about stamp collectors way of doing things,I would have done the same it's just a letter with stamps on,how are you supposed to know they are first day covers.

Errr ... it's NOT just a letter with stamps on - it's a first day cover ...

I may be a lapsed philatelist (can't afford it now - too many bloody issues - I blame the Post Office ) but ... these sort of things used to come through the post regularly when I was a kid ... with no problems ... they DO stand out a bit as something special !!

Or maybe there are too many robots working at RM .......... oh I forgot - it's just a job innit ...

[k979aaa]

Sorry but what is his problem? If the stamps where so valuable then shouldn't they be INSIDE the envelope

The point in sending them on the outside is this....

stamps.jpg

It's a philately thing,so i'm informed.
I have a customer who regularly sends them to himself,just a piece of cardboard in a special delivery bag with the stamps on the outside.
I wouldn't use the words "get a life" but.....

If they were not franked you should put a pen line through it would the customer have you charged with vandalism?.

[DGP1]

You cannot expect everybody to know about stamp collectors way of doing things,I would have done the same it's just a letter with stamps on,how are you supposed to know they are first day covers.

Errr ... it's NOT just a letter with stamps on - it's a first day cover ...

I may be a lapsed philatelist (can't afford it now - too many bloody issues - I blame the Post Office ) but ... these sort of things used to come through the post regularly when I was a kid ... with no problems ... they DO stand out a bit as something special !!

Or maybe there are too many robots working at RM .......... oh I forgot - it's just a job innit ...

I have never heard of them before and TBH I wouldn't know what they are now even after being told, the fact remains that if he sends things through the post then he stands the risk of them being destroyed through no fault of anyone but the person sending them.

[Lounge Lizard]

"rare first day cover is destroyed"
It's not rare, as if it was you wouldn't get such a stamp on ebay for £1.42 or £3.44.
It's not a first day cover as these stamps were issued on 8th March last year.
It's not destroyed, just damaged.
But that doesn't justify such carelessness by one of or colleagues.

[DB1100]

You cannot expect everybody to know about stamp collectors way of doing things,I would have done the same it's just a letter with stamps on,how are you supposed to know they are first day covers.

Errr ... it's NOT just a letter with stamps on - it's a first day cover ...

I may be a lapsed philatelist (can't afford it now - too many bloody issues - I blame the Post Office ) but ... these sort of things used to come through the post regularly when I was a kid ... with no problems ... they DO stand out a bit as something special !!

Or maybe there are too many robots working at RM .......... oh I forgot - it's just a job innit ...

I have never heard of them before and TBH I wouldn't know what they are now even after being told, the fact remains that if he sends things through the post then he stands the risk of them being destroyed through no fault of anyone but the person sending them.

Thank you,fellow robot.All this fuss over a few stamps,for gods sake let me know his address and he can have some of my free ones from 10 years ago.

[DGP1]

Thank you,fellow robot.All this fuss over a few stamps,for gods sake let me know his address and he can have some of my free ones from 10 years ago.