Covers & Postal History: What to Record

Identification

Country Text Stamps & postal history

Country of origin or issue, by its usual English name (historic states as named at the time, e.g. Kingdom of Bavaria).

Catalogue numbers Text Stamps & postal history

Numbers in the main catalogues with the catalogue named, e.g. Scott 245, SG 186, Michel 52, Yvert 140, WNS DE012.05.

Reference link Link Stamps & postal history

Web page about this object or its reference entry (catalogue, database, sale).

Cover type Choice, or your own

Kind of postal item.

13 choices

• Letter / envelope
• Postcard (used)
• Registered mail
• Airmail cover
• First flight cover
• Zeppelin mail
• Censored mail
• Military / field post
• Ship / paquebot mail
• Railway / TPO mail
• Stampless / prephilatelic cover
• Express mail
• Parcel card

Sent from Text

Place of posting as shown by the postmark or sender's address.

Destination Text

Place and country of the addressee.

Postmark date Date

Date of the dispatch postmark.

Condition

Condition notes Text Stamps & postal history

Faults, wear and damage in detail.

Certificate / expertise Text Stamps & postal history

Certificates of authenticity or expert opinions, with issuer, date and number.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Stamps & postal history

Date the object came into the collection.

Acquisition method Choice, or your own Stamps & postal history

How the object came into the collection.

• Purchase
• Auction
• Gift
• Inheritance
• Exchange / trade
• Self-collected / found
• Commission

Acquired from Text Stamps & postal history

Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.

Purchase price Amount Stamps & postal history

Price paid including fees and premiums.

Provenance Text Stamps & postal history

Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Stamps & postal history

Current market value as estimated.

Valuation date Date Stamps & postal history

Date of the current value estimate.

Valuation basis Choice Stamps & postal history

What the estimated value is based on.

• Own estimate
• Recent sales / auction results
• Dealer offer
• Catalogue value
• Professional appraisal
• Insurance valuation

Insured value Amount Stamps & postal history

Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Stamps & postal history

Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.

Storage location Text Stamps & postal history

Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.

Postal history

What the cover tells about how it travelled.

Postage & rate Text

Postage paid and the rate it represents, e.g. 25 c UPU letter rate, double weight.

Route & postal markings Text

Transit and arrival marks, registration labels, censor marks, instructional markings and the route they show.

Sender / addressee Text

Names of sender and addressee when of interest.