A472-“1984 UK Royal Mail ‘Postage Labels’ First Day Cover May 1 1984Cambridge

Title:

“1984 UK Royal Mail ‘Postage Labels’ First Day Cover – May 1 1984 Cambridge FDI (Frama)”

Category:

Collectibles → Stamps & Postal History → First Day Covers (FDCs) → Great Britain

Condition:

Very Good — Official First Day Cover issued by Royal Mail (postage-labels experiment) on 1 May 1984 at Cambridge (cancels visible). Some light age marks / toning on envelope; the labels & cancellations are intact.

Item Specifics:

Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom

Issue Date: 1 May 1984

Postmark Location: Cambridge – “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE / CAMBRIDGE / 1 MAY 1984” (clear)

Type: First Day Cover – Postage Labels (“Frama” type)

Face Value: multiple denominations printed on the labels (0.14, 0.14½, 0.15, 0.15½, 0.16)

Condition Notes: Unaddressed cover (or addressed if so), labels still affixed, some light age spotting; back of envelope shows printer info (“Printed by Howards Printers (Slough) Ltd., SL2 5DJ”)

Includes Insert/Description: Yes – backside descriptive text about the labels experiment.

Certification: Not graded/third-party certified (unless you have separate certification)

Price & Valuation:

While specialised, this is a relatively modest value item in the FDC/philatelic market. Comparable listings of this FDC as reproduced show values in the region of £5-£10 or similar (for typical condition). For example one listing of a 1984 FDC sold for US $3.50 (~£2.80) though condition was noted to have staining.

Another source describes the series (1984 First Day Covers) but does not list high values, indicating modest market demand.

Given the age, intact labels and a clear FDI cancel, a fair market value might be around £8-£12 as a guide.

Recommended eBay Listing Price:

Fixed-Price: £12.99

This gives some room for buyer interest and covers you for fees/handling.

“Buy It Now” price could be set at £12.99 with the option of best offer enabled (so you may accept offers down to maybe £8-£9).

Auction Option:

You could alternatively list as Auction with a starting bid of £5.00, and no reserve or a low reserve of say £7.50. That will attract bidders and gives a chance it may sell higher. Specify a 7-day duration and worldwide shipping option (or UK & international) to widen audience.

If you prefer more control, you could set a reserve at £10.00.