AFDCS Expertising Service

The American First Day Cover Society Expertising Service offers opinions on the genuineness of philatelic covers at moderate cost. Expertising helps the collector avoid financial loss and disappointment, and it is easier to sell an item that has a certificate attesting to its genuineness.

How To Use The Service:
  1. Covers should be sent to the Expertising Committee chairman via registered mail. For the return of the cover, a self-addressed envelope franked with suffcient postage for registration must be included. Submit a self-addressed, stamped postal card for receipt acknowledgment.
  2. The owner must state that the society or its representatives wil not be held liable for loss or damage of the cover(s) unless gross negligence can be proved.
  3. Allow at least 60 days for examination of the material submitted as several commttee members may participate.
  4. Fees must be paid to the Expertising Committee chairman when the cover is submitted (Expertising Committee to determine value).
Current Scott
Catalog Value		 Member price Nonmember Price
Up to $200 $15 $25
$201 - $500 & unpriced $20 $30
$501 - $1,000 $25 $40
$1,001 and up 1% of value $40 and
1% of value

  1. A certificate wil be issued for each genuine cover and a photocopy of the item will be attached. Copies of all information wil be placed in the Society's records.
  2. If requested by the owner, the back of the cover wil be rubber stamped as follows: "Genuine First Day Cover - American First Day Cover Society Certificate No _____."
  3. If the cover is a fake, no certificate wil be issued but photocopies wil be made. One copy wil be attached to the letter of rejection and another will become part of the Society's permanent record. The fee is $5 and any excess remittance wil be refunded. The owner may donate the cover to the AFDCS reference collection of fakes.
  4. If no opinion is rendered and no certificate issued, photocopies wil be made of the cover for the owner and the permanent record. The fee wil be reduced to $1 and any excess remittance wil be refunded. This action wil not prejudice the cover if it is presented at a future date to this, or any other, expertising service.
Submit your covers to:

Allison W. Cusick
AFDCS Expertising Committee Chairman
PO Box 110108
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

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