CDS Covers Direct

About us

CDS Covers Direct produces First Day Covers for new UK stamp issues cancelled with the counter date stamps (CDS) of Post Offices with names appropriate to the stamp issue.

LATEST NEWS

Olympic Flag Handover Miniature Sheet iIssue - 22 August 2008

Our order book has now closed for this stamp issue.

CDS Covers Direct is a low cost internet based service offering First Day Covers for UK stamp issues cancelled with a selected Post Office counter date stamp (CDS) appropriate to the stamp issue. We pride ourselves in giving a good personal service and offering covers which are good value for money.

For each stamp issue, we produce our own quality First Day Covers reflecting the theme of the stamp issue, and the name of the Post Office selected, and where we offer more than one CDS for a particular stamp issue, we produce a separate cover. Our First Day Cover service also extends to Miniature Sheets, Prestige Books, Definitves and Definitive Books.

The number of covers produced for each stamp issue will be limited, and those available after the date of the stamp issue will never exceed 5.

We produced a limited edition of only 3 covers for the Battle of Trafalgar with a Penzance CDS because it was by tradition, the first place to receive the news of victory. None of these covers are available for sale but we are proud that one of these is now in the collection of Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance.

All our covers are posted using the Post Office Special Delivery Service which is the only means of obtaining a CDS.

Our choice of CDS for each stamp issue is carefully researched and because of this, the CDS cancellation will often be exclusive to ourselves, and to endeavour to ensure this, we do not normally announce the name(s) of the CDS selected for a stamp issue until the day following the date of the stamp issue.

Who are we?

CDS Covers Direct is run by two of the founder members of The Association of GB First Day Cover Collectors (GBFDC) who have been collecting First Day Covers for over 40 years. We have a number of assistants strategically located in various parts of the country who post our covers in the selected Post Offices.

The Chairman of GBFDC has a collection of good covers built up over 40 years for sale. First Day Covers from early 1900s to date, both Commemorative and Definitive issues, including some very rare covers and postmarks. There are also many Thematic and Signed covers; see www.covercollecting.com

We have a link on the prestigious web sites www.PositivelyPostal.co.uk and www.stampwebsites.com

How does this work and how much does it cost?

The earlier you order, the lower the cost of CDS Covers as follows:-

up until the date of the stamp issue - £8.00
orders for current stamp issues after the date of issue - £8.40 (unless otherwise indicated)
By ordering covers for the next 13 stamp issues in 2008 in advance as listed under 2008 Stamp Issues, a special price of £97 applies (equivalent to £7.46 per cover). Alternatively, we offer one cover for each of the next 6 stamp issues following the date of order for £46.50 (equivalent to £7.75 per cover).

There are no additional charges and our covers are sent post free world-wide.

How do I order?

This is easy as we are able to accept payment by Paypal. If you do not already have a Paypal account, this is easy to set up, and you can still proceed with the transaction, by paying by Switch, Credit Card or American Express.

Covers for Current Stamp Issues

Covers for the next stamp issue can be easily ordered by going to the page titled Covers for Current Stamp Issues. As the number of covers produced for each issue will be limited, early ordering is advised.

A small number of covers (but never more than 5) will sometimes be available from the day after the new stamp issue date at the higher price of £8.40 each. They will appear under Covers for Current Stamp Issues until we start advertising covers for the next stamp issue when they will move to Past Covers.

Covers for Future Stamp Issues

To order CDS covers for the next 13 stamp issues at the special bargain price of only £7.46 per cover, or covers for the next 6 stamp issues at only £7.75 per cover, go to Covers for Future Stamp Issues

Past Covers

Illustrations of previous covers which we have produced appear under Past Covers. Some of these are likely to be highly collectable as they were produced in very limited quantities, and few are now available. Please note that the latest cover for the latest stamp issue moves from Covers for Current Stamp Issues to Past Covers as soon as we announce details of the next stamp issue.