First day covers from 1950 to 2000 are in most instances rather common. A lot of such covers are seen at Félag frímerkjasafnara on Saturday meetings when the public is welcome to visit and trade with us. Although their market value is modest, they can make for a fascinating collecting area due to the sheer variety of organizations that produced them over the years with lot of interesting decorations usually on the left side of the covers. The scarcity of individual first day covers increases a lot when they are dated before 1950. The plan for this article is to show known first day covers from 1879 to 1932 and reflect on their scarcity.
1879 – 18.12: This is not a pure first day cover of a stamp but for the 5 aur stationary instead which was issued 18 December 1879. It is cancelled in Reykjavík with an Antiqva cancel 18.12 and arrival cancelled in Copenhagen 26.1.1880. A truly amazing item indeed and the only one known in existence. Rarity grade: RRR (1 cover exist).
1900 – 6.1: This cover could be said to be the first real first day cover for Icelandic stamps because it represents a first day use of a stamp and not a stationary card. The 4 aur stamp was issued 6.1.1900 to accommodate the ratev for local post (innanbæjar). Rarity grade: RRR (1-2 covers exist). Picture below.
1911 – 17.6 The Jón Sigurðsson stamps were issued 17.6.1911 and several first day covers exist according to the first day cover database. Rarity grade: RR (3-5 covers exist).
1929 – 29.6. A large time gap is found between the 1911 first day cover and the next or almost 18 years, even though a lot of stamps were issued between these years. On 29 June 1929 the 50 aur Two-kings stamp was reissued overprinted with an aeroplane. Note that the 10 aur Christian X with the aeroplane overprint was issued earlier or 31.5.1928. Several covers have been recorded with a first day cover of this stamp. At least one such cover was made by the stamp dealer K.A. Hansen. Rarity grade: R5 (6-9 covers exist).
1930 – 1.1. The first day covers found thus far all look similar with a four-block of the 10 aur Gyrfalcon stamps and one 25 aur stamp completing the 65 aur postage for a registered letter. Half of the covers that I have seen are made by the famous stamp dealer K. A. Hansen. Rarity grade: R5 (6-9 covers exist).
1930 – 1.6. Only six months later we find the next first day cover which is also with the Alþingi theme. One of the five
covers recorded is also made by the stamp dealer K. A. Hansen. Rarity grade: R5 (6-9 covers exist).
1931 – 16.12 The first part of the Gullfoss stamps were released 15 December 1931 according to the Facit catalog. The only cover found thus far is cancelled the day after or 16.12.1931. The big question is whether a first day cover exists at all for this issue. Only one second day cover is known at the time of this writing. Rarity grade: UK
(0 covers exist).
1932 – 30.5 The latter part of the Gullfoss series was issued 30 May 1932 and those were the higher values: 60 aur, 65- and 75 aur. The only two covers found thus far are cancelled the day after or 1.6.1932. The big question is whether a first day cover exists at all for this issue. Only two second day covers are known at the time of writing. Rarity grade: UK (0 covers exist).
Icelandic Philatelic Magazine, Issue 74, Mai, 2026, Brynjólfur Sigurðsson.
