Monthly Archives: December 2020

1927 – Switzerland – Franchise stamps

From 1911 to 1943 the Swiss Post issued some franchise stamps to support charity organizations like the Salvation Army. The overprinted numbers 146 and 369 were used for the Salvation Army. The 146 overprint was used from 1911 – 1925 and the 369 overprint was used from 1926 to 1934. (Source: Heilsarmee-Briefmarken). The official SA cover also has an extra “Armee du Salut” slogan PM (St. Aubin Colonie Agricole). The agriculture facility  was called “Le Devens” and was administered by the Salvation Army from 1912. 

1921 - 146 overprint (Heilsarmee)
1927 - 369 overprint (SA overprint)

SA 16 – Canada – Unlisted FDC

SA 16 – Red Shield Campaign – Unlisted

Salvation Army Centenary in Canada. The centenary stamp was  issued 25.06.1982. This is a plain cover, addressed to the Salvation Army, Red Shield Campaign Office in Ottawa with a local PM: the Ottawa Postal Museum. It is unlisted in the SA FDC catalogue. Not seen before. Information on the SA Historical & Philatelic Association FB site (Rob Kerr): It was likely issued by the Public Relations and Development office for that region. This envelope would have been the standard door to door Red Shield Campaign envelope. I don’t recall them being provided with postage affixed. Likely someone took the envelope and affixed the postage and had it cancelled at the postage museum in Ottawa.

1937 – Cover signed by the General

1937 – Volkenbond conference – Signed!

This Salvation Army cover from the Netherlands Indies is addressed to Major WB Pearce in Bandoeng. It has been signed by  William Booth’s daughter, Evangeline Booth, who was  the General of the Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939, when the cover was dated. It was used during the “far-Eastern Conference of the League of Nations” in Bandoeng in 1937 and carries the SA Child Welfare stamp set. Although the general traveled a lot, it is unlikely that she was in Bandoeng at that time and the cover is most likely signed later.