Category Archives: Salvation Army FDCs

1985 & 1995 – Guyana Orchids

This view includes both the original Orchids stamps and FDC from 1985, as well as the later overprinted FDC commemorating the Salvation Army centenary in Guyana. The original cover features the standard Coat of Arms cachet and includes the full set of four stamps – SG 1519, 1521–1523. The overprinted stamps are catalogued as SG 4319–4322. Unfortunately, some yellowish staining is present on the original cachet. Guyana Orchids FDCs are rarely seen and are highly collectible!

SA 33.1 - Official PO
1985 - Original Orchids FDC

SA 3 – Swiss business FDC

SA 3 – Business cover (Heggli)

A rare business cover with first day (FD) cancel has just been obtained. Issued by the Zurich firm P. Heggli, it features the “Vliesiline” logo and bears the full set of 1958 anniversary stamps, including the Salvation Army bonnet stamp (Stanley Gibbons no. 590), commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Salvation Army in Switzerland. Previously unseen—rare!

1978 – New Sweden FDC

SA 9.3 – Ørebro Philatelic Society

A newly discovered FDC recently surfaced at a Swedish auction. It features the Evangelical Free Churches set of stamps, which includes the Salvation Army Stockholm VII Band. The FDC is a special cachet with a postmark commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Örebro Philatelic Society. This FDC is exceptionally rare and previously unseen. Initially, I thought it was unlisted in the SA FDC catalogue, but with a closer look, I found it. An Ørebro Philatelic Society cover & PM was listed as SA 9.3. Although this was with a more simple cachet, I have kept this number.

1983 – RARE Isle of Man FDCs

These two large Isle of Man FDCs are exceptionally rare. The large cover, issued by the Dutch Brigadier Theo Krommenhoek, has only surfaced on eBay a few times over the past few decades, and the Stampex FDC is also a rare find. A smaller Krommenhoek cover was issued with the set of single stamps and is somewhat more common. The large cover, featuring 4-blocks of the set, was produced in very limited quantities.

SA 19.2b - SA cover - Brig. Krommenhoek - 4 blocks
SA 19 - Stampex - Unlisted FDC

SA 2.3 – Netherlands Indies FDC

SA 2.3 – Leger des heils – Ref. cover

2025!! Greetings to all! Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! This extremely rare first day cover, issued on December 1, 1936, features a Salvation Army Child Welfare stamp set and was recently sold on eBay for $66. This special FDC, which appears to have been issued by the Salvation Army, is very seldom seen on auction sites. Please note that this is a reference cover and not part of my collection.

SA 15.1 – Devonport PM

SA 15.1a – Devonport

Numerous post offices in Australia feature pictorial postmarks. One notable example is SA 15.1a, which has been canceled in Devonport and depicts a lighthouse. According to the Devonport city guide, “The Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, with its distinctive red and white stripes, has stood watch over Devonport, Tasmania for over a century.” Built in 1889, the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse is a significant historic symbol for Devonport, representing both the city and Tasmania’s rich maritime heritage. Its iconic appearance makes it a cherished landmark for both locals and visitors.

SA 31.2 – Argentina FDC

SA 31.2 – Red Shield sticker

Salvation Army centenary in Argentina, commemorated 01.12.1990. This cachet with the SA sticker was likely made by a salvationist/corps or connoisseur who had access to the SA sticker. This cover is seldom seen and was issued in limited quantity.

SA 60 – Faroe Island – country combo

The Salvation Army Centenary on the Faroe Islands commemorated on October 23, 2024, with a beautifully designed souvenir stamp sheet. In addition to the official release, two unique country combo covers were privately created in extremely limited quantities (only 5 of each).

  • Norwegian Combo Cover: A Norwegian First Day Cover (FDC) paired with the Faroese stamp, dual-cancelled to mark the first day of issue for both countries’ commemorative stamps.
  • Icelandic Combo Cover: An Icelandic FDC similarly paired with the Faroese stamp, also dual-cancelled with matching first-day postmarks.

These covers emphasize the strong regional ties between the Faroe Islands, Norway, and Iceland, underscoring the shared SA history and community in the region.

SA 60.2 - Country combo
SA 60.3 - Country combo

SA 17 – Switzerland – Date error

SA 17.0 – Date error – Samstagern

A Swiss collector wanted to have an FDC done when this Salvation Army stamp was issued on August 23, 1982. At home he discovered this date error; the cover was cancelled 23.18.1982. Plain cachet with a pictorial cancel – 8833 Samstagern – Sonnenterasse uber dem Zurichsee. Not seen before with such an error. I suggest to catalogue this as SA 17.0