Category Archives: Salvation Army special covers

1980 – Australia Stamp Fair

1980 – Stamp Fair 80 Adelaide

This Stamp Fair 80 cachet from Adelaide features the Salvation Army stamp, which was issued a few days earlier, on August 11. The cachet bears the Adelaide pictorial postmark from the Philatelic Sales Centre. The Stamp Fair 80 Adelaide took place on August 16 and 17. It is a very unusual to see this cachet with a Salvation Army stamp..

1980 – UK – Belfast centanary

1980 – Belfast Centenary combo

This Salvation Army cover was issued for the Belfast Centenary on 7 May 1980, the First Day of Issue for both the Landmark set and the London miniature sheet. It is postmarked with the Belfast Centenary logo and features an image of Major Caroline Reynolds, who commenced the work in Belfast. The cachet was produced by Historic Relics, a maker known for several Salvation Army–related covers. Bearing both the London 1980 miniature sheet and the Landmark set, this cover is notable. With a listed catalogue value of around £75+ (BFDC) for each of the sets individually, this combined example is a particularly desirable item.

1990 – Devonport Centenary

1990 – Devonport corps centenary

Devonport Corps Centenary, issued October 26, 1990 (not an FDC). This is the official Devonport Centenary cachet with a special Centenary Postmark, including a pair of the 1980 Salvation Army stamp. Remarks: This is a rare cachet . The Devonport Corps was established 10 years after the Salvation Army’s inception in Australia.

High value UK special SA covers

These two Salvation Army-related covers hold exceptionally high value in UK FDC catalogues. The first is a special Royal Tunbridge Wells Corps cachet, issued with the 1974 Christmas stamp set and postmarked Christmas Supermarket, Tunbridge, Kent. Its catalogue value is £400 (BFDC 2014). The second cover was issued for the Salvation Army’s 5th International Congress, held in London from 30 June to 9 July. Covers postmarked on the first day of issue with the full Horses set have a catalogue value of £375. NB: These are reference covers and not part of my collection.

1974 - Christmas FDC - REF cover
1978 - Int. Congress - REF cover

1965 – UK – Centenary slogan PM

1965 – Centenary slogan PM

This letter bears the Salvation Army Centenary slogan postmark, used prior to the centenary date (July 2, 1965). Cancelled in Cardiff, it features the slogan: “The SA 1865 – 1965 – A Century of Service.” This postmark was used across the UK from June 1 to June 30, 1965, with 20 dies operating in different post offices, including this one from Cardiff.

1965 - slogan PM Info
1965 - Centenary slogan PM

2001 – Australia – year of Volunteers

2001 – year of Volunteers 2001

“Year of Volunteers 2001” stamp sheet, issued by Australia Post, features ten 45c stamps, notable for their lower postage value compared to the sales price. The set was made available to charities at AU$12, with the intention of selling them to the public at AU$16, resulting in a AU$4 contribution per sheet to the designated charity . The sheet included an image of a Salvationist, though the specific identity of the individual is unknown. Limited edition (Source: SAPCJ 2002, 42: 668). There is no confirmed date of issue, and I’m not aware of any letters affixed with these stamps.