Very colorful British birds FDC; a Salvation Army cachet issued by Historic Relics. The cover celebrated the Centenary of the Harwich Citadel Corps (“One houndred years of worship and service”) and has a special Centenary postmark. Very rare cover! the Catalogue value is high (£ 110 – BFDC 2018) – Estimated value at least £ 70 (sold for £65 on Ebay Spring 2017). The cover is among the first issued by “Historic Relics”, I’ve traced covers from this issuer back to 1979.
In 1984 the Salvation Army reaffirmed the Gospel of Christ and chose the slogan: “Christ – Hope of the world”. The logo was also pictured on a cachet issued by Historic Relics. In addition to a UK issue, at least two other regions/countries (Isle of Man and Zaire!!) issued the cachet with related Salvation Army stamps.
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This months prospect is a Salvation Army world centennial country combo: US cachet Red Shield / text (Farnam – M#12) with US & UK stamps. Cancelled in Preston (UK) on the first day of issue for the UK stamps (09.08.1965). Likely a connoisseur FDC: The US cachet and stamps were issued one month before the UK FDC. Extremely RARE – only two known items issued.
This UK Christmas FDC was issued in 1988 and is a special SA cachet to commemorate the Ealing Corps Centenary. It has the full Christmas stamp set on it and is cancelled at the Philatelic counter London EC1 (Post Office next to the SA International HQ). The cover has also been issued with fewer stamps. An extra handstamp “Ealing Citadel PM, Leeland Road” is also added. An experienced UK FDC dealer remarked: “Very Scarce Cover Design. Not seen before! Pristine condition”. High estimated value due to its scarcity (£75 +).
When commemorating the Salvation Army Centenary in Guyana, four orchid stamps were overprinted with “Salvation Army 1895 – 1995”. The official FDC has the usual coat of arms print. The shown FDC has an extra Red Shield sticker, not seen elsewhere. In addition to the official PO cover, the Salvation Army Philatelic circle issued a specially designed cachet for the anniversary. Both covers are rarely seen on auctions. Estimated value with the sticker is £50 +
This months prospect is a US Care FDC combo, with the 6 year earlier issued Salvation Army stamp on it. The FDC was issued: 27 Oct 1971. The cachet pictures a painting of a child. Stamps are: Care + three other including the SA stamp SG 1249. Several combo covers from the US has now been found, e.g., with the Servicemen (1970, Rush lamp (1979), Non-profit (1980), Volunteer issue of 1983, United Way (1987) and Honoring (1999). All themes that have prompt someone to add the stamp of the voluntary organization Salvation Army on the cover.
This month’s prospect is a RARE Singapore FDC. One of the stamps in the National Monuments set of 1984, the 10c stamp, depicted the House of Tan Yeok Nee, the Salvation Army HQ in Singapore. The cover was issued by the Salvation Army HQ and a few were signed the day before (!!!) the issue date by the commanding officer, with a occasion specific slogan PM. The signed & numbered cover was issued in a very limited edition, possible up to 100 covers (I’ve only seen to no. 26). This is no. 1 !!!!
This month’s prospect is the Belgium dieproof of the Salvation Army centenary stamp issued in November 1989. The sheetlet is the officiel minister dieproof in black with the dry cancel of the Belgian post (not visible on the picture). Such sheetlets were given to the ministers and only printed in a limited edition of 75. Very rare . Catalogue value 37 € (OBP 2019)
This month’s prospect is a RARE Danish combo. The centenary stamp of 1989 was attached to the 80th Anniversary SA cover (SA 7.3). Both stamps are cancelled on the correct first day for their respective issue. [The centenary of the SA in Denmark was actually in 1987; the stamp is issued two years late]. The cachet has the centenary logo of the international Salvation Army (1965). The cover is very rare, I’ve never seen it on Ebay. I was lucky and found this in a larger collection.