This month’s prospect: Rare cover with this stamp set, used on the Swiss Stamps Day in 1958. Italian special postmark: “Giornata del Francobollo” (Stamps day). Cancelled 07.11.1958 (not FDC). Cachet picture: Tag der briefmarke – Giornata del Francobollo. Stamps: The Swiss anniversary set: SG 587 – 590. The Salvation Army bonnet is pictured on the SG 590 and commemorates the SA’s 75th anniversary in Switzerland.
This postcard was postally used in 1936 (the stamp is removed and it’s difficult to see in which country). The PC is part of an international series which shows aspects of Salvation Army work. It is numbered 505 and shows SA missionnairies on a Chinese river boat. “By this and other novel means of travel the message of deliverance is carried to multitudes who never before have heard the Saviour’s name”. The SA’s ministry opened in mainland China in 1916 and quickly expanded across the northern and eastern provinces until 1949, when it withdrew from the mainland due to hardship after the Chinese Civil War. The SA established some new work in China in 2017
Salvation Army centenary in Norway 1988, commemorated on Norsk FDC Service cachet. These are registered covers with local PM (Kristiansand). Very unusual. Seems to be issued in a limited edition. I have not seen these before, but due to the number on the cover, they seem to have been issued in at least 3000 ex.
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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.
Finally! I’ve been looking for this rare Swiss Salvation Army FDC for a long time and it just turned up on Ebay. The SA stamp celebrated SA’s 75th anniversary in Switzerland in 1958. French postmark (catalogue value CHF 70). Globe cachet, extremely rare to see on Ebay or other online auction sites (I’ve actually not seen it before). Estimated value at least £40++
Four faces of Australia FDCs with a Salvation Army soldier pictured on SG 1946. These covers are very rare because they have unofficial/local and pictorial postmarks. One of them has even different PMs from 3 locations!!!
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Two First Day Sheet (Eerstedag-Blad) issued with the Salvation Army Centenary in the Netherlands, 10 Febr 1987. One was issued by the Hague Maxi, the other one has no name of the issuer. The stamps are set of two; the International Year of the Homeless and SA Centenary. These maxicards are not often seen around.
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The Plilatelic Club Royal Air Force, Bruggen have issued FDCs in quite limited editions, some as small as 17 – 25 pieces per issue. Their Salvation Army FDC from 1965 was issued in a limited number of 50!! It has the characteristic Field Post Office Bruggen PM. No. 5 in the serie was sold in May 2020 for £141, i.e. a very attractive issue. The pictured cover is number 1!!! Estimated value £150++
This cover was issued at the Brisbane Exhibition in August 1980. The Salvation Army Community welfare stamp was added and cancelled on the first day of issue for the stamp. The cover is an ordinary Post Office Kangoroo souvenir cachet, and is unlisted in the SA FDC catalogue. The exhibition postmark is very pictorial!! Presented as this months prospect. Likely very rare!!
The Salvation Army centenary in Belgium was commemorated on the Christmas stamp issued 18 November 1989. Here is a lux Sonstamp FD Sheet which was issued in a limited edition of 500. This is the French version (Noel), note that this is no. 001 in the series!
The Swiss Salvation Army stamp 1982 has been issued on special Werbestempel or Sonderstempel envelopes. These covers have some very pictorial PMs from various towns, e.g., Sion, Reichenback and Zurich tram. Nice covers.
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A few countries have issued Salvation Army scout covers. I have now listed those I have collected here, see also the menu. It is mostly Norway and Sweden who have the tradition of making a special PM to the national scout camps. The catalogue numbers refers to ArGe Pfadfinder’s catalogue about European scout covers and postmarks. The below cover is the first registered Norwegian scout PM; issued at the “Concordia” international girls’ guide camp in 1954.
