When you keep your eye on eBay long enough, you can always find oddities that will add interesting pieces to your collection. If you are a “purist” – Then, maybe this kind of fun isn’t for you. However, if you enjoy the oddities of philately, including, things that were obviously contrived and faked, then sources […]
Posts with the Covers tag
Albania Komitetit Te Qindreses On 1944 Cover (First Set)
A great find I was able to snag in an eBay auction for a large Albania collection that included this cover bearing the first 4 stamps of the “Exile Government” (Komitetit Te Qindreses) stamp series. This is only the 3rd cover from the period I know about, the first one I was able to purchase, […]
First Day Covers – Lois Hamilton
Although I don’t specifically look for First Day Covers, when I end up with some, I keep them. And the more I look into them, I begin to understand the market a little bit and how it works. For the most part, a cover becomes collectible more for its cachet then the stamp. It […]
USA 1934 Admiral Bird Sheet of 6 First day Cover and More
In my quest to complete the Major Numbers of my USA collection (at “least” from 1930 through 2010), I have, as you can imagine, quite a few holes. Filling these holes is sometimes a challenge, so I have decided that, when possible, fill the hole with something interesting. This brings us to the Admiral Byrd […]
Albania – 1914 Valona Postcard with Fantasy Issue and Italian Offices Stamp
From 1909 through 1916, Italy issued stamps overprinted “Valona” for their offices in Valona during their occupation of Albania. These were legit stamps used during that period. I acquired a cover bearing the 1st issue of this series (10pa on 5c green) affixed to a postcard sent to Rome. The postcard also features the […]
Cover Showoff – Canada 2013 Cover with Souv Sheets
I have gotten into the habit of saving most covers these days. As long as they are clearly postmarked, and contain fairly recent issues. This cover is oversized so will go into my collection of oversized covers. It contains nearly $15 in catalog value worth of stamps and souv sheets. 1998 – Scott #s 1715-1720 […]
Another Churchill FDC with Komitetit Te Qindreses Stamp Attached
In addition to these previous 4 covers, I acquired another Churchill FDC cover showing Scott #1264 along with Komitetit Te Qindreses #11B (Perf 14). This cover is an “ArtCraft” cachet cover. ArtCraft has been producing covers since 1939 and is still producing them today.
1927-1928 Barranquilla Local Labels and Paquebot Covers
I came across 2 Colombia Barranquilla stamps that are unlisted and appear to be some sort of local label or local charity / tax stamp of some kind. Both are denominated 1/2c and share a common center design with different inscriptions. Issue #1 : Barranquilla Defense Board This first stamp is inscribed “Junta de Defensa de […]
Czechoslovakia Currency Reform of 1953 Stamps and Rates
On June 1st, 1953, Czechoslovakia declared a surprise drastic currency reform that devalued the current Koruna by a factor of 50:1. Known as the “Third Koruna”, this was the the 2nd reform in less than a decade, (the first being in 1945 when the 2nd Koruna was established at par value with the Bohemian/Moravian […]
Japanese Special Service Post Burma – Bogus Covers
Burma was occupied by Japan during WWII between 1942 and 1945. During this time stamps were issued for use in Burma. First a series of overprints on existing Burmese stamps, later stamps of Japan hand-stamped with new values and finally a few sets of issues specifically printed for use in Burma. The majority of these […]
Komitetit Te Qindreses Stamps on Churchill & FDR First Day Covers (USA)
The Komitetit Te Qindreses stamps were issued well before the death of Winston Churchill (and probably shortly after the death of FDR). Churchill would die on January 24th 1965, and the US Issued a commemorative stamp in his honor on May 13th 1965. The First Day Covers for this Churchill Issue (US Scott #1264) […]
College Post Office forgets to change the year on their Hand Cancel
I received this cover in the mail, postmarked out of Richmond, IA (College Post Office at Earlham College). I received it today (February 2nd, 2015), but, I noticed that the postmark said it was cancelled on January 28th, 2014! – The Neopost label shows the correct year (it was printed), but, the hand cancelling device […]
Bhutan: Busy Package Cover with 3D Stamps and More
I recently acquired this Bhutan cover, which caught my eye first because of the large group of 14 3D stamps. The cover in general is interesting as it contains a total of 28 stamps of 8 different designs. The cover was mailed in 1991, but the stamps span years from 1968 through 1991. The […]
Canal Zone 1941 Airmail Cover to Washington DC
The following cover was sent via Airmail from Fort Clayton, Canal Zone to Ellen Holland in Washington DC. It initially was postmarked in Fort Clayton on October 13th, 1941. Then postmarked again upon arrival in Washington DC on October 16th. Fort Clayton was a US Army Base in the Canal Zone. This cover features […]