Event covers
Encyclopedia
Event covers are decorated, stamped and canceled commemorative envelopes. They are created to celebrate an event or note an anniversary
.
The design (called a "cachet
") is generally placed on the left side of the envelope (although there are also "all over" cachets). It explains what is being commemorated on what date, and generally also includes an illustration page.
Ideally, the stamps used relate to the celebration (for instance, space stamps for a shuttle launch). Cancels are either obtained in the city of the event (such as Kitty Hawk
for the Wright Brothers
first flight anniversary) or, for larger quantities of envelopes, from a special cancellation unit maintained by the Postal Service in Kansas City, Missouri
. If a special cancellation (one with a design) has been created for the event, you can generally only receive that cancel from the local post office.
A good example of a special Event cover was one by the Isle of Man Philatelic Bureau
that was issued in 1985 to mark the anniversary of the aircraft Douglas DC-3, which was of interest, not only because of the high volume of air mail handled by Dakotas at that time, but also the link between the names of Douglas, Isle of Man, and Dakota - Douglas DC3. A 26p stamp was specially issued by the Isle of Man and a special handstamp was also created for these covers, which was deliberately created with a Dakota flying "free" and not boxed in. The envelope was also officially acknowledged by the McDonnell Douglas
company and bore their official DC3 logo in the bottom right of the Envelope.
The earliest recognized event covers were presidential inauguration covers, which were first created in the early part of the 20th century (the stamp hobby calls envelopes "covers" because letters were originally simply wrapped in a blank piece of paper, or "cover"). Event cover creation and collecting is considered part of the first day cover hobby, which creates decorated covers to commemorate the issuance of stamps. Both fields are recognized by the principal cover collecting organization, the American First Day Cover Society, which includes an event cover category in its annual cachet-maker's contest and an event cover column in its journal, First Days.
Event covers can include mail that was aboard aircraft that flew the mail between two points, usually large cities, for the first time, however these covers are usually referred to as First Flight covers by collectors.
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
.
The design (called a "cachet
Cachet
In philately, a cachet is a printed or stamped design or inscription, other than a cancellation or pre-printed postage, on an envelope, postcard, or postal card to commemorate a postal or philatelic event. There are official and private cachets. They commemorate everything from the first flight...
") is generally placed on the left side of the envelope (although there are also "all over" cachets). It explains what is being commemorated on what date, and generally also includes an illustration page.
Ideally, the stamps used relate to the celebration (for instance, space stamps for a shuttle launch). Cancels are either obtained in the city of the event (such as Kitty Hawk
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
Kitty Hawk is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,000 at the 2000 census. It was established in the early 18th century as Chickahawk....
for the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
first flight anniversary) or, for larger quantities of envelopes, from a special cancellation unit maintained by the Postal Service in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. If a special cancellation (one with a design) has been created for the event, you can generally only receive that cancel from the local post office.
A good example of a special Event cover was one by the Isle of Man Philatelic Bureau
Isle of Man Post
The Isle of Man Post Office , which formerly used the trading name Isle of Man Post, operates postal collection, ancillary mail services, philatelic goods and delivery services and post office counter services on the Isle of Man.-History:...
that was issued in 1985 to mark the anniversary of the aircraft Douglas DC-3, which was of interest, not only because of the high volume of air mail handled by Dakotas at that time, but also the link between the names of Douglas, Isle of Man, and Dakota - Douglas DC3. A 26p stamp was specially issued by the Isle of Man and a special handstamp was also created for these covers, which was deliberately created with a Dakota flying "free" and not boxed in. The envelope was also officially acknowledged by the McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
company and bore their official DC3 logo in the bottom right of the Envelope.
The earliest recognized event covers were presidential inauguration covers, which were first created in the early part of the 20th century (the stamp hobby calls envelopes "covers" because letters were originally simply wrapped in a blank piece of paper, or "cover"). Event cover creation and collecting is considered part of the first day cover hobby, which creates decorated covers to commemorate the issuance of stamps. Both fields are recognized by the principal cover collecting organization, the American First Day Cover Society, which includes an event cover category in its annual cachet-maker's contest and an event cover column in its journal, First Days.
Event covers can include mail that was aboard aircraft that flew the mail between two points, usually large cities, for the first time, however these covers are usually referred to as First Flight covers by collectors.