United Kingdom Stamp Covers

Stamp covers are essentially the front of an envelope. For a stamp cover to have collector interest, all of the information on the cover must be present and complete: the stamp itself, the postal seal and postmark, the date, and the address. All are relevant and pertain to the history of the piece. Collecting stamp covers tends to be a very history-driven discipline.

There are several subcategories to stamp cover collecting. These can include first day covers featuring a special postmark on the first day of its run, first flight covers present on letters and packages that were part of the first flight of a new airmail route, and military covers featuring stamps and historical details from various military campaigns and bases.

Commemorative stamp covers are still issued on a regular basis in the U.K. While historical events such as first flights rarely happen today, military covers are commonly issued on behalf of the British Armed Forces. These covers usually honor specific events in history or significant soldiers with meaningful accomplishments. Others are issued for memorial days, such as Armistice Day, which falls on November 11th every year.

Quick Facts

• The first U.K. airmail delivery happened in 1911, connecting London and Windsor. The flight bore news of the coronation of King George V. While rare, stamp covers from this flight are still available
• Postage due or to pay stamps are among the unusual types of stamp covers that are considered collectible, especially those displayed on a letter or package
• Different postal offices have different first date of issue postmarks. The images and text that comprise these designs can vary significantly from region to region