Bob Hunt's pages

Collecting covers with flags and stamps

Many thanks to Bob Murray, of the Robert Murray Stamp Shop, Edinburgh, Scotland, for hosting the images on this page!
Why would anyone want to collect an envelope when they have real stamps? And why would envelopes be included in any topic or field which is devoted primarily to stamps? That's a question which has faced collectors for as long as there have been stamps and envelopes. The best answer is that covers can enhance a stamp's appeal. But sometimes the cover is the main focus of the appeal, and the stamp is just a vehicle for getting the cover out to the public. A cover generally is something on which stamps are attached for postage purposes, usually envelopes of some sort.

An envelope with only a cancelled stamp and address might not be able to convey any sort of information or message. Granted, the cancellations (and maybe the addresses) can tell volumes, but when they are plain or ordinary, they might not tell much. That's where the rest of the cover can show its worth! The appeal probably would be in the cachet.

Cachet (pronounce ‘ka-shay') - A design printed or stamped on an envelope, describing or commemorating an event. Cachets can be for any type of event, e.g., on first day of issue, first flight, and stamp exhibition covers.
Origin: 1639, Scottish borrowing of Fr. cachet "seal affixed to a letter or document," from O.Fr. cacher "to press, crowd," from L. coactare "constrain" (see cache). Meaning evolving through "(letter under) personal stamp (of the king)" to "prestige."

So what can be learned by a cachet that might not be learned by just a stamp? What better way is there, to identify a country than by its flag? (We'll be dealing with flags and stamps here, but this use of cachets applies to other topics as well.)

What could be expressed by a cachet? Some examples can explain the main themes of cacheted covers.

A country often has a coat of arms, a map, or a national symbol, in addition to its flag. Example
A country may have governmental divisions (we call them states or counties) which have their own flag identities. Example 1 Example 2
A stamp design may not adequately explain the topic. The cachet uses flags to help clarify or enhance the explanation. Example
The evolution of a country's flag can be explained by the cachet. Example 1 Example 2
The story behind a stamp honoring an individual can be clarified by a flag cachet. Example
Groups of countries band together for a variety of purposes. That union may have its own flag on a stamp, but how do you determine the names of the member countries? And just what is the purpose of that union? Are there similar unions? Example
Although technically not an envelope, post cards have cachets. Example
Even the cancellation can enhance the appeal of a flag stamp or cover. It doesn't have to be a First Day cancellation to tell a story. Example
Of course, a cachet can help sell a stamp or help sell something else, like a cachet service. Or it can just sell an idea, like in persuading. But if it's not attractive, it won't sell anything! Example

The collecting of covers is best done to suit the individual collector. There are myriad manufacturers of cachets, both professional and novice. There always will be covers produced to honor something, and the true collector will try to collect them all -- within his topic, of course!

The next challenges are to keep track of what you have, and to display them in an attractive and useful manner. Maybe these are the greater challenges?

So, happy hunting!

LINKS TO MY OTHER FLAG STAMP PAGES:
Problems with catalog numbers
Flags on stamps discussion
Flag Study Group discussion

Let me know what you think!