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Definitive and Commemorative Stamps on Cover |
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Mary Ann Owens |
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The Columbo Chronicle, Vol. 2, Nr. 8, February 1992 |
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As promised, covers with our definitives and commemoratives on them will be discussed in this article. |
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For most exhibitors, the ideal cover for the exhibit is one that meets best the majority of the following conditions: |
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1) Foreign Destination, |
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2) Registered, |
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3) Airmail, |
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4) Stamp or stamps on theme in multiples, |
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5) No stamps unrelated to the theme, |
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6) Not obviously philatelically prepared, |
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7) Properly rated or close enough to warrant the multiple usage, |
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8) In exhibitable condition, |
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9) Postmark or cancellation related to theme, |
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10) No commemorative postmark or cancellation unrelated to theme, |
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11) Not too large for the page and not so small that it will not be noticed. |
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As most covers meet only a few of the conditions at best, it will take several covers to meet all of the ideal conditions. Again, with the aid of the PHILATELIC ELEMENTS CHECK LIST, I will work hard to make certain that I have met all of the conditions possible in every frame. Going from 16 to 12-page frames for an exhibition will mean a complete revaluation of every cover in the exhibit in relationship with the others in the same frame as well as what is in my stockbooks for possible substitutions. As I have mentioned before that I like to change some material each time I show an exhibit, covers will probably be the primary area of change for this exhibition. |
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In contrast to the above covers, there is another type of cover that is also very important to every thematic exhibit. These are the covers with just the single stamp on them showing a rate for which the stamp was issued. We like to state often in seminars, "Stamps are issued for the prepayment of mail. Prove it in your exhibits." Not every stamp issued meets a rate. However, as the bulk of our stamps are commemoratives and they are usually issued in the popular letter and postcard rates, the covers are out there waiting to be found. They might not always show up in dealer boxes but this is where penpals can come in handy. |
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In the FIP Thematic GREVS, covers are commented on several times. The first is under Time frame: "The use of common stamps and covers, including very modern ones, can be justified if they best represent important thematic details." In other words, assess each cover for its thematic importance to the exhibit. It could be that the cover is very nice but thematically weak to justify the amount of space that it would use on a page. But then, that is one reason why we have slitting, windowing or overlapping of covers on some of our pages. |
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In the same GREVS under Selection criteria: "Preference and greater importance should be given to: |
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• genuinely transported commercial mail with relevant cancellations as opposed to mere souvenir documents to please collectors, e.g. decorated FDCs, maximum cards, etc... |
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• genuinely transported items with correct postage and relevant thematic cancellations as opposed to favor cancellations... |
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• correct postage frankings as opposed to frankings substantially greater due to philatelic reasons (e.g. complete sets)." |
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As there are some judges out there who look upon this section as more like a list of "Do this" and "Don't do that" instead of "Preferred", it would be wise for you, as an exhibitor, to think that way on as many pages as possible. one cover in an exhibit that breaks most of the criteria selections will probably not effect your medal level. However, the second one and any more after that, could be very damaging in your achieving the goal that you feel you should have. |
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Think of your covers as your children. Reward the best ones by putting them in your exhibits. Tell the good ones in your stockbooks that they will have their chances another time to get into your exhibits. Punish the bad ones by leaving them in your stockbooks. |
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e-mail: mary ann owens |
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copyright © 2000-04 fran adams |
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