Glossary Term

Cover

In philately, a cover is an envelope, wrapper or folded letter sheet that has been sent through the post, typically bearing stamps and postal markings.

Also known as: postal cover, entire, envelope, on cover

A cover is any envelope, wrapper, postcard or folded letter that has travelled through the mail. It is the basic unit of postal history, the branch of philately that studies how mail was carried, rated and handled. A stamp that is still attached to its envelope is described as on cover; one cut out with part of the envelope is on piece.

Types of Cover

  • Commercial covers — ordinary letters sent for business or personal reasons. These are the most prized by postal historians because their use is genuine.
  • Philatelic covers — covers created by or for collectors, such as first day covers, event covers and flight covers.
  • Entires — complete folded letter sheets or envelopes, often with the original letter inside.
  • Fronts — only the front panel of an envelope, which still shows the address, stamps and postmark.
  • Stampless covers — letters carried before adhesive stamps, or without them, with postage paid in cash and shown by handstamped or manuscript markings.
  • Postal stationery — envelopes, cards and wrappers with a stamp printed on them by the postal authority.

Why Covers Are Collected

A cover shows how a stamp was actually used. It can reveal:

  • The postal rate for a particular weight, destination or service.
  • The route the letter took, shown through backstamps and transit marks.
  • Historical events — censorship during wartime, disaster mail, military post.
  • Usage of unusual stamps such as high values, bisects and provisionals, which are only convincing when shown on cover.

Condition

Cover condition is judged on the envelope as a whole: tears, stains, reduced size, missing flaps and toning all reduce appeal. The stamps should be tied by the postmark — that is, the cancellation should run from the stamp onto the envelope paper, proving the stamp belongs there. A cover where the stamp is not tied may have had a stamp added later.

Storing Covers

Store covers upright in archival-quality cover albums or sleeves made from polyester or polypropylene. Avoid PVC, rubber bands and paper clips, and keep them away from light and humidity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cover

What does 'on cover' mean?

A stamp 'on cover' is still attached to the envelope it was mailed on. Catalogues often give separate, higher prices for stamps on cover because the envelope proves genuine postal use and shows the rate and route.

What is an entire?

An entire is a complete folded letter sheet, or complete envelope, with its contents or original folds intact. Before envelopes became common in the mid-19th century, letters were usually folded and sealed, so early postal history is often found as entires.

Should I soak stamps off old covers?

Not without checking first. Covers with interesting postmarks, rates, routes, backstamps or historical context can be worth far more intact than the stamps removed. When in doubt, keep the cover whole.

Related Terms

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