Birth Date Covers

I have not been posting on this forum sometime for various reasons. Hope to start posting more regularly. I am at present in Australia awaiting the arrival of our second grandchild expected within the week. I plan to have a unique philatelic commemoration of the event with "Birth date" covers - covers postmarked at the Kangaroo Ground, VIC 3097, Australia post office on the day of the child's birth. Wound'nt that be a terrific keepsake for the child? Who among us can boast of having a cover postmarked on the day of our birth? I might try to get stamps issued in November, 2008 from around the world - that would be a big project!

Well, my wife Avita has this unique distinction. I have a cover postmarked at Bahrain on the day of her birth. I acquired this cover around 1966-67 as far as I can remember. When I met my wife in 1969 and we were dating I asked for her date of birth and somehow this struck a memory chord and checked my collection and found this cover. So I told her you come into my life long before I actually met you in person!



Bahrain was under Indian Postal Administration till about 1948 - hence Indian stamps were overprinted 'BAHRAIN' for use. British Postal Administration took over from 1948 to 1960 and Great Britain stamps were overprinted BAHRAIN with Indian currency. Bahrain issued its own stamps on 1st July, 1960 with stamps depicting Sheik Sulman bin Hamad Al Khalifah. However, Bahrain stamps portraying the same Sheikh where issued for local use from 1953-57 and again in 1961.

A nice postal history cover Alan ! When I attend a stamp show I gravitate to cover dealers but my tastes and interests are all over the map...its very difficult for me to put my covers in some type of an orderly collection..i wonder if others have the same situation or have a solution for a magpie collector like myself ?

Here is the cover I made when my son was born 2 years ago. It is the first cachet cover I produced. I have done one on his 1st and 2nd birthdays as well. I have also used him as the cachet inspiration for many of the pictorial postmarks I have sent for since then.

Image Insert:

and yes that is his actual footprint on the cover. I had the nurse do that in addition to our baby book.

Right, I have one of your covers with Charlie on it !!

Phil,
I use my damaged covers for mailing to other collectors and for postmark requests. You will be getting another cover soon, but it will not have Charlie on it. I think they get noticed for the unusual cachet and an actual postage stamp being used.

Nice cover Stamperdude. Good idea to have covers for each birthday.

Alan,
thanks. I take the picture that day and then make the cover and get it postmarked at whatever post office is convenient. So far he has a different station or city postmark on each cover. They are fun just for me and no collecting value what so ever, plus I only make 1. I will try to scan and post the other 2 soon.

Alan:

Ask Phil B. about the cover I found for him, a few years back. it has his birthdate and year on the postmark... most difficult!

David