When Is A Cover Too Far Gone?

Should I soak off the stamp, or does this crumbling cover still have value as a cover?

It looks like the stamp would have a crease across it so not worth soaking. Hard to say about the cover, but it is better than saving a damaged stamp.

However this remains a fine reference for the items on the cover, if not for you for someone.

I like it on!

Cover sucker says leave it on.

I'd be happy to pass this on to a new owner....

I collect covers as well and I have many many covers that have arrived to me in collections damaged some way or another, sometimes the stamps are damaged as well. I still keep the entire cover with stamp(s) intact. We have to remember that the postal system of the past ( even today) handles all mail very roughly. Most mail (especially in the past) was and still is transient and usually gets thrown away or incinerated. If one decides to soak off a stamp or throw the cover away, I always think,.."can I find another cover exactly like this one out there?" The answer is usually 'I doubt it'.

Id say keep the cover franked .
It just tells a better story.

Might be a good cover for anyone collecting history of that area .. per Wiki ...

Founded in 1927 by Alfred Frank, it began service with a pair of Stearman C3MB's. Air Mail was the first cargo; passengers came later.

The airline flew on a single route from Salt Lake City north to Ogden, Pocatello, Butte, and Helena, ending in Great Falls, Montana; this was air mail route awarded in 1928, CAM #26

Well...
Got the address to and from
Post Mark , Postage , Postage Due