Extensive Specialized Sweden Postal Stationery Collection – Two Binders, ca. 1880–1990 – Mint Entires

An impressive and highly specialized collection of Swedish postal stationery, housed in two substantial binders and covering more than a century, approximately 1880 through 1990. The collection consists overwhelmingly of mint entires and was clearly assembled with considerable attention to the different denominations, designs, formats, rates and classes of Swedish postal stationery issued over the period.

The collection begins with the classic late-19th-century issues and progresses chronologically through the King Oscar, King Gustaf and later periods into modern Sweden. The scope is unusually broad, with extensive representation of the major categories of Swedish postal stationery rather than simply a basic run of postal statonery.

Among the material represented are:

• Early prestamped envelopes
• Extensive Brevkort (postal cards), including numerous denominations, designs and formats
• Reply and paid-reply postal cards, including attached double-card formats
• Kortbrev (letter cards) spanning early through later issues
• Tjänstebrev and Tjänstebrevkort, including official/service stationery
• Postbrev and other specialized postal stationery formats
• Extensive Aerogram / Aerogramme / Air Letter issues
• A significant section of Militärbrev and Militärbrevkort military postal stationery
• Commemorative and pictorial postal cards
• Postal Museum and exhibition-related stationery
• Numerous different rates, denominations, indicia, designs and issue types

One of the strengths of this collection is its continuity. The material is arranged through successive periods and shows the development of Swedish postal stationery from the ornate early issues through the numeral, portrait and heraldic designs, into the increasingly colorful pictorial and commemorative stationery of the later 20th century.

The Brevkort and Kortbrev sections are particularly extensive, with numerous closely related issues represented side by side. These provide excellent opportunities for the specialist to study changes in denomination, indicia, inscriptions, formats and postal rates. The collection also includes a substantial range of official and military stationery, areas that are often only sparsely represented in general Sweden collections.

The aerogram section is also noteworthy, with a strong range of different Aerogram / Par Avion / Flygpost designs and denominations. Later sections include colorful modern postal stationery and pictorial cards, providing coverage well beyond the classic period.

Importantly, this is a collection of mint postal stationery entires rather than cut squares or clipped indicia. The complete envelopes, cards, letter cards, aerograms and other forms have been preserved, making the collection considerably more desirable for the serious postal stationery collector.

Overall condition is excellent for a collection spanning more than 100 years. General condition is Very Fine to Extremely Fine (VF/XF) or better. Some of the earliest material may show minor age-appropriate toning, and as with any collection of this size there may be an occasional hidden fault, although none of significance were noted during our examination. Much of the collection is remarkably fresh and clean.

This is a collection that deserves close examination. The value is not simply in the number of pieces, but in the breadth of coverage and the many related types, denominations and formats assembled together. Building a comparable specialized holding one item at a time would require considerable time and effort.

An excellent opportunity for the Sweden specialist, Scandinavian collector, postal stationery collector, or advanced worldwide collector to acquire a substantial, well-organized holding covering more than a century of Swedish postal history.

Two large binders included. The collection pictured is the actual collection being offered. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.

Full photographs of the collection are shown below.