The phrase ‘historic event covers’ conjures up images of scruffy old envelopes that passed through the mails when your great-granddad wore short pants and the world moved at a slower pace. 

Also known as souvenir covers and special event covers, these artful message carriers were created for a wide range of unique occasions.  The covers often include a descriptive write-up to explain the event.  One such one-and-only cover:  “President Richard M. Nixon Resignation.” (The Nixon cover includes both text and a photo of the disgraced Commander-in-Chief )

Event covers mark achievements in aviation, entertainment, politics, transportation, sports, and even philately!  The Postal Service traditionally kicks off National Stamp Collecting Month by issuing new commemorative stamps in late September or early October.

So event covers, those collectible bits of history that celebrated World’s Fairs and Amelia Earhart’s around-the-world flight in 1937, are as modern as contemporary space travel.  Covers honoring the 1991 Apollo Space flight and covers dedicated to the new millennium attest to the our continuing fascination with history captured on envelopes and postcards.  Still, however, the allure of days-gone-by and the charm of early 20th Century event covers make them especially prized.

Among the most popular of bygone times captured by event covers is the 1933 Century of Progress.  From May 27 to November 1, 1933, the civilized world was focused upon 424 acres of land along the shore of Lake Michigan, edging Chicago.  It was the one place on earth where you could see ‘tomorrow’…today.  And people brought home a little piece of the future when they purchased colorful event covers and other printed souvenirs.