Concorde seems to have featured on postage stamps, postal and first day covers (FDCs), ever since the project took shape. There seems to have been a plethora of covers for just about every first or last flight that a Concorde undertook. This is good news for collectors as there are a wide range of Concorde stamp related items to collect - you only have to look on eBay to see what I mean - and recently, with Concorde no longer flying, it seems that folk are prepared to pay higher prices for items.

I have had the good fortune that my colleague, Neil Aves, is an avid collector of all things Concorde - especially First Day Postal Covers. I am doubly grateful that he has not only allowed me to look at his extensive collection, but has even scanned a selection of Concorde “firsts” and “lasts” so that you, dear reader, can see some of the breadth of what’s available to collectors. One of my favourites is reproduced above - signed by Concorde Test Pilot Brian Trubshaw. Concorde 101 (G-AXDN) can now be seen at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, nr Cambridge. This cover was issued in August 1977 to mark her last flight when she flew from Filton to Duxford.

I am amazed at some of the aircraft images on postal covers that pass for Concorde. Have a look at this offering from France:

... now compare with the ‘real thing’ (right) and I think you’ll see what I mean...

Forgive me if I’m wrong but I’m pretty sure that if Concorde had been built with the wingplan as shown in the illustration, it would never have left the ground. This bears an Aerospatiale postmark so I’m rather surprised that something as untrue-to-life as this was actually allowed - there’s no accounting for taste!

Below are thumbnails of covers that Neil has been kind enough to scan for me. Hover your mouse over the image for further information. (More details soon)

A selection of Concorde-related postal covers. With thanks to Neil Aves