Salvage

Sea salvage coin
A coin retrieved from the ocean, often recovered from a ship wreck.
Seated ...

Covers salvaged from plane or train crashes or ship wrecks are known as crash covers or, more discretely, as interrupted mail.

Example of a salvaged U.S. Air Mail Crash Cover (CAM #24, Indianapolis, IN, Nov. 2, 1929) ...

Any cover or FDC salvaged from the crash of a plane or vehicle in which it was carried. Usually bears postal markings explaining its damaged condition. [Back to top]
CXL
definitive ...

Accidenté: (Fr.) salvaged, damaged.
Accountable mail: mail that requires the signature of the addressee upon receipt to provide proof of delivery.
Accountable materials: includes U.S.

Stamps, admittedly, have a very high salvage value. This value is often far greater than for stocks, bonds, or other financial investments which upon the demise of the owner may have to be sold when the stock market is temporarily depressed.

Although there was no mail salvaged from the Titanic, there were hundreds of so-called crash covers created as a result of the Hindenburg's fiery end.

Such care will prevent future heartaches and will add to the salvage value of the collection. Stamps are, after all, fragile bits of paper, and handling, mounting, and unmounting, take their toll.

Crash cover: A cover that has been salvaged from the crash of an airplane, train, ship or other vehicle. Such covers often carry a postal marking explaining damage or delay in delivery.

See also: Stamp, Cover, Cancel, Used, Condition