Another Way to Collect Knives

[deo-pa]

I am also a stamp collector and I've been on the lookout for knife-related philatelic items. As it turns out lots of knives have been depicted on stamps; seems like fixed blades much more than pocket knives.

As many of you know the town of Thiers in central France has been the center of French cutlery for hundreds of years. In 1987 France released a commemorative stamp honoring Thiers' cutlery history. When stamps are released the issuing country typically offers envelopes franked on the first day of issue (called First Day Covers). Very often these are decorated with fancy graphics called cachets ("cashays") to appeal to collectors.

Two such FDCs for the 1987 release are shown below. A couple of things to note. You can see on the stamp and on the cachet of the first cover that the cutlery workers are working in the prone position. It seems like most every photo I've seen of U.S. or Sheffield cutlery workers are similar to the third photo which shows the workers sitting. I have no idea if the prone position was ever popular here or if the sitting position was ever popular in France.

Second, the building shown on the first cover's cachet is the Pirou Castle, the most famous building in Thiers. It was built as a stately home in 1410 and now houses a visitor's center. The French have even designed a knife pattern named after Pirou Castle. You can see it in the last photo. Note the design element on the top (see arrow) depicts the famous building.

Collecting stamps and covers can be a nice little diversion from collecting the real deal. (Lots cheaper too!)

Dennis

[TPK]

A very interesting post & pictures! Thanks Dennis!

[petesknives]

I agree with Tom, very interesting

[edge213]

X3

[herbva]

Ditto times 4! Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a trip to Thiers is in order. (Some day in the future.)

[deo-pa]

Thanks for your comments gents. In addition to those FDCs there are a lot of very interesting early advertising covers available from knife makers and distributers. Here is the front and back of two covers I've been lusting after for a while. They are for sale on a philatelic website but unfortunately the price is too rich for me: $85 and $150 asking price respectively. (At that price might as well buy real steel and bone.) You have to admit though they are awful attractive.

Dennis
PS - Note the 5¢ mail in offer on the front of the 2nd cover

[rea1eye]

Very interesting way to combine the two hobbies. My dad use to collect FDC's.

Bob