Sweden: Postal Stationery: Military Reply Mail Envelopes - Mint
Swedish Military Reply Mail Stamps are apparently unique in philately. Issued from 1929 through 1985, and used for some period of time after 1985, the stamps originate in a form of postal stationery, but when cut out from the stationery, they are actually stamps. Some European-made albums include spaces for the cut-out stamps. The stamps were printed on the backside of special postal stationery envelopes, called Militärbrev, with an indicia that reads "SVERIGE FÄLTPOST AVGIFTSFRITT (which is Sweden Fieldpost Free of Charge), UNDER the back flap, GUMMED, and usually with cutting guidelines or actual rouletting (only #M3) to aid in removing the stamps from the envelopes. Most of the stamps have text that reads "SVERIGE FÄLTPOST SVARSMÄRKE (Sweden Fieldpost Reply Stamps). Most exist in a variety of color shades; approvals of color shades are sometimes available. Each solder was given a certain regular allotment of such envelopes for the purpose of corresponding with family and friends back home (thus the military reply envelope often will have a military postal service cancellation). When that envelope reached its destination, the recipient would cut the stamp out from under the back flap and place the stamp on a normal envelope to send a reply back to the soldier (thus the reply normal envelope bearing the Reply Stamp will usually have an ordinary town cancellation). Such use is also seen on private mail from one soldier to another, thus sometimes the reply normal envelope will bear a military postal service cancellation.
The Facit Catalog and/or Facit Sverige and/or Facit Postal (in varying editions and years; (as of 8/2023, the Facit Sverige available from me contains the most recent specialized listings) lists and prices the cut-out stamps NH and Used, Reply Stamps used on cover, and the full original envelope, Mint and Used. Facit numbering is used for these listings. It is normal for Used examples of the full original envelope to have had the stamp removed -- that was the intent of the item. However, Mint (NH) envelopes are normally collected with the Reply Stamp intact, as originally issued (though inexpensive examples without the stamp intact are useful to show type and style of the other side of the envelope). In the marketplace, there is usually very little price difference between a NH single Reply Stamp and a Mint (NH) full original envelope with the intact Reply Stamp.
These stamps and envelopes have a significant place in the broader field of Swedish Postal History. They were used in all Swedish military and training activities from 1929 to 1985 and somewhat later, including uses by Swedish UNITED NATIONS forces in Cyprus, Congo, Middle East, etc. Many examples of 1929-1985 MILITARY POSTMARKS are most easily found on these envelopes (and less often on the Reply Stamps themselves, if the reply was sent by another soldier).
GRADING of the envelopes:The website images show representative VF NH examples. Note that the top edge of the reply stamp was cut when the envelope was made and varies in width. NH examples of the envelopes will be fresh, without creases, in as-issued condition. "Mint" examples of the envelopes may include those where the stamp was slightly adhered to the inside of the envelope but has come loose or the envelope may have some small marks on the backside (such as hinge / mounting marks) or may have some very small bends. Used examples will typically show normal postal wear (and the reply stamp will usually have been removed). The glue lines on the backs of the envelopes are naturally discolored on certain printings; this is not usually a defect.
Facit #M1 Envelope [1929 black] NH VF in fresh quality.
125.00
---
247227
Facit #M1 Envelope REPLY STAMP REMOVED [1929 black] NH VF in fresh quality, but without the reply stamp. Useful to display the envelope itself.
20.00
---
247228
Facit #M2 Envelope [1930 blue, no cutting or rouletting] NH VF in fresh quality.
9.00
---
247229
Facit #M2 Envelope [1930 blue, no cutting or rouletting] Mint VF, looks nice.
---
4.50
247230
Facit #M2 Envelope REPLY STAMP REMOVED [1930 blue, no cutting or rouletting] NH VF in fresh quality, but without the reply stamp. Useful to display the envelope itself.
2.00
---
247231
Facit #M3 Envelope [1939 blue, with inked-lines ROULETTING] NH VF in fresh quality.
34.00
---
247232
Facit #M3 Envelope [1939 blue, with inked-lines ROULETTING] Mint VF, looks nice.
---
29.00
247234
Facit #M4A Envelope [1939-1940 blue to ultramarine, with printed dashed cutting lines with UNEVEN (OPEN) lower corners; final words in text square on front "till avsändaren."] (There is only one design of the M4 Reply Stamp, but there are two versions of the text on the envelope itself: M4A with final words in the text square on the front "...till avsändaren." whereas M4B with final words in the text square on the front "...vid krigsmakten." NH VF in fresh quality.
7.00
---
247236
Facit #M4B Envelope [1939-1940 blue to ultramarine, with printed dashed cutting lines with UNEVEN (OPEN) lower corners; final words in text square on front "till krigsmakten."] (There is only one design of the M4 Reply Stamp, but there are two versions of the text on the envelope itself: M4A with final words in the text square on the front "...till avsändaren." whereas M4B with final words in the text square on the front "...vid krigsmakten." NH VF in fresh quality.
6.00
---
247237
Facit #M4B Envelope [1939-1940 blue to ultramarine, with printed dashed cutting lines with UNEVEN (OPEN) lower corners; final words in text square on front "till krigsmakten."] (There is only one design of the M4 Reply Stamp, but there are two versions of the text on the envelope itself: M4A with final words in the text square on the front "...till avsändaren." whereas M4B with final words in the text square on the front "...vid krigsmakten." Mint VF, looks nice.
---
5.00
Military Reply Mail Envelopes - Mint continued ...
Facit #M5I Envelope [1939 blue, with printed DOTTED cutting lines with EVEN lower corners and wide 30.5 mm between left and right dotted lines] NH VF in fresh quality.
8.00
---
247240
Facit #M5II Envelope [1939 blue, with printed DOTTED cutting lines with EVEN lower corners and wide 28.5 mm between left and right dotted lines] NH VF in fresh quality.
6.50
---
247242
Facit #M6 Envelope [1940 blue, with printed combination DOTTED-DASHED cutting lines with EVEN lower corners] NH VF in fresh quality.
WANTED
More M6, either stamp or whole envelope are needed. Please make offer. If you are seeking this item, email me to let me know of your interest.
---
247243
Facit #M6 Envelope [1940 blue, with printed combination DOTTED-DASHED cutting lines with EVEN lower corners] Mint VF, looks nice.
---
6.50
247244
Facit #M7 Envelope [1940 blue, with printed dashed cutting lines with EVEN (CLOSED) lower corners] NH VF in fresh quality.
WANTED
More M7, either stamp or whole envelope are needed. Please make offer. If you are seeking this item, email me to let me know of your interest.
---
247245
Facit #M7 Envelope [1940 blue, with printed dashed cutting lines with EVEN (CLOSED) lower corners] Mint VF, looks nice.
---
4.00
247246
Facit #M8 Envelope [1940 GREEN, with printed dashed cutting lines with EVEN (CLOSED) lower corners] NH VF in fresh quality.
95.00
---
247248
Facit #M8 Envelope REPLY STAMP REMOVED [1940 GREEN, printed dashed lines, EVEN (CLOSED) lower corners] NH VF in fresh quality, but without the reply stamp. Useful to display the envelope itself.
15.00
---
247249
Facit #M9 Envelope [1941 blue, with printed dashed cutting lines with EVEN (CLOSED) lower corners; like M7 but with blue interior print] NH VF in fresh quality.
6.00
---
247250
Facit #M9 Envelope [1941 blue, with printed dashed cutting lines with EVEN (CLOSED) lower corners; like M7 but with blue interior print] Mint VF, looks nice.
---
4.00
Military Reply Mail Envelopes - Mint continued ...
Facit #M10A Envelope [1941 grayish blue-ultramarine, WHITE PAPER with printed dashed cutting lines] (There is only one design of the M10 Reply Stamp, but there are two versions of the text on the envelope itself: M10A with the headline in the text square on the front "Observera" whereas M10B with headline in the text square on the front "Obs!".) NH VF in fresh quality.
4.00
---
247252
Facit #M10A Envelope [1941 grayish blue-ultramarine, WHITE PAPER with printed dashed cutting lines] (There is only one design of the M10 Reply Stamp, but there are two versions of the text on the envelope itself: M10A with the headline in the text square on the front "Observera" whereas M10B with headline in the text square on the front "Obs!".) Mint VF, looks nice.
---
3.00
247253
Facit #M10Av2 Envelope [1941 grayish blue-ultramarine, WHITE PAPER with printed dashed cutting lines] TEXT ERROR: At the top of the back flap, line of text ends with "... och adress" instead of "... och namn". NH VF in fresh quality.
8.00
---
247254
Facit #M10B Envelope [1942 grayish blue-ultramarine, WHITE PAPER with printed dashed cutting lines] (There is only one design of the M10 Reply Stamp, but there are two versions of the text on the envelope itself: M10A with the headline in the text square on the front "Observera" whereas M10B with headline in the text square on the front "Obs!".) NH VF in fresh quality.
4.00
---
247255
Facit #M10B Envelope [1942 grayish blue-ultramarine, WHITE PAPER with printed dashed cutting lines] (There is only one design of the M10 Reply Stamp, but there are two versions of the text on the envelope itself: M10A with the headline in the text square on the front "Observera" whereas M10B with headline in the text square on the front "Obs!".) Mint VF, looks nice.
---
3.00
247256
Facit #M11A Envelope [1943 GREEN - YELLOW GREEN, Fine Lines in Crowns, White DULL Paper with printed dashed cutting lines; boxed text at lower left] (There are only small differences between M11A and M11B reply stamps, HOWEVER, the reply envelopes are quite different: M11A has on the front boxed text at lower left and a text line at bottom, while M11B-C has an area for return address at lower left and no text line at front bottom. M11C is a smaller size envelope with shiny paper. On the reply stamps, M11A-C have 14-15 fine vertical lines in the crowns, whereas M12 has only 7-8 coarse vertical lines in the crowns.) NH VF in fresh quality.
3.50
---
247257
Facit #M11A Envelope [1943 GREEN - YELLOW GREEN, Fine Lines in Crowns, White DULL Paper with printed dashed cutting lines; boxed text at lower left] (There are only small differences between M11A and M11B reply stamps, HOWEVER, the reply envelopes are quite different: M11A has on the front boxed text at lower left and a text line at bottom, while M11B has an area for return address at lower left and no text line at bottom. M11C is a smaller size envelope with shiny paper. On the reply stamps, M11A-C have 14-15 fine vertical lines in the crowns, whereas M12 has only 7-8 coarse vertical lines in the crowns.) Mint VF, looks nice.
---
2.00
247258
Facit #M11B Envelope [1945/1960 YELLOW GREEN, Fine Lines in Crowns, White DULL Paper with printed dashed cutting lines; NO boxed text at lower left] (There are only small differences between M11A and M11B reply stamps, HOWEVER, the reply envelopes are quite different: M11A has on the front boxed text at lower left and a text line at bottom, while M11B-C has an area for return address at lower left and no text line at front bottom. M11C is a smaller size envelope with shiny paper. On the reply stamps, M11A-C have 14-15 fine vertical lines in the crowns, whereas M12 has only 7-8 coarse vertical lines in the crowns.) M11B was delivered from the printer in 1945, but was not actually placed into use until 1960. NH VF in fresh quality.
3.50
---
247259
Facit #M11B Envelope [1945/1960 YELLOW GREEN, Fine Lines in Crowns, White DULL Paper with printed dashed cutting lines; NO boxed text at lower left] (There are only small differences between M11A and M11B reply stamps, HOWEVER, the reply envelopes are quite different: M11A has on the front boxed text at lower left and a text line at bottom, while M11B has an area for return address at lower left and no text line at bottom. M11C is a smaller size envelope with shiny paper. On the reply stamps, M11A-C have 14-15 fine vertical lines in the crowns, whereas M12 has only 7-8 coarse vertical lines in the crowns.) M11B was delivered from the printer in 1945, but was not actually placed into use until 1960. Mint VF, looks nice.
---
2.00
247260
Facit #M11C Envelope [1952/1960 YELLOW GREEN, Fine Lines in Crowns, White SHINY "calendered / glazed" Paper with faint printed dashed cutting lines] (The shinier paper -- and for the complete envelope, smaller size -- is the key difference for M11C; also the interior blue privacy printing is bolder and darker. M11A has on the front boxed text at lower left and a text line at bottom, while M11B-C has an area for return address at lower left and no text line at front bottom. M11C is a smaller size envelope with shiny paper. On the reply stamps, M11A-C have 14-15 fine vertical lines in the crowns, whereas M12 has only 7-8 coarse vertical lines in the crowns.) M11C was delivered from the printer in 1952, but was not actually placed into use until 1960. NH VF in fresh quality.
7.00
---
Military Reply Mail Envelopes - Mint continued ...
Facit #M12 Envelope [1951/1963 GREEN (shades), Coarse Lines in Crowns, White DULL Paper with printed dashed cutting lines] (M11A-C have 14-15 fine vertical lines in the crowns, whereas M12 has only 7-8 coarse vertical lines in the crowns. M12 is the same smaller size envelope as M11C.) M12 was delivered from the printer in 1951 but was not actually placed into use until 1963. NH VF in fresh quality.
10.00
---
247264
Facit #M13I Envelope [1979/1985 BLUE GREEN, New Design: One Crown / Posthorn, with printed dashed cutting lines, 1 mm gap between bottom cutting line and design] M13 was delivered from the printer in 1979 but was not actually placed into use until 1985. NH VF in fresh quality.
WANTED
More M13I, either stamp or whole envelope are needed. Please make offer. If you are seeking this item, email me to let me know of your interest.
---
247265
Facit #M13I Envelope [1979/1985 BLUE GREEN, New Design: One Crown / Posthorn, with printed dashed cutting lines, 1 mm gap between bottom cutting line and design] M13 was delivered from the printer in 1979 but was not actually placed into use until 1985. Mint VF, looks nice.
---
WANTED
More M13I, either stamp or whole envelope are needed. Please make offer. If you are seeking this item, email me to let me know of your interest.
247266
Facit #M13IIa Envelope [1979/1985 BLUE GREEN, New Design: One Crown / Posthorn, with printed dashed cutting lines, 2 mm GAP BETWEEN BOTTOM CUTTING LINE AND DESIGN] M13 was delivered from the printer in 1979 but was not actually placed into use until 1985. (M13IIa is blue green, like M13I, but M13IIb is dark bluish gray and M13IIc is a very rare violetish gray.) NH VF in fresh quality.
39.00
---
247268
Facit #M13IIa Envelope REPLY STAMP REMOVED [1979/1985 BLUE GREEN, New Design: One Crown / Posthorn, with printed dashed cutting lines, 2 mm GAP BETWEEN BOTTOM CUTTING LINE AND DESIGN] M13 was delivered from the printer in 1979 but was not actually placed into use until 1985. (M13IIa is blue green, like M13I, but M13IIb is dark bluish gray and M13IIc is a very rare violetish gray.) NH VF in fresh quality, but without the reply stamp. Useful to display the envelope itself.
6.00
---
247269
Facit #M13IIb Envelope [1979/1985 DARK BLUISH GRAY, New Design: One Crown / Posthorn, with printed dashed cutting lines, 2 mm GAP BETWEEN BOTTOM CUTTING LINE AND DESIGN] M13 was delivered from the printer in 1979 but was not actually placed into use until 1985. (M13IIa is blue green, like M13I, but M13IIb is dark bluish gray and M13IIc is a very rare violetish gray.) NH VF in fresh quality.
WANTED
More M13IIb (dark bluish gray), and also the violetish gray, either stamp or whole envelope are needed. Please make offer. If you are seeking this item, email me to let me know of your interest.
---
247270
Facit #M13IIb Envelope [1979/1985 DARK BLUISH GRAY, New Design: One Crown / Posthorn, with printed dashed cutting lines, 2 mm GAP BETWEEN BOTTOM CUTTING LINE AND DESIGN] M13 was delivered from the printer in 1979 but was not actually placed into use until 1985. (M13IIa is blue green, like M13I, but M13IIb is dark bluish gray and M13IIc is a very rare violetish gray.) Mint VF, looks nice.
---
WANTED
More M13IIb (dark bluish gray), and also the violetish gray, either stamp or whole envelope are needed. Please make offer. If you are seeking this item, email me to let me know of your interest.
Top 
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}
 "View REPRESENTATIVE Image"){kind=small}