Crash cover

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A crash cover, also known as an air accident cover or interrupted flight cover, is a cover (envelope) that has been recovered from a fixed-wing aircraft or airship crash or other accident. Crash covers are a type of interrupted mail.

Crashes of flights carrying airmail were a regular occurrence from the earliest days of mail transport by air. In many cases, it was possible to recover some or even all of the mail being carried, with perhaps some charring around the edges of some pieces if there had been a fire. In such cases, the authorities would typically apply a postal marking explaining the delay and damage to the recipient, and possibly enclose the letter in an "ambulance cover" or "body bag" if it was badly damaged, then send it along.

Crash covers are a specialised collecting area of aerophilately and are much-prized items of postal history, since not only are they generally rare, but as tangible artifacts of often-tragic accidents they have a story to tell. The 367 covers salvaged from the Hindenburg disaster are especially desirable,[1] with prices ranging from US$10,000 and up; a cover at the Corinphila auction in May 2001 realized 85,000 Swiss francs (US$48,500).

The American Air Mail Society has a "Crash Cover Committee" specializing in the study of crash covers.