Armistice Day, held on 11 November every year, commemorates the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany at 11am on 11 November 1918 – the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. After the end of World War I, Armistice Day was marked each year by a two-minute silence at 11am, a chance for people to stop and remember the 20 million who died during the conflict. Now the two-minute silence is more often held on Remembrance Sunday, the Sunday closest to Armistice Day, which is a day of remembrance for all those killed in war.

For the first time, BFPS will issue a special commemorative cover on the 11 November 2015 to mark this poignant event.

The main image of this thought-provoking cover is from an original oil painting by Army artist Richard Salter. The Royal Mail issued stamp ‘Poppy’ has been used and will be cancelled by the exclusive ‘We Will Remember Them’ special handstamp, designed especially for the occasion. The postmark also bears the unique serial number ‘British Forces Postal Service 3195’.

Brigadier Tweedie Brown CBE said, “A unique combination of insightful art, powerful sentiment and sympathetic philately makes the 2015 Armistice Day Cover in Remembrance very special; a must for the collector and a lasting memento for those who appreciate the sacrifices made on their behalf.”

The commemorative cover will be available in two versions as follows:

• Standard unsigned.
• Limited Edition of 100 signed by the artist Richard Salter.

The standard and signed commemorative covers will be available to order from the 6th October 2015 on a strictly first-come-first-served basis from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop). They cost just £6 for the unsigned versions and £12 for the signed versions (UK/BFPO p&p free). These are also available to order by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS The Old Post Office Links Place Elie Fife KY9 1AX.