P O S T S C R I P T THE SOCIETY OF POSTAL HISTORIANS. Volume 64: No.1 (Whole No.275) Spring 2014

Transcription

1 SPRING 2014 P O S T S C R I P T THE SOCIETY OF POSTAL HISTORIANS Volume 64: No.1 (Whole No.275) Spring 2014 Mail Interception and Censorship in Gambia 1942 (see page 18) CONTENTS PAGE Secretary s Notes 4 President s Weekend, Llandrindod Wells, 15 to 17 November 5 Hong Kong Airmails to Europe 1931 to 1941 Duncan Crewe 7 Transatlantic Airmails from Tangier after WW2 Tony Stanford 13 Postal History with a Difference Margaret Morris 16 Mail Interception and Censorship in Gambia 1942 John Wilson 18 Suspension of Mail Services in the last part of the 20th century Robert Johnson 22 Packet Letter Rates from UK to Cadiz 1840 to 1858 David Stirrups 25 Italian Cedola Card Rates Grahame Lindsey 27 Breslau : Exchange Control Office Number 3 Robin Pizer 30 The German Post Offices in the Levant Hans Smith 32 Tudor Letters Malcolm Ray-Smith 36 Great Britain Duplicate Letter Service in WW1 Graham Mark 41 Bradshaw Advice Cards during the German Occupation of Guernsey Ron Brown 46 Early Mail of Southampton Malcolm Montgomery 55

2 It is with regret that we have to announce the death of two of our members Geoff Oxley Richard Payne Geoff Oxley and Richard Payne A feature of obituaries is the ability to learn new things about persons with whom you have shared a common interest but who have led separate lives when you have left the meetings which have brought you together. I hope that these two obituaries will serve to do just that. Geoff Oxley 1931 to 2013 Geoff was born in November 1931 to Doris and Frederick Oxley. They lived in Cattle Market Road in Northampton a stone s throw away from Phipps Brewery where Geoff s father worked as a brewer s engineer. Geoff started work in the Borough Engineer s Department in Northampton and enjoyed supporting Northampton Town with a very close friend Keith Archer now dead. Geoff did his National Service in the RAF. Most of his working life was spent in the public sector latterly as a business consultant. He was Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators and a Fellow of the Institute of Administration Management; he was a member of the Chartered Management Institute. Other than postal history Geoff was interested in archery; he was a member of the London Archery Society [he even invited me to one of their meetings!]. He instructed in archery but gave up when he lost the right strength to pull bows. He relaxed by watching American Football and had many tapes and DVDs of NFL games. Geoff can be said to have set a postal history book standard with his book: The English Provincial Local Posts Geoff knew much about the postal history of Northampton but in later years branched out into many subjects which he picked up, studied and then sold. These included transpacific airmails and Cuba. In his earlier years he was a prolific writer of articles on British postal history and helped Martin Willcocks with his County Catalogues. His interests included also The English Postal History via Ostend 1815 to 1875, The Social History of Havana, Brazil Transatlantic, UK to Europe and return 1814 to 1855, Cross Channel and North Sea mails, Glasgow and District Postal History and English wars. He had several Gold medals for his International Exhibits. Geoff travelled widely at home and abroad to enjoy postal history. He always used public transport as he never learnt to drive. He was a good letter writer when one had postal history problems. He contributed a lot but most will remember him as a quiet reserved person who had a lot to give if asked. He was a Fellow of the SPH having been asked to join in 1970 and was President in He was also a long standing member of the Postal History Society and a Fellow of the Royal [1976]. Postscript 64/2

3 Richard Payne 1943 to 2014 Richard was the only child of Rose and Charles Payne. He was born on 11 June 1943, Richard was not alone though as his mother had four brothers and sisters. Richard and his family lived in Forest Hill South London and a cousin reports that Richard had the biggest train set he had ever seen. A move followed to Leigh-on-Sea in Southend where the larger family enjoyed the beach, swimming and eating cockles. Richard worked with his father in the business that they ran together washing and cleaning imported dried fruit sent on to major packers or retailers. This was done in buildings that Richard was eventually going to use for his bus collection. His mother Rose died early and quickly from pancreatic cancer. This left Richard and his father devastated but in a position to travel to many events and meetings together and which they did until Richard s father died a few years ago. By this time Richard and his father had moved to Great Sampford in Essex. Richard had three overwhelming interests: postal history especially the history of Perkins Bacon and St Helena; single decker buses and [with his father] masonry. I went with four people including Richard to St Helena for its 500th discovery anniversary in 2002 and then on to Ascension Island. We sailed from Cape Town and the sea trip and the tour round places in St Helena in an open top 1927 large car showed how much Richard knew about St Helena and Napoleon. This was reflected in his talks on the subject. One of my memories is Richard leaving the Consulate Hotel in Jamestown with his bag to attend a very small masonic lodge in [and it had to be] Napoleon Street. What happened there history does not relate but I think they enjoyed having a British visitor. Richard used his collection of old buses to entertain and transport members of the SPH from time to time and he did this for others as well including weddings. The last trip that he made was for a group of close friends in 2013 when he took one of his buses [perhaps I should say coaches] to Calais to celebrate his 70th birthday. Richard died of cancer early this year; the last time we all saw him at an SPH meeting was at the President s Weekend in Llandrindod Wells in November last year. While he was a shadow of his former self his voice and opinions were strong and perhaps this is the Richard we will want to remember a real character and a generous person. Richard was a fellow of the SPH having been asked to join in He was a long standing Fellow [1973] of the Royal and a long standing member of the Great Britain Philatelic Society. A FEW WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT I am writing this having just returned home from the Waltham in the Wolds meeting, where once again we enjoyed a wonderful meeting and an excellent lunch. My thanks to the Convenors, John Jackson and Norman Hoggarth and the Catering team. It was pleasing to see 41 people there including 5 guests. We had a full day, with a wide range of displays - the reports will follow (probably in the next Postscript), but I will mention the Melton Mowbray display. This was formed by the late Bob Swarbrick, and kindly loaned for the day by his daughter. Postal History local to the meeting is always of great interest, and this one especially so, we thank PJ for her help and John for getting the display to Waltham. Postscript 64/3

4 and few words from the Editor Reg Gleave At last there is some space for me to deliver my annual lecture. When I was composing it I remembered a piece which appeared in a similar publication. So with the writer s kind permission a slightly amended version follows. It is good to see some new names appearing on articles in this edition many thanks. I hope this will encourage more of the silent majority of members to have a go, especially as the articles locker is now pretty bare. If you want future Journals the ball is firmly in members court. Please do NOT send articles in pdf format or send illustrations as anything other than jpegs. I will have to reject these as I cannot edit them to make the usual grammar, punctuation, spelling etc corrections necessary, nor to convert them to the standard Journal format. As a last resort I will accept short articles in typescript, albeit very reluctantly, as I then have to spend valuable time typing them out and cross-checking for accuracy with the original script. So it seems that I am not the only one who has problems. May I remind all members that Postscript from 2006 is available on the Society s website, recent ones in colour. SECRETARY S NOTES - Philip Longbottom Resignations Brian Trotter and Michael Brooks have resigned their membership of the Society. They both wish all the best for the Society in the future. Address Changes etc (in order of notification) Ben Palmer New address &tel Cavendish Gallery 7 Princeton Court Felsham Road London SW15 1AZ or David Venables New davidvenables2@sky.com Ian Evans New address & tel Longcroft 78 John Street Helensburgh Dunbartonshire G84 9JZ Awards to SPH members Congratulations are due to the following member for their award, which I inadvertently omitted from the last Postscript. Awards at Brasliana 2013 (Classes:- PH = Postal History; Trad = Traditional; Lit = Literature) Name Exhibit Class Award Ben Palmer The Sydney View, A Guide and Index Lit Vermeil to covers (2013) Postscript 64/4

5 PRESIDENT S WEEKEND, LLANDRINDOD WELLS, 15 TO 17 NOVEMBER 2013 Convenor: Frank Bennett Members and Guests attending Jon & Shameera Aitcheson* Frank Bennett John Birkett Allan Mike Scott Archer Graham Booth Keith Brandon* Brian & Jean* Brookes Duncan & Susan* Crewe Iain Dyce Michael Elliott Richard Farman Richard & Jill* Flemming John Forbes Nixon & Brenda Purnell* Mike Fulford Stuart Geddes* Nigel Gooch Andy Gould Chris Grimshaw James & Pat Grimwood-Taylor David & Pat* Gurney Gordon & Wendy* Hardy Chris Hitchen Sue Hopson John Jackson Robert Johnson Philip Kaye Peter Kelly Eddie Lawrence Charles & Lesley* Leonard Geoff Lewis Grahame & Gillian* Lindsey Philip & Julie* Longbottom Philip & Brenda Mackey* Mike & Ewa* Mapleton Graham Mark Gerald Marriner Jeremy Martin Nick Martin Margaret Morris Susan McEwen Andrew Norris Susan & Chris* Oliver Richard Payne Robin Pizer Maurice & Heather* Porter John Powell Chris Rainey Malcolm & Anne* Ray-Smith Mike & Susan* Roberts Lyne Robinson Peter & Elizabeth* Rooke Henk Slabbinck Max & Sue* Smith Hans Smith Bjorn Sohrne Tony & Inge* Stanford David Stirrups Richard & Jenny* Stock David Trapnell David Venables Wilf & Valerie* Vevers Paul Watkins John Wilson Paul & Alison* Woodness Paul Wregglesworth Jan Young* President s Display The President s Display consisted of Early Military Mail. The main categories were: Military Hospital Mail; Militia Letters; Seaman s 1d Concessionary Letters; Soldier s 1d Concessionary Letters; Foreign Military Letters; Napoleonic POWs Letters. Early Military Mail from 1652 used the free franking privilege to ensure that letters were delivered. Those officers who were MPs abused the free system so that they and their fellow officers did not pay for their correspondence. Many of the letters displayed showed the contents which contained historical information on Naval or Military Matters. It was not until 1795 that seamen and soldiers had the 1d concessionary rate of postage which was not only abused by them but the officers also. The Napoleonic period covered the raising of Militia Regiments to the blockage of the posts of Holland, France and Spain. Also shown was the mail of the Parole Prisoners held in many of the Midland towns. Richard is preparing the whole display to be shown on the Society s website. Postscript 64/5

6 Invited Displays Duncan Crewe Hong Kong Airmails, the European Connection Margaret Morris Astronomical Communication in the 17th Century Peter Rooke France 1789 to 1815 Members and Guests Country Meeting Displays Bjorn Sohrne Effects on early Persian Postal Development to the 1920s Mike Mapleton The Postal Markings in incoming foreign express mail Hans Smith German Levant, the Branch Offices Keith Brandon* The Mysterious Case of the Viennese Poste Restante Richard Flemming Channel Islands and Related Ship Letters Gerald Marriner 1960 to 1965 UN Internees Belgian Congo David Gurney Illustrated letters of the Channel Islands John Birkett-Allan Malta Early Registered Mail Paul Woodness Postal History of Leros Chris Grimshaw Mail from Constantinople 1919 to 1923 John Aitcheson* Aspects of the Suez Canal Zone Wilf Vevers HMS Ascension Robin Pizer Flensburg Exchange Control 1919 to 1923 Michael Elliott Finland at War Philip Mackey* Hawkeshead the Postmaster part Paul Watkins Ed VII and GV Mail to France David Trapnell The forgotten war 1952 to 1956 Peter Kelly Aspects of Type Sage Graham Mark Egypt and Palestine in WW1 Malcolm Ray-Smith Tudor Letters James Grimwood-Taylor Not only GB but also Tony Stanford Transatlantic Mail from Tangier after WW2 Nick Martin Early origin marks of Belgium Paul Wregglesworth New Zealand AR Service David Stirrups Rates on Packet Letters UK to Cadiz 1840 to 1880 John Jackson WW1 POWs and internees in Switzerland Richard Farman Illustrated Postal Stationery Postcards Stuart Geddes* Duplex Marks of Newport Monmouthshire Eddie Lawrence Hong King the Treaty Ports Max Smith Indian re-directed Mail Richard Stock Chinese Inflation Mail 1945 to 1948 Graham Booth Arundel Town Marks Henk Slabbinck WW2 Passports Standing Displays John Forbes Nixon GB Early Registered Mail Mike Scott Archer Crickhowell 1811 to 1831 (a unique sequence of events) Charles Leonard Russian Censorship of Foreign Newspapers and Magazines John Wilson Wartime Censorship on Lati Substitute via Gambia Grahame Lindsey Cedola (book order) Cards Robin Pizer Breslau Exchange Control Maurice Porter Boer War David Venables European Side of Russia Frank Bennett Miscellaneous Transatlantic Mail Graham Booth Liverpool Forwarding Agents Robert Johnson Service Suspended Philip Kaye Sussex Skeletons Iain Dyce Some WW1 Mail from Malaya Mike Fulford Ottoman Cyprus Paul Watkins Ed VIII Mail to France Eddie Lawrence Anglo Chinese confrontation and beyond * = guest Postscript 64/6

7 HONG KONG AIRMAILS TO EUROPE 1931 TO 1941 Duncan Crewe When the major European powers were developing their airmail services Hong Kong was very much on the periphery and it was not until March 1936 that Imperial Airways inaugurated a feeder service between Hong Kong and Penang where a connection was made with the main trunk service between London and Australia. There had however been a number of attempts to speed up mail by air acceleration using the services of a number of airlines and these are detailed below. July 1931 Eurasia Shanghai to Manchouli service The Eurasia Aviation Corporation was set up in February 1931 with the specific purpose of operating a route from Shanghai via Peking, Manchouli, Irkutsk and Moscow to Berlin. The Chinese government held 55% of the stock but the crews and aircraft were supplied by Lufthansa. Although the intention was to offer a largely flown service with the exception of the section between Manchouli and Irkutsk which was by rail, in reality mail was usually sent from Manchouli through to Moscow by the Trans Siberian railway. The first regular service departed on 31 May but Hong Kong did not dispatch mail until 7 July when the post office notice made it clear that only the Shanghai to Manchouli section would be flown. The service was very short lived. Opposition from the Mongolian government saw an aircraft being shot down by ground fire, and the Japanese invasion of Manchuria blocked off the possibility of using that as an alternative route and led to the service being suspended, probably by September. The Hong Kong post office continued to advertise mails as late as December but if any were dispatched it seems that they could only be flown as far as Peking. Even without the political problems the route was unlikely to have been feasible, particularly in winter, due to the very harsh operating conditions and the lack of infrastructure such as aerodromes and navigation aids August 1932 Air Orient service from Saigon This provided a much more reliable opportunity to accelerate air mail which was sent from Hong Kong by sea to Saigon for onwards air transmission by the Air Orient service to Marseilles. This operated weekly and there were regular fortnightly sailings by the Messageries Maritimes line between Hong Kong and Indo China. In the alternate weeks the postal authorities dispatched mail by any ship that could make a connection. The first dispatch from the colony took place on 2 August and a further 21 dispatches were made in With effect from 7 October until 9 December the stamps were cancelled by red ink to make sorting easier. This ceased mid December when an airmail circular date stamp was sent out to the colony. Air Orient made one experimental flight from Hong Kong on 5 November [see Fig. 1] but political opposition from both the Chinese and British authorities meant that this was not repeated. Ironically engine trouble meant that the aircraft reached Saigon too late to make the connection so mail was held over until the next week s service. From June 1933 onwards the French service faced competition from the KLM service. In October of that year Air Orient was one of the airlines that merged to form Air France which now operated the route. By 1934, when Imperial Airways was also flying from Singapore, cover evidence suggests that the French service was less used although mails were still dispatched on a regular basis as is shown in Table 4. After the introduction of a direct air link to Hong Kong by Imperial Airways in March 1936 very little mail was sent via Indo China. Air France were still keen to fly into Hong Kong but it was not until August 1938 that it finally received permission to do so and it was not until March 1939 that it was allowed to carry mail from Hong Kong when Imperial Airways was given reciprocal rights in Indo China. The service was ended in June 1940 when the Germans occupied France. Postscript 64/7

8 Fig 1 Double weight commercial cover by the experimental La Zélée flight November 1933 The franking is made up of the 12c per oz surface fee and 2 x $1 35c per ½ oz air fee Table 1 Summary of rates Air Orient/Air France Destination 2 Aug Dec June Jan May Mar 1939 ½ oz ¼ oz ½ oz ¼ oz ½ oz ½ oz ½ oz ½ oz Greece $1 20c +20c per oz surface fee 85c inclusive rate $1 40 inclusive rate 70c $1 20 $1 00 $1 20c $1 50 Britain & Ireland $1 35c +12c per oz surface fee $1 inclusive rate $1 60c inclusive rate 80c $ c $1 20c No rate for Britain given Rest of Europe $1 35c +20c per oz surface fee $1 inclusive rate $1 60c inclusive rate 80c $1 35 $1 00 $1 20c $1 50 June 1933 KLM service from Singapore The Hong Kong post office first dispatched mail by sea to join the KLM Bandoeng to Amsterdam service on 17 June The rates were the same as those charged for the French service [see Tables 1 & 2]. From then on mail was dispatched on a very regular basis as shown in Table 3. Use was made of the regular fortnightly P & O sailings and by any other ships that could make a connection in alternate weeks. The Hong Kong post office continued to favour Postscript 64/8

9 KLM even after Imperial Airways began its own service from Singapore in December During 1934 a total of 51 mails were dispatched to join KLM and only 13 for the Imperial Airways service. The main reason for this was that KLM, using modern DC 2 and later DC 3 aircraft was significantly faster than Imperial Airways and was flown throughout, whereas Imperial Airways mail was railed between Brindisi and Paris. Even after Imperial Airways opened a direct air link from Hong Kong in March 1936 mail continued to be dispatched by sea to connect with KLM. For mail posted after the weekly Imperial Airways service had been dispatched it was often quicker to send it by sea to join the KLM connection [see Fig 2]. The Hong Kong post office continued to make up mails for KLM right up to the outbreak of war though from cover evidence the volume of mail dispatched that way seems to have declined during the course of 1938 when the feeder service from Hong Kong became twice weekly. Additionally the introduction of the Empire flying boats on the main Imperial Airways trunk route greatly speeded up the British service which was now flown over the whole route. Finally the extension of the All Up Scheme to Hong Kong in September 1938 meant that it only cost 15c per ½ oz to send mail to Britain by the British service whereas it cost $1 20c by the Dutch service. Rates to other European destinations at this time were the same for the Dutch, French and British services as detailed in Tables1, 2 and 4 Table 2 Summary of rates KLM Destination 16 June June January May 1936 ¼ oz ½ oz ¼ oz ½ oz ½ oz ½ oz Greece 85c $ c $1 20 $1 $1 20 Britain & Ireland $1 $ c $ c $1 20 Rest of Europe $1 $ c $1 35 $1 $1 20 Fig 2 Cover to Germany by the KLM service from Singapore April 1937 Posted the day after the IA service had departed this cover was sent by sea to join the KLM service. The Franking is made up of 5 x $1 20c per ½ oz rate plus a 20c registration fee Postscript 64/9

10 Table 3 Table of dispatches by sea for onwards air transmission Date Air Orient/Air France KLM Imperial Airways (18 of which were before the IA rate reduction in May) prior to introduction of IA direct service in March 17 further dispatches by sea after the introduction of IA direct service 17 prior to introduction of IA direct service in March 57 further dispatches by sea after the introduction of IA direct service Air France was given permission to fly mail from Hong Kong with effect from 10 March and no further dispatches were made by sea 37 Dispatches by sea to connect with KLM ceased in September when war broke out. 49 (9 of which were before the rate reduction in May) 17 A direct air service to Penang was inaugurated in March and no further mails were dispatched to Singapore to connect with IA services I am very grateful to Richard Whittington of the Hong Kong Study circle for details of sailings December 1933 Imperial Airways service via Singapore Although Hong Kong had dispatched mail by sea to Karachi to join the Imperial Airways service in September 1929 this was only a temporary measure occasioned by the suspension of the Trans Siberian route. Only three dispatches were made via Karachi and the third was lost in the City of Rome crash in the Gulf of Genoa. It was not until December 1933, when Imperial Airways extended its trunk service to Singapore that the Hong Kong authorities began to dispatch mail by the British airline. Even then, as Table 3 shows, far more dispatches were made via the quicker KLM service during 1934 and the first four months of It was only after Imperial Airways reduced its rate to Britain to 50c per ½ oz on 6 May, undercutting the Dutch and French services by 30c, that the number of dispatches by Imperial Airways began to match the number sent by KLM. Even then there was on average a four day saving in time if the more expensive KLM service was used. During October 1935 Imperial Airways began a series of six trial flights between Penang and Hong Kong with a view to establishing a feeder service. The preferred route was to operate from Bangkok to Hong Kong but the Siamese authorities refused to grant overflying rights on terms acceptable to Imperial Airways. As a result when the weekly service from Hong Kong was inaugurated on 27 March 1936 it connected with the trunk route at Penang. This remained the case until December 1937 when an agreement was finally reached with the Siamese government and Bangkok became the terminus of the feeder service with the first flight leaving Hong Kong on 19 December. With effect from 26 March 1938 the feeder service was duplicated with flights leaving Hong Kong on Saturday and Tuesday. This resulted in less use being made of the KLM service and this was reduced further in September when the extension of the Empire All Up scheme to Hong Kong meant that all first class mail to Empire destinations was flown for only 15c per ½ oz. This meant that mail to Britain and Ireland was $1-05c per ½ oz cheaper if sent by Imperial Airways rather than KLM or Air France. Postscript 64/10

11 Fig 3 Cover to Germany by the last pre war dispatch from Hong Kong The cover is correctly franked at the $1 20c per ½ oz rate Table 4 Summary of rates Imperial Airways Destination 22 December June 34 1 Jan May Mar Sept Sept 1939 ¼ oz ½ oz ¼ oz ½ oz ½ oz ½ oz ½ oz ½ oz ½ oz Greece 85c $ c S1 20 $1 $1 $1 20 $1 20 $2 20 Britain & $1 $ c $ c 50c 50c 15c $1 15 Ireland Rest of Europe $1 $ c $1 35 $1 $1 $1-20 $1-20 $2 20 Impact of war Initially the main impact of the war was the suspension of the All Up rate and the application of a wartime surcharge making the ½ oz rate to Britain $1 15c and the ½ oz rate to European destinations $2 20c. The British service continued to operate normally through to June 1940 when Italy s entry into the war severed the Mediterranean link and led to mail being routed south from Egypt to Durban by the Horseshoe route and sent on to Europe from there by sea. The Hong Kong Bangkok feeder service faced increasing problems from June onwards as the Japanese pressured the Vichy authorities in Indo China to end the service. By October demands that each flight had to be individually cleared in advance led to the service being permanently suspended with the last mail being flown from Hong Kong on 15 October. From now on mail intended for the Horseshoe route had to be either sent by sea to Singapore to join the BOAC (formed by a merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways on 1 April 1940) service there or by air via Chungking to Rangoon by the CNAC service which began carrying Hong Kong mail on 25 October The rate to Britain via Chungking was $1 50c per ½ oz and the mail was forwarded from Rangoon by BOAC via the Horseshoe route. Postscript 64/11

12 Trans-Pacific mail As an alternative to the Horseshoe route Pan American Airways offered three alternative routings via the Pacific The first was an all air route which was introduced as early as 18 June 1940 and cost $5 per ½ oz [see Fig 4]). Mail was flown to San Francisco by Pan American, then across to New York by the internal American network before being forwarded to Lisbon by Pan American. From there the mail was flown to Whitchurch near Bristol by BOAC. The second alternative, which was advertised on 13 June 1940, was for the mail to be flown to the USA by Pan American Airways but then sent across the Atlantic by surface. The rate was $2 80c per ½ oz for the flown sector plus a 15c per oz surface fee for Britain and a 25c per oz fee for other destinations. The air fee was increased to $3 50c on 2 August 1940 whilst the surface fees were increased to 20c for Britain and 30c for Europe on 1 February 1941 On 12 May 1941 a third option was offered with mail being carried across the Pacific by sea but then being flown across the Atlantic by Pan American Airways to Lisbon and on to Whitchurch by BOAC. The rate by this routing was $2 per ½ oz Fig 4 Cover to Britain at the $5 per ½ oz rate by the all air route August 1940 Postscript 64/12

13 TRANSATLANTIC AIRMAIL FROM TANGIER AFTER WW2 Tony Stanford My display featured TransAtlantic Airmail out of Tangier from the establishment in mid-1945 by BOAC of a regular air service between London and Tangier until the closure of the British PO in Tangier at the end of April The last British Post Offices in the French Sector had been closed prior to the outbreak of WW2, as had all the offices in the Spanish Zone apart from Tetuan, which closed at the end of December With the introduction of the BOAC service there was a need to identify items that required onward airmail transmission beyond London and the first part of my display featured the markings used to indentify such mail dispatched from Tangier requiring Onward Air Transmission between London and North America from August 1945 to the end of For a short period the Tangier Post Office fixed a typed label indicating NORTH ATLANTIC AIR SERVICE, which was a requirement of the British Post Office [Fig. 1]. As the few covers bearing these typed labels are from different senders, it is assumed they were applied by the Tangier Post Office until a series of handstamps was provided which remained in use until around mid The original handstamps were probably locally manufactured with a mixture of one and two lines. The two single line handstamps, one of which had ATLANTIC missspelled [Fig. 2], were replaced with two-line handstamps sometime around mid-1946 [Fig. 3]. In June 1946 The British Post Office informed the Tangier office that AV2 forms were not required for accounting purposes but that correspondence should be made into separate bundles labelled Onward Air Transmission and Surface Transmission respectively. Thus, from July 1946 OAT handstamps came into use and, until mid-1947, can be found together with the NORTH ATLANTIC AIR SERVICE handstamps. A violet unframed OAT handstamp measuring 24 x 8.5 mm was used between July and October 1946 and then replaced by a violet OAT in double ringed oval, both of these being applied to mail at Tangier. As the OAT hand-stamps are only found on a small proportion of airmail covers to North America, it is assumed they were applied to the top cover of a bundle. My display included mail from Tetuan forwarded to Tangier for dispatch with a distinct serifed NORTH ATLANTIC AIR SERVICE two line hand-stamp applied at Tetuan together with the early unframed OAT handstamp [Fig. 4]. From June 1937 unoverprinted stamps were supplied to the Tangier and Tetuan PO s as stocks of the overprinted stamps ran out, with only commemoratives being overprinted MOROCCO AGENCIES or TANGIER and the low value definitives (½d, 1d, 1½d) overprinted TANGIER. As the overprints on the higher value KGVI definitives were not re-introduced until 1949, most of the covers from this early post-war period feature the higher value unoverprinted British definitives. Fig 3 illustrates mixed use with the overprinted definitives. Postscript 64/13

14 Fig. 1 Air Mail cover from Tangier to New York franked at the 1/9 air mail rate to the USA for up to half an ounce with GB unoverprinted 1s and 9d definitives cancelled by BRITISH POST OFFICE TANGIER double ring cds dated 29 August Transit by the NORTH ATLANTIC AIR SERVICE is indicated on the front by a typed label and a violet two-lined hand-stamp measuring 49.5 x 8.5 mm. Fig. 2 Registered Air Mail cover from Tangier to New York franked at 2/- for the 1/9 air mail rate to the USA for up to half an ounce and 3d Registration fee with pairs of GB unoverprinted 3d and 9d definitives cancelled by REGISTERED BRITISH P.O. TANGIER oval dated 18 December A single line miss-spelt NORTH ALANTIC AIR SERVICE hand-stamp in violet ink measuring 69 x 4 mm has been applied to the front. On the reverse are New York arrival marks dated 29 December. Postscript 64/14

15 Fig. 3 Air Mail cover from Tangier to New York franked at 1/9 air mail rate to the USA for up to half an ounce with a mixed franking comprising a pair of 9d unoverprinted KGVI definitives and a pair of 1½d TANGIER overprints all tied with a dumb bar canceller. On the front is a two line violet NORTH ATLANTIC AIR SERVICE handstamp measuring 38 x 7.2 mm. with the violet OAT in double ringed oval above. The recipient applied a receiving mark to the front dated 10 December. Fig. 4 Air Mail cover from Tetuan to Detroit franked at 1/9d for the first step air mail rate to the USA for up to half an ounce with 9d and a pair of 6d GB unoverprinted definitives cancelled by BRITISH POST OFFICE TETUAN cds dated 21 August On the reverse as dispatch mark is a double ring Tangier cds with the same date. The two-line NORTH ATLANTIC AIR SERVICE handstamp in violet ink measuring 59 x 10.0 mm applied to the front is known only on mail originating from Tetuan. At Tangier a violet unframed OAT hand-stamp measuring 24 x 8.5 mm was applied. This handstamp is only recorded used between July and October Postscript 64/15

16 POSTAL HISTORY WITH A DIFFERENCE - Margaret Morris Given that I have spent a lifetime as a thematic collector, readers should not be too surprised that my approach to postal history is also by nature thematic. An interest in astronomy was additionally sparked off at an early age so it was only natural that my stamp collection would be on this theme. Over the years, in addition to all the wealth of philatelic material available, I was also from time to time picking up letters written by astronomers, mail addressed to observatories and data intended for publication in learned journals. Much of this material was from the 19th century as I did not find later typed communications so interesting as handwritten ones and letters from earlier centuries tended to be out of my price range. However, under the strict regulations for thematic exhibits, it was not possible to show these other than when presenting displays to philatelic societies where such items were always very well received. During The Stamp Show 2000, a seminar on Social Philately was run by Pat Grimwood-Taylor and I was delighted to discover that this new collecting field would permit the use of all the items that I had been acquiring. However, things never stand still and some years later, once again the goalposts were moved. For the past few years Social Philately has at international level been superseded by Postal History Sub-Class 2C. The regulations for this will be found on the FIP website. The display shown at Llandrindod Wells consisted of an 80-page exhibit in this new discipline plus an additional ten pages, some of which amplified individual pieces within the exhibit. The items shown were a bit of a mix. Some were included for their interesting routes and postal markings while in other cases the important feature was perhaps the text of a letter or even the person who was the writer or addressee. Two pieces are illustrated. The first of these is a thin little cover, rather crumpled, which had the magic wording written on it Eclipse / 22 nd Jan The reason for the crumpling is that the envelope had stuffed into it a Time Bill of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway with details of the train times for those wishing to travel to Jeur to observe the eclipse, and also a complete page from The Times of India with some fascinating additional information such as By order of the Nizam (of Hyderabad) fifty prisoners have been released from the Central Jail on account of the eclipse. Each receives a small money present and clothes. Mention was also made of the Eclipse Expedition led by Sir Norman Lockyer and a party from the British Astronomical Association. Some years ago I had the opportunity to acquire a copy of the book published by the BAA with full account of this expedition and many photographs. A fortunate coming-together of these related items. The second piece is shown mainly because of the interesting addressee Manuel John Johnson who was born in 1805 in Macao, son of an employee of the East India Company. He completed his education at the Addiscombe Military Academy and in 1823 was sent to St. Helena where from 1826 he supervised the building of the Ladder Hill Observatory. In 1828 he was made Superintendent of that Observatory. His Catalogue of 606 Principal Fixed Stars in the Southern Hemisphere earned him the award of the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. Postscript 64/16

17 He was appointed aide-de-camp to the Governor and part of his duties consisted of guarding the tomb of Napoleon. Johnson retired on pension from the East India Company at the age of 27 and entered Oxford as an undergraduate the next year. After graduating in 1839 he was appointed as Director of the Radcliffe Observatory and it was here that the Mulready (postmarked Newcastle 1843 October 16) was addressed to him. In 1856 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and from served as President of the Royal Astronomical Society. He died in Oxford in 1859 a fairly short, but full life. This thematic approach leads one into some fascinating byways and, given the range of worldwide material; it is not easy for me to find out all the postal historical information about each item. I gratefully acknowledge the help given to me by kind members of this Society, both past and present, when I have approached them for specialist information. Postscript 64/17

18 MAIL INTERCEPTION AND CENSORSHIP IN GAMBIA 1942 John Wilson The enforced ending in December 1941 of the Italian LATI service carrying Axis mail between Europe and South America resulted in Pan American Airways having to provide a replacement service known as the LATI substitute. PanAm flying boats began to carry mail between Natal, Brazil and Lisbon, and were supposed to call at Bathurst in The Gambia where a team of British Imperial Censors had been stationed for this purpose. Because of confusion and possibly American opposition to censorship in general, the calls at Bathurst were few and far between, with the result that Axis mail continued to be carried largely without interception in the period from January to the end of July 1942 when the censorship function was transferred to a joint Anglo-American censor station at San Juan, Puerto Rico. Instructions to the Bathurst censors were to examine mail and compare it to a Watch List for addressees or addresses of interest. ENEMY mail, i.e. that to or from Germany and Italy, was to be forwarded to London for detailed examination. Such mail would then either be condemned and held, or forwarded after inspection. Non-Axis mail was treated on a case-by-case basis but normally forwarded after examination at Bathurst. Such was the confusion/bloody-mindedness of the Americans, that only one northbound flight actually off-loaded mail at Bathurst in the period January to the end of May 1942, and consequently covers are hard to find. In the period from May to the end of July 1942 only five northbound (to Lisbon) and four southbound (from Lisbon) flights called at Bathurst. Once again, identifiable covers are not easy to locate and confirm. This display showed examples of intercepted and redirected mail from this period. Pan American Clipper calls at Bathurst for LATI substitute mail censorship Date of call Duration of stop Flight No. Direction 08/03/ hours 2 mins northbound 27/05/ hours 15 mins northbound 03/06/ hours 26 mins northbound 09/06/ hours 46 mins southbound 21/06/ hour 25 mins northbound 23/06/ minutes southbound 03/07/ hour 10 mins northbound 08/07/ minutes 8010 southbound 18/07/ hour 8 mins northbound 25/07/ hour 36 mins southbound Postscript 64/18

19 Argentina to Germany 27 May Intercepted at Bathurst, Gambia and forwarded to London for examination. Note the three-side opening technique used in London. Correct rate paid 20c surface, 125c air fee. Carried on second northbound flight of Pan American Route 7. Route Buenos Aires-Natal-Bathurst-Lisbon-London-Lisbon-Berlin. Argentina to Vichy France 23 June Intercepted at Bathurst and forwarded to London where it was condemned and held. Fourth northbound flight of Pan American Route 7. Correct rate paid 20c surface, 20c registration, 2 x 125c air fee. Postscript 64/19

20 Germany to Argentina 5 June Intercepted at Bathurst and forwarded to London for examination, then sent on to Buenos Aires arriving 26 August Correct rate paid 25 Rpf surface, 90 Rpf air fee. Rate introduced 4 May Carried on first southbound Pan American Route 8 flight. Switzerland to Argentina treated as Axis mail. Intercepted in Bathurst but opened and resealed there, censor 5453 and not returned to London. Only a few covers recorded. Carried on third southbound Pan American Route 8 flight. Correct rate paid 30c surface, 30c registration, 1 Fr. 50c air fee. Postscript 64/20

21 Vichy France to Argentina 6 July 1942 intercepted in Bathurst and opened and re-sealed there by censor This is the only recorded intercepted cover from France to Argentina. Correct rate paid 4 Fr. surface, 18 Fr. air fee. Carried on third southbound Pan American Route 8 flight. Switzerland to Argentina treated as Axis mail. Intercepted in Bathurst but opened and re-sealed there by censor 5453 and not returned to London. Only a few covers recorded. Carried on flight 8012, the fourth and final southbound Pan American Route 8 flight to call at Bathurst before censorship transferred to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Correct rate paid 30c surface, 30c registration, 1 Fr. 50c air fee. Postscript 64/21

22 SUSPENSION OF MAIL SERVICES IN THE LAST PART OF THE 20th CENTURY Robert Johnson These pages have been taken from my standing display at the President s weekend in November The intention behind the display was to show how many conflicts involving the suspension of postal services there have been since the end of the Second World War. The five items which now follow are illustrative of that and the caption to each contains the basic information necessary to understand why there was a suspension of postal services. Rhodesian Declaration of Independence New Zealand to Rhodesia January 1966 Rhodesia declared UDI on 11 November Economic sanctions applied by Britain and adopted by Commonwealth countries included the return of mail. Postscript 64/22

23 Iraq to the United Kingdom September 1991 Iraq invaded Kuwait on the 2 August In the same month the United Nations imposed mandatory sanctions on Iraq. The postal services to Iraq and Kuwait were affected by these sanctions. In August 1991 these sanctions were modified to allow some oil revenue to be used to purchase food and essential supplies. This letter was allowed to pass as it related to medical products. The Hungarian Uprising in 1956 Switzerland to Hungary December 1956 In October 1956 there was a popular uprising in Hungary mainly directed at a demand for the withdrawal of Russian troops. On 14 October 1956 the last stronghold in Budapest surrendered to the Russians but communications with other countries remained suspended in the period immediately afterwards. Postscript 64/23

24 The Congo in 1962 South Africa to Katanga August 1962 Moise Tshombe in 1960 declared Katanga (formerly in Belgian Congo) independent of the newly formed independent Cong Republic. This led to confusion and bloodshed involving Belgian, Congo and United Nations forces. This letter was sent in a period when the United Nations forces were working up to a position which enabled Katanganese forces to be defeated (December 1962 and January 1963). In this period communications between the Congo Republic and Katanga were severely disrupted. Civil unrest in Africa Switzerland to Zaire September 1991 In April 1990 President Mobutu declared a one party state in Zaire. This led to demonstrations and a massacre. A Sovereign National Conference was set up to discuss the future of the nation. This met in April 1991 but talks collapsed after a month. In September 1991 soldiers in Kinshasa and elsewhere started looting, the economy of Zaire came to a standstill and normal postal communications into Zaire became impossible for a short period. Postscript 64/24

25 PACKET LETTER RATES FROM UK TO CADIZ 1840 to 1858 David Stirrups During this time, the British Post Office charges only covered delivery to the Spanish Postal authorities, who raised their own charge. To protect the British Post Office s income and profit; mail to Cadiz was sent by the (more expensive) packet route unless endorsed via France or a named ship. During this period, the Peninsular Line held the Post Office contract to carry mail by sea to Portugal, Spain and Gibraltar. Whilst the British charges are straight forward, it can be more difficult to understand the Spanish charges, as the Cadiz Post Office s compliance with directives from Madrid was idiosyncratic. From 9 July 1812 [Ref. 1] the first rate step by packet to Spain was two shillings two pence and a Post Office Notice N o 1 of that month confirmed no inland postage is taken for Spain. On 5 December 1839, the British Post Office basis of the rate changed to weight [Ref. 2] and became two shillings two pence per half ounce up to one ounce and then four shillings four pence per ounce, with pre-payment compulsory. These rates remained [Ref. 3] in force until 1 October The packet service to Cadiz ceased on 27 February New Spanish rates on mail from the United Kingdom to the Cadiz region of Spain were proposed [Ref. 4] on 17 November 1804, probably implemented soon after but not ratified until [Ref. 5] 1807 The rate was 11 reales for up to 4 adarmes and 2½ reales for each extra 2 adarmes. Different rates applied to other parts of Spain. A circular [Ref. 4] dated 18 August 1845 required rates to be written large covering most of the front of the letter [Fig. 1] and all handstamped higher rates were cancelled. The same directive instructed that (inland) letters up to 6 adarmes (first rate) will not have rates shown on them. This caused considerable confusion and first rate handstamps came back into general use within a few months. However, Cadiz also continued to use higher rate hand stamps [Fig. 2]. The rate was reduced [Ref. 6] to 10 reales per ¼ ounce on 26 June 1853 [Fig. 3] and to 4 reales per ¼ ounce from [Ref. 7] 1 May 1855 [Fig. 4]. This cover also has the exceptional Medio-Porto mark (MP), probably meaning half rate. Spanish postal historians have identified 11 examples (2011 [Ref. 8]). It seems unique to Cadiz and is known used from late 1857 to early 1858 on mail of non-spanish overseas origin to a variety of commercial recipients. Its use and significance is still not understood. The Hispano-British Postal Convention effective [Ref. 2] 1 October 1858 allowed prepayment of all postage charges in the UK. References: 1. Act of Parliament 52 Geo. III cap 88 effective 9. July Act of Parliament, 3/4 Vic cap. 96, 1 September 1840 and London Gazette 22 November Convention between Great Britain and Spain, relative to Communication by Post, signed at Aranjuez May , effective 1 October 1858, in Hertzlett s Commercial Treaties Vol. X page Nathan S. Postal Chronology of Spain, English translation published by the Spanish Study Circle, no date or ISBN. 5. Spanish Royal Order of 16 November 1807, In Schier Oswald Dr. Manual de la Filatelia Española Madrid Fundacion Albertino de Figueiredo para la Filatelia, 2000, ISBN p 284. Postscript 64/25

26 6. Real decreto of 10 June 1853, effective 26 June. In Schier Oswald Dr. Manual de la Filatelia Española Madrid Fundacion Albertino de Figueiredo para la Filatelia, 2000, ISBN p Real decreto effective 1 May In Schier Oswald Dr. Manual de la Filatelia Española Madrid Fundacion Albertino de Figueiredo para la Filatelia, 2000, ISBN p Personal Communication Mario Mirmán, Seville, 2011 Fig British first rate step, up to half an ounce: 2/2. Spanish second rate step, five adarmes: ( 11 +2½)=13½ Reales. Fig British second rate step, half to one ounce: 4/4. Spanish tenth rate step, 17 adarmes: (11 + (9x2½) =33½ Reales. It would seem the Spanish Postal clerk has his thumb on the scales! Fig British first rate step, up to half an ounce: 2/2. Spanish first rate step, up to quarter ounce = 10 Reales Postscript 64/26

27 Fig British first rate step, up to half an ounce: 2/2. Spanish first rate step, up to quarter ounce = 4 Reales. MP (Medio Porto) mark, same colour ink as Cadiz rate mark. 1/- manuscript, top right, does not correspond to any via France or ship letter rates and is of unknown significance. No similar annotations are found on other MP letters. ITALIAN CEDOLA CARD RATES Grahame Lindsey Cedola di Commissione Libraria were postcards printed by publishers (although ordinary postcards and unsealed letters could be used) which were distributed to the public with reviews, in periodicals etc. They enabled the public to order books and publications at a reduced rate of postage. It was seen as a way of promoting public appreciation of culture. From 1 April 1920 the word Cedola had to be included on the from to obtain the reduced rate. The rate was abolished in December The cards were occasionally misused without any penalty. The rates only applied to internal mail. The rates are as follows: Cent Lire Lire Cents Lire Lire Cents Lire Lire Cents Lire Lire Lira Lire Lire Lire Lire Lire Lire Lire Lire Lire 80 A special reduced Cedola rate of Lira 1 existed for ordering periodicals between 10 August 1949 to 30 November 1955 and 28 July 1957 and 30 November Postscript 64/27

28 Fig. 1 Publishers card without the word Cedola used before 1 April Franked 1 Cent Cedola rate from 1 March 1919 to 31 March 1020 Fig. 2 Publishers order card with pre-printed selection message. Franked Lira 1 Cedola rate from 1 April 1946 to 24 March 1947 Postscript 64/28

29 Fig. 3 Book Club Cedola card inviting members to buy either or both of the books of the month. Franked Lire 250 Cedola rate from 1 June 1984 to 12 November 1985 Fig. 4 Cedola card used to request the annual subscription for a periodical. Franked Lira 1 Special reduced periodical Cedola rate from 10 August 1949 to 30 September 1955 Postscript 64/29

30 BRESLAU : EXCHANGE CONTROL OFFICE NUMBER 3 Robin Pizer During the First World War there was a censorship office at Breslau to examine mail between parts of Germany and various territories to the east with which Germany had postal relations. This office ceased censorship duties and took over exchange control duties from 15 November A range of covers were shown covering the transition from wartime censorship to The bulk of the exchange control ceased from 1 December Two are illustrated. The first was postmarked Riga, Latvia 19 November 1918, went via Breslau PÜ (Postüberwachungs-stelle postal supervision office) in Germany addressed to Hotel Royal, Pöstyén, Hungary but actually now in Czechoslovakia. It was re-directed from Pöstyén 21 February1919 to Hotel Imperial, Prague, Czechoslovakia. Next it was marked with a Prague cachet 'Found in letter box' (V poštovní schránce nalezeno) and returned to sender from Prague 22 March 1919 but did not reach Riga, Latvia until 7 June The Breslau PÜ used the wartime cachet Geprüft Ü.-St. VI.A.K. (checked inspection office VI Army Corps) and a post office sealing label for the imperial railway post office No. 5 as used for censorship from 1915 to As background, to help understand some of the delays the Latvian Republic was declared on 18 November 1918 replacing part of the German controlled Postgebiet Oberbefehlshaber Ost (Postal Region of the Eastern High Command). A mail service continued with Germany until 3 January 1919 but at the risk of the sender as fighting continued in parts of the Baltic States. Pöstyén (NE of Bratislava) ceased to be in Hungary on 30 October 1918 when Slovakia transferred to the Czechoslovakian Republic. There was a Czech conflict with Poland over Teschen (Cieszyn) from 24 January 1919 to 28 July 1019 which might have affected mail between Breslau and Pöstyén. Czech borders were closed from 26 February 1919 to 9 March 1919 to allow a currency reform to be carried out. Latvia was invaded by Soviet forces on 3 January 1919 and it was not until 10 May 1919 that a pro German Government was installed. The postal service between Germany and Latvia restarted on 15 May 1919 and it is assumed the service with Czechoslovakia started then or soon after. The second shows a philatelic cover postmarked Budapest 15 January 1920 addressed to Giessen in Germany but it was returned to sender by the Breslau exchange control office as the cover was overfranked by 4f with two express stamps arriving back in Budapest on 27 January The rate for a registered letter from Hungary to Germany was 160f (60f for 20g letter and 100f for registration). Only the four 40f stamps were postmarked in Budapest while the two 2f express stamps were crossed through in pencil. At this time the import of postage stamps into Germany was controlled by a strict licensing system and overfranked letters were considered to be flouting the regulations. So the letter was marked in red ink Unzulässig! Zurück!, (not permitted, return) the address crossed through and replaced by Budapest. This occurred at the Breslau PP (Postprüfungsstelle postal examination office) which was an office to which businesses could take mail for on the spot examination. When not busy, its staff examined mail brought in sacks by the post office. The numeral 33 is the personal cachet of the Breslau inspector. Postscript 64/30

31 Budapest overfranked 2f via Breslau PP RTS Breslauu PP (Postprüfungsstelle postal examination office) which was an office to which businesses could take mail for on the spot examination. When not busy, its staff examined mail brought in sacks by the post office. The numeral 33 is the personal cachet of the Breslau inspector. Riga via Breslau then Prague RTS Riga Postscript 64/31

32 THE GERMAN POST OFFICES IN THE LEVANT Hans Smith A German Post Office was established at Constantinople in 1869 by the North German Postal Confederation. This office passed under the aegis of the newly formed Imperial German Post Office (the Reichspost) on the creation of the German Empire in The Constantinople office in due course opened two branch offices in the city, at Stamboul in 1876 and at Pera in Largely for reasons of state, the German emperor William II persuaded the Reichspost to set up further branches, which it did at Jaffa in 1898 and at Beirut, Jerusalem and Smyrna also in Jaffa Jaffa was important for its long-established trade in citrus fruits but also, after its port facilities were extended, as the port for Jerusalem, thus attracting a steady flow of visitors to the capital. Because the Turkish authorities would not permit the foreign postal establishments (not even the French) to use the new French-built railway link between the port and Jerusalem, the German office on its formation introduced a mail coach service between the port and Jerusalem. The coach proved successful (the railway having closed down in the meantime) not only carrying passengers and mails between the two termini but also collecting mail from the Jerusalem hotels and from Ramleh, a town on the route. The mails collected were stamped Aus Jerusalem/Deutsche Post or Aus Ramleh (Palästina) as appropriate [Fig. 3]. In order to supplement its meagre income, the Jaffa office negotiated an unofficial collecting service from the religious colonies in the Jaffa are. These included the Jewish settlement at Rishon-le-Tsion and the German protestant communities at Hamidjie (the Wilhelma ) and Sarona [Fig. 2]. None of these settlements had any postal status but were permitted to sell German postage stamps and stationery. No fee was paid either to the colonies or to the German Post. Jerusalem As the provincial capital, Jerusalem was home to a number of foreign firms and banks but the bulk of its foreign mail came from the various religious houses, hotels and tourists. The religious throughput included mail from pilgrims and religious foundations but especially from publishers of religious works that were active in the city. To accommodate this flow, the German post office followed the other foreign post offices in 1908 in issuing stamps and stationery overprinted with the values in French currency. The German post had already introduced overprints in Turkish currency in 1883 but the overprints in French currency introduced into Crete (where the French franc was on a par with the locally circulating Greek drachma) proved popular as the low values (for printed matter, samples and postcards) were marginally cheaper than the Turkish equivalents but offered major savings for bulk mailings. Beirut By the time a German office was opened in Beirut, the port had long lost its position as a feeder for Jerusalem but still handled coastal traffic, especially in transit to Suez and Alexandria. Its large European and European-educated population ensured a constant exchange of mail with the West [Fig. 4]. Postscript 64/32

33 Smyrna Smyrna owed its importance not only to its position as a port with much hinterland traffic but especially to its exports of dried fruit to the West. This occasioned a heavy throughput of samples which were packed in linen bags or, for larger consignments, in tin canisters. Because of the perishable nature of these samples, the German post office used special boxed postmarks to expedite them through customs. Smyrna s foreign residents were predominantly of Greek origin and they would use the Greek post office for mailing to Greece. Commercial correspondence through the office appears nonetheless to have been heavy and the office (like the Jerusalem office) produced 6 variants of its circular postmark [Fig. 1]. All the German offices in the Levant were promptly closed on on the outbreak of the First World War. Although the German forces seconded to the Turkish armies during the War were accompanied by an efficient fieldpost, including a naval facility, Germany did not follow the example of the other previous foreign (and Polish) posts and did not attempt to re-establish its former postal service in the then crumbling Ottoman Empire. Fig. 1 Cover to Upper Bolzano, Tyrol, , no arrival mark. Postage has been paid in French currency, although the exchange amounted to more than the requisite 1 piastre rate Postscript 64/33

34 Fig. 2 Greetings card from Sarona to Krombach in Bohemia (Austria) arr Fig.3 20 para postal card (from a grape merchant) to Schlierbach, Germany, arr Postscript 64/34

35 Fig. 4 Registered cover second day of operation to Breslau, arr. 11.3; reg. fee now 2pi. A Review Postal History of French Forces in Tunisia & the South Tunisian Campaign David Trapnell 40 pp full colour monograph. Published by the France & Colonies Philatelic Society of Great Britain, Available from R Broadhurst, FCPS Publications, PO Box 448, TEDDINGTON TW11 1AZ, p&p. Members will already be aware of the breadth of research and clarity of presentation of our member, David Trapnell, through previous monographs. His latest offering, published by our sister organisation, is yet another fine exposition of a small, and to many of us practically unknown, aspect of forces postal history. David s latest venture covers the bases at Bizerte & Tunis, plus military bases further south, the campaign indicated in the title, military aviation services, censorship, and a number of other topics. Published in full colour throughout on good quality paper, the clarity of the illustrations gives credit to the author, editor, and printer. Two excellent maps and some fine topographical scenes are accompanied by numerous covers, the quality both of reproduction and of the markings themselves would be hard to beat. If you collect French military mail of WW1, or would like to find out more about this unusual area, grab a copy before it is sold out. Better still grab some material before prices rocket after this publication becomes common currency. Highly recommended. Postscript 64/35

36 TUDOR LETTERS Malcolm Ray-Smith At the President s Weekend I showed a few of my letters and documents from the Tudor era, with three Privy Council letters each with multiple signatures and each signed by one of the Masters of the Post. These included John Mason, William Paget and John Stanhope. In addition to the items illustrated here there were a selection of Corsini letters, both inland and from overseas, freshly written up to take account of additional information from the excellently helpful book by Philip Beale, Mike Scott Archer and the late Adrian Almond. This letter signed by John Mason is also signed by Thomas Goodrich (the bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor), William Paulet (Marquis of Winchester and Lord Treasurer), John Russell (Earl of Bedford and Lord Privy Seal), Henry Grey (Duke of Suffolk), Sit William Wotton (Comptroller of the Royal Household) and Sir John Gates (Vice Chamberlain). Postscript 64/36

37 In addition to being Master of the Posts Sir John Mason was Clerk to the Privy Council and gave extensive service as a diplomat, being Secretary of the French Tongue from 1544/45. He was born at Abingdon in 1503 and served overseas from 1532 to 1541 and again at intervals until his death in He was knighted in 1547 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VI, and held various public appointments including two terms as Chancellor of Oxford University. The letter dated 8 April 1553 gives instructions to Sir William Cavendish, Treasurer of His Majesty s chamber to pay s 4d to Thomas Charde to defray the expenses of the household of the Lady Ann of Cleves in accordance with a detailed list attached to the letter. * * * The letter from Queen Mary s Council was dated 6 July 1558 and includes instructions to the Lord Treasurer, William Paulet (Marquis of Winchester) to pay 40.00, in accordance with Her Majesty s pleasure, to the officers of the Exchequer for their writing copies of the subsidy books for all the shires and cities in England. Winchester endorsed the letter to show that the payment was to be shared between Christopher Smyth and Peter Osborne and they endorsed their receipts at the foot of the document. Postscript 64/37

38 In addition to the signature of William Paget the others who signed the main letter were Nicholas Heath (Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor), Edward Hastings (Lord Chamberlain), John Boxoll (Secretary to the Privy Council), Sir Henry Jerningham (Vice Chamberlain), Sir Henry Bedingfield (Constable of the Tower of London, who held Princess Elizabeth as prisoner). Winchester signed his instruction and the ultimate recipients, Xpofer Smith and Peter Osborne, signed as officers of the Exchequer. William Paget served in various roles at Court including acting as secretary to Queens Jane Seymour, Ann of Cleves and Catherine Howard before becoming Secretary of State in In 1545 he became Master of the Posts with John Mason and also saw service as a diplomat. In 1546 he negotiated Peace with France. He was much trusted by Queen Mary but resigned all public offices upon the accession of Elizabeth. * * * Among the other items exhibited was a letter, shown below, signed by Sir Francis Walsingham. * * * Postscript 64/38

39 There was also a warrant signed by J Popham to pay Edward Carpenter, a Queen s Messenger, for riding with commissions to landowners in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire to ascertain the extent of the property owned by Sir Anthony Babington, recently attainted following his trial for his involvement in smuggling codes and coded letters in the plot that implicated Mary, Queen of Scots, in plans to murder Queen Elizabeth. Postscript 64/39

40 The Elizabethan Privy Council Letter is dated 1 November 1601 and is an instruction to the Lord Treasurer to pay s4d to the County of Lincoln in respect of 200 soldiers raised in Lincolnshire and sent to fight during the Irish Wars, including delivering them to the Port of Chester and providing their uniforms. Postscript 64/40

41 It is signed by Jo. Cant (John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury), Tho. Egerton (Thomas Egerton, Cusos Sigili = Keeper of the Great Seal), J Buckhurst the Lord HighTreasurer), Nottingham (Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral ), Worcester (Edward Somerset, Earl of Worcester, Master of the Horse), W Knollys (Comptroller of the Royal Household), J Stanhope (Sir John Stanhope, Treasurer of the Chamber and Master of the Posts), R O Cecil (Sir Robert Cecil, Secretary of State), J Fortescue (Chancellor of the Exchequer), J Herbert (Sir John Herbert, second Secretary of state) W Waad (Sir William Waad, Clerk to the Privy Council). A postscript authorised payments to Alexander Watson and William Writon for carrying the money to Lincolnshire. GREAT BRITAIN - DUPLICATE LETTER SERVICE IN WW1 Graham Mark By Post Office Circular 2353 of 29 May 1917, it was announced that the Post Office would provide a service which many commercial houses were already practising but, due to the uncertainties of sea-borne mail in wartime, the Post Office would now guarantee that the original and duplicate (and/or triplicate if required) would travel overseas by different ships. The first announcement offered this service for mail to Empire and occupied territories in East and South Africa, Asia and Australasia, and a subsequent announcement in PO Circular 2355 of 12 June 1917, extended the scheme to all non-enemy countries. Letters in duplicate both had to be fully paid for foreign postage and registration, and the duplicate had to be marked so and bear an additional fee of 6d. Both letters had then to be sent together in an outer cover, fully paid for inland postage and registration, to the Registered Letter Duty at either London or Liverpool, depending on the eventual destination. Liverpool handled mail to West Africa and the Americas, while London handled all other mails. Hence the scheme cost the sender the 6d fee plus triple postage and triple registration, ie 1s/3d for a one ounce item to USA or 1s/6d for a one ounce item to Switzerland, which would have deterred any frivolous use of the service. Because the covers addressed to the final destination were sent to London or Liverpool in an outer registered cover, items using this service can be recognised by the sender s address being, say, Torquay while the registration etiquette and datestamps show Liverpool or London. At Liverpool the Registered Letter Section attached to the censorship was on the mezzanine floor of one of the buildings used by the censors - the registration etiquettes read Liverpool Mezz or Liverpool M. The only item I have recorded going through the London censors has a London, F.S. etiquette with a manuscript d in red. I have recorded 14 examples of duplicate letters and one original sent under this scheme. Of these, eleven of the duplicates and the one original are all from the same correspondence. The sender lived in Torquay and the addressee in New York, both with the surname Blackburn. Any further records will be most welcome. Postscript 64/41

42 Fig. 1 From Joseph Nathan & Co Ltd, Merchants of London, marked Duplicate at top left, paid 2½d (perfin JN Co). Postmarked London FS, 13 January Censor 991. Received at Copenhagen 19 January Fig. 2 From Baltimore 11 January 1916, paid 5c, to Frankfurt a/m. Detained by the British censor and released in Manuscript note at right: received (initials) duplicate of letter rec Postscript 64/42

43 Fig. 3a Duplicate cover paid 9d (1d postage for one ounce, 2d registration fee and 6d special fee) Postmarked Liverpool 17 July Received at New York 6 August Fig. 3b Reverse of the cover showing the sender s address in Torquay. Postscript 64/43

44 Fig. 4 Receipt from Edinburgh 5 July 1917, for a registered packet addressed to the Superintendent on Duty, Registered Letter Section, King Edward Building, G.P.O., London, which would have contained letters in duplicate, as per the press notice. Fig. 5 Duplicate cover from Manchester (sender s name on flap covered by the censor s labels) paid 1s/- for a 2oz letter plus registration and special fee. At the Foreign Section the item was registered and stamps cancelled F.S.34, 15 September Censor 925. Received at Gothenburg 30 September indicating the duplicate was held in London for a week to 10 days. Postscript 64/44

45 EXTRASCT FROM THE TIMES OF 30 MAY 1917 TABLE OF COVERS RECORDED Postscript 64/45

46 BRADSHAW ADVICE CARDS DURING THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF GUERNSEY Ron Brown During the German occupation of the Channel Islands the only means of communication between the Islands and mainland Britain was by means of the Red Cross Civilian Postal Message Scheme. When Red Cross message forms arrived in Guernsey from Geneva they were handled by the newly formed Red Cross Bureau. The Bureau sent a specially printed postcard to the addressee advising that a communication had been received and that the addressee should call at the Bureau s office to collect the message form and to make a reply. George A Bradshaw (circa 1941) These postcards are known as Bradshaw advice cards and took their name from George A Bradshaw, the first supervisor of the Bureau, whose name appears at the foot of the card. Guernsey Red Cross Message Bureau Mr Stamford Raffles (related to Thomas Raffles of Singapore fame), who had been appointed the Information Officer of the Controlling Committee of Guernsey, called a meeting to create a Red Cross Message Bureau to receive, deal with and reply to messages received from Great Britain via Geneva. As a result of this meeting on 13 January 1941 an office was opened in Elizabeth College under the management of George Bradshaw assisted by Miss Leoni Trouteaud, a clerk from the States, and a team of young ladies. Leoni Trouteaud and the young ladies of the Guernsey Red Cross Bureau. Studio photograph taken in July 1943 Standing: L Penny, P Hudson, M Le Patourel, E Madell, P Cochran. Sitting: B Le Tocq, Leonie D Trouteaud (in charge), V Luscombe. Postscript 64/46

47 Guernsey Red Cross Bureau Offices Elizabeth College Guernsey Red Cross Bureau Office 13 January 1941 to 6 July 1941 Advice cards were only used in the Island of Guernsey and were used for sixteen months from 14 January 1941 to 22 May 1942 after which date the messages were posted direct to the recipient with precise instructions for making a reply. It is not certain that the advice cards were more than a bureaucratic measure as they were never used in Jersey and ceased to be used in Guernsey after only sixteen months with the increasing numbers of messages arriving. During the period of use of the Bradshaw advice cards the address of the Guernsey Red Cross Bureau changed on several occasions with the addresses and dates of opening being as follows:- Elizabeth College 13 January 1941 to 6 July High Street, St Peter Port 7 July 1941 to 27 November High Street 28 November 1941 to 17 December Market Street 18 December 1941 to 22 May 1942 How the new Red Cross Bureau functioned On Thursday 23 January 1941, ten days after the opening of the Red Cross Bureau, an article was published headed The International Red Cross, How the Local Department is Working. Part of the article reads: We would say at the outset that great credit is due to Mr Bradshaw for the efficiency with which he has created order and system out of what could easily have become chaos if not handled from the start with business acumen and an appreciation of the work which is likely to accrue in the future.. From the moment a batch of enquiries is received until the final entry is made on the card-index relating to each individual enquiry, the peregrinations [journeys] of each individual forms are confirmed to a strict rotation from which none is allowed to depart. From one clerk to another the original form is passed; particulars are noted, and the card of notification [Bradshaw card] is filled in and posted; then the index has another name inscribed in its alphabetical position, and the arrival of the lucky recipient of the message is then awaited for the final completion of the form itself. But this period is not one of relaxation for the staff as will be realised when it is stated that over 1,000 enquiries arrived in the first batch and others have followed at frequent intervals since. We were informed, too, that each batch must be complete before it is returned. In other words, the whole of those 1,000 and more enquiries must have received an answer before any of them can be despatched. Therefore it should be realised by recipients of cards, that delay on their part in sending a reply will hold up other people who are desirous of notifying their friends and relatives of their well-being. Postscript 64/47

48 DO NOT DELAY Once again we are asked to stress the urgency of responding to the official notification. Do not delay. When a card arrives make a point of preparing an answer and taking it to Elizabeth College at the very earliest opportunity. Nothing is gained by delay and as will be seen from the foregoing, unintentional harm may be done to others by neglecting this advice. OTHER POINTS Other points which we have also been asked to reiterate are that persons visiting the Department must bring their official notification card with them and, unless in cases of absolute incapacity, such as anyone who is confined to the house by doctor s orders, persons are requested not to phone for information. Over 150 applicants were dealt with personally in one day this week, and it will be seen therefore that the clerical staff is fully occupied and cannot spare the time to answer telephone calls. Finally, when once an application is attended to and a reply sent it is of no use to visit the Department with any request for further information. The actual form received is completed and returned by the official in charge, therefore it will be obvious that they cannot refer to it again even if they had time in which to do so. Here then is a case where the public can help the authorities to help them. Do not delay on receipt of a notification but take your reply with you to Elizabeth College. Mr Bradshaw and his staff are busy men; we hope, in the interest of all islanders that they will be even busier, but we trust that it will not be through the dilatoriness of the islands themselves. Elizabeth College, St Peter Port 13 January 1941 to 6 July 1941 The Guernsey Red Cross Bureau was opened in Elizabeth College on 13 January 1941 Shown below is the earliest known example of a Bradshaw advice card dated 14 January 1941, the same day as details for sending the cards were announced in the Guernsey Star. The Guernsey Red Cross Bureau had four addresses during the sixteen months that Bradshaw cards were used, the first being Elizabeth College. The following are cards sent from the other three office addresses. Postscript 64/48

49 38, High Street, St Peter Port 7 July 1941 to 27 November 1941 A Notice of transfer of the Red Cross Bureau to 38, High Street in the Evening Press Monday 7 July Cards were reprinted with the new address 38, High Street, and the opening times altered. 9-11, High Street, St Peter Port 28 November 1941 to 17 December 1941 A notice of transfer of the Red Cross Bureau to 9-11, High Street appeared in the Evening Press of Friday November 21, Cards were reprinted with the address 9-11, High Street, and earlier closing time of 4pm Postscript 64/49

50 1, Market Street, St Peter Port 18 December 1941 to 22 May 1942 A Notice of transfer of the Red Cross Bureau to 1, Market Street was published in the Evening Press on Tuesday December 16, The Bureau finally moved for the last time to 1, Market Street on 18 December Cards were then reprinted with the new address 1, Market Street, (Artisans Institute). Postcards The early printings of Bradshaw advice cards were made on standard white or off-white postcards measuring approximately 139 x 38mm. At first Bradshaw advice cards were placed in envelopes and therefore the cards did not carry the name and address of the addressee. Later cards were not enclosed in envelopes but sent to the addressee. All Bradshaw advice cards were sent post free but were cancelled by the then current datestamp. The supply of postcards in Guernsey soon ran out and card of various colours were then produced. These cards had no printing on the addressee side. Postscript 64/50

51 First revised printing The first major change which happened to the printing occurred within the first month when IMPORTANT. Please bring this card with you. was added. This was no doubt added to make the job of the Bureau s staff easier when producing message forms as both the advice card and message form had the same batch and message numbers. A subsequent advice card was printed which is very similar, but has larger and heavier type and the year date of 1941 is no longer incorporated with its italic type. Postscript 64/51

52 Second revised printing The second major change to the printing of the advice card occurred within three months in the first week in April 1941 when CAMP DU ROI PRINTING WORKS was added and was on all cards until the end of their use on 22 May From November 1941 the printing of CAMP DU ROI PRINTING WORKS was in the centre of the cards. Postscript 64/52

53 Matched message form and advice card When the recipient brought the advice card to the Red Cross Bureau it was matched with the original message form and was identified by the batch and message number. This card was number 71 from batch number 100. The card matches the British Red Cross enquiry form which also has numbers 71 and 100 in red crayon. These numbers were applied at the Guernsey Red Cross Bureau. Dated 28 APR 1942, the earliest known date for this, the last printed Bradshaw advice card. Postscript 64/53

54 End of Bradshaw advice cards A notice was placed in the Guernsey Evening Post, 22 May 1942, stating that on and after 23 May incoming Red Cross Messages would be forwarded direct by post to the addressees. Plain postcard Bradshaw cards remained in use until the end of the scheme on 22 May However the Guernsey Red Cross Bureau continued to use plain cards for correspondence. Green card dated 12 July 1943 requesting a Mrs Simon to call at the bureau and signed by Miss Trouteaud Postscript 64/54

55 EARLY MAIL OF SOUTHAMPTON Malcolm Montgomery EARLY COASTAL VESSELS IN THE SOLENT A number of merchants operated small vessels that called at ports and hamlets close to the coast. Given the difficulty of negotiating the coastline and river mouths, it is likely that some of these vessels were galleys. Southampton to London, 16th July To the worshipll Mr Richard Stap marchant del. In London Pay ye brunger Jhesus in Hampton, y e 16 of July Worshipp ll m r Stap & the rest I comende me unto this to sartifye you if I cane hear no good news as yet. I persuade myself she is gon for garnsey or gersey I doe thinck is very good y e one went thither. I pray you inquer of Mr Aldarman Spensar one gon passyngar in a bark & says he is facktoe & one of the earle of Essex men. My last was from powle the which I hop you have R d. I have writ you frome many places I am comyng back that way as I came but it is not good to goe by Hamble creke it is a bad place & ther they layd wood & under that they may steale away many things & this in hast I humbly take my leave prayng god to Prospar all yo r affayrs. yo r Sarvaint to command Thomas Evistead A letter written on board a ship Jhesus in Southampton and carried to London by private messenger with a notation to pay ye brynger. I suspect that the reputation of the Hamble is little improved in the intervening 400 years. Postscript 64/55

56 Cromwell s Protectorate A letter I acquired during some research into the postal history of Portsmouth is addressed to Richard Cromwell, son of Oliver. Although the Proclamation of 1635 gave authority to Thomas Witherings to establish posts and cross-post [Ref. 1] and an Ordinance of 1654 [Ref. 2] gave Manley a monopoly of the posts and instruction to establish a post to Portsmouth, there is no specific authority for a regular mail service between Portsmouth and Southampton at this time (the Portsmouth to Salisbury route did not necessarily pass through Southampton) and I presume that it was carried by courier. Portsmouth to Southampton, 15th August 1655 For the Ho ble Commissioners sitting at Southampton; The Lord Richard Cromwell, Richard Maijor Esq, Collonell Norton & John Dunche, Esq, humble present these at the Dolphin in Sothton. A letter in part concerning an insurrection in Wiltshire and threat to Southampton carried privately from Major Peter Murford, Lieutenant Governor of Portsmouth, to Lord Richard Cromwell [Ref. 3] and the Commissioners at the Dolphin in Southampton. Ref. 1 A Proclamation for the settling of the Letter-Office, 31st July Ref. 2 September 1654 An Ordinance touching the Office of Postage of Letters, Inland and Foreign in Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, , (1911), pp This included a weekly post between Dover and Portsmouth, and between Portsmouth and Salisbury, but sensitive information in these uncertain times would most likely be carried only by trusted messengers. Ref. 3 Richard Cromwell, , third son of Oliver Cromwell, second Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, serv ice for just under nine months, 3rd September 1658 until 25th May Postscript 64/56