(Accident Mail) 1936 (Dec 1) cover addressed to Sudan Railways, Atbara, Sudan endorsed to travel by SS “Queen Mary”, the envelope sustaining damage en route across the Mediterranean on a French ship. The front with violet Bureau Ambulants Mediterranee cds of 11.12. and in same ink two-line DETERIORE par/ accident de Service, two examples on front and one on reverse tying the Post Office sealing tape, above this an Alexandria machine transit cancel. Stamp soaked off and some slight damage.
(Danzig Intercepted Mail) 1914 ‘spider and web’ illustrated envelope from Russia to London, intercepted by authorities in Danzig with three-line violet handstamp dated 8.12.1914 and circular cachet applied, sealing tape at top, manuscript “march 23rd 1920” arrival date. Envelope opened-out for display.
(Interrupted Mail) 1970s folded envelope to Kansas University franked ‘Annigoni’ 5c. and 10c. tied Kowloon cds, at centre three-line handstamp Mail delayed in/ delivery due to/ West Coast dock strike. Some wrinkling to envelope, unusual.
1940 (30.4.) registered cover from Atina to Buenos Aires, Argentina franked at 1L.75 rate, intercepted and censored in Bermuda with OPENED BY/ EXAMINER 4617 sealing tape with wavy-line RELEASED handstamp front and back.
1941 (2.12.) airmail cover Hanoi to Nice bearing single franking 2$, the envelope endorsed “via Transpacific et transatlantique/ par American Airways”. The last clipper had left Singapore on 29th November, this envelope evidently remained in Hanoi until the end of the war, both front and rear bears manuscript anotation that itm was deivered on 29th Jan 1946.
1941 (Mar 18) airmail cover addressed to Besancon, France, franked 4c., 11c. and 15c. Presidents tied wavy-line Saint Joseph date stamp with a duplex added to left, French censorship with three-line RETOUR A L’ENVOYEUR/ RELATIONS POSTALES/ INTERROMPUES handstamp plus British RETURN TO SENDER/ SERVICE SUSPENDED, reverse with New York transit on return Sep 23.
1950 (1 Jan) surface mail cover to China bearing single-franking 1d. tied Bath machine cancel, two violet SERVICE SUSPENDED/ AIR MAIL SERVICE ONLY each overstruck with SERVICE SUSPENDED/ RETURN TO SENDER; good condition, without backstamps, scarce double handstamps. The Civil War in China prevented normal communications with the Nationalist blockading Shanghai and Air Raids from early 1950.
Two 1941 airmail covers addressed to Marseille, a Vichy controlled area, via Miami and New York and then Bermuda where censored and retained, not being released until after the War, showing two different RELEASED wavy-line handstamps; both with corner faults to envelope.