Australia Military Air Mail Letter Card "H.M.A. Ships"

WW2 Air Mail Letter Card for Australian military personnel for communication with family and friends in Australia. The handstamp "H.M.A. Ships" indicates that the airletter was to be distributed to soldiers serving on one of the ships of the Australian fleet.

New Zealand Official Aerogramme

New Zealand aerogramme form ("Issued by the New Zealand Post Office for / Posting in New Zealand to Overseas Addresses", on reverse) officially used by The Treasury. Posted at Lambton Quay 4 No 71 to Miami, US.

Boxed handstamp "Postage / Paid / The / Treasury".

UK Airletter Used on HMC Ship

This airletter is UK #1c (according to the Greiner catalogue), identifiable by the following features:

• Dotted address lines, with 11 dots per cm
• Line below "If anything is enclosed ..." admonition is 20 mm wide
• Area in which the indicium is printed is 23.5 mm wide
• Rectangular area recessed from overlay to indicate where the sealing flaps have to be fixed to

Greiner specifies October 1943 as the month of issue. Deviating from this, the message on the writing panel is dated September 29, 1943.

The airletter was posted aboard HMC Ship Edmunston, a flower-class corvette operating as a anti-submarine convoy escort, and was addressed to Canada. Interestingly, a regular UK airletter was used instead of one of the military airletter forms.

The airletter was censored and handstamped "From H. M. C. Ship / Examined by DB N 621".


Reference:
Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europe, 3e, 1993.

Turkish Aerogramme Advertising Meter Mark

At first sight, this cover does not look very interesting at all.

However, this is a meter mark advertising the use of aerogrammes in Turkey. 

Turkey issued its first (and as far as I know its only) set of aerogrammes on November 21, 1963. This meter mark is dated July 23, 1963 about four month before the first day of issue of the aerogrammes.

As the sender appears to be a private person, I think the meter mark was applied in a post office, to which the letter was submitted and postage was paid in cash.

The slogan text translates into something like "An aerogramme is handy and inexpensive".

As this blog is about aerogrammes here is one of the aerogrammes (#3) of the set that was issued in 1963.

Nyasaland O.H.M.S. Aerogramme

Aerogramme form with typewritten endorsement "O.H.M.S." (On Her Majesty's Service") sent from the Department of Veterinary Services, Zomba, Nyasaland in July 1958 to the Game Officer at Causeway, Southern Rhodesia.

Oval department handstamp to document the authorized use of the O.H.M.S. service.

Red Cross Letter Card Used as Airletter in New Zealand

This Red Cross Letter Card, intended for use by PoW's, was sent from a civilian in New Zealand to England. Postmarked TAKAPUNA 18 MR 59.

"Air" was endorsed in front of the "Letter Card" type designation to make an airletter out of the letter card.

This was accepted by the New Zealand postal authorities. The taxation "To pay / 4 d. / Double deficiency postage"  refers to the fact that the airletter rate was 8 d and the "Air" letter card was only franked with a 6 d stamp.

India Christmas Greetings 1946 Diverted to Surface Mail

This air letter was sent in December 1946 to Ghent, Belgium. At this time, air letter service to Belgium was not yet available. As a consequence the air letter was sent by surface mail which is documented by the 3-line handstamp "Air Mail letter Card Service / Not available. Forward / by surface route".

This airletter also proves that the British Empire and British Commonwealth of Nations countries did not at the same time inaugurated air letter servce to a specific country. Australia, for example, had opened air letter service to Belgium already on September 4, 1946.

In addition, the air letter (Wiegand #3c) is rare by itself. It is the 1946 Christmas Greeting issue with a colorful imprint on the writing panel.

Reference
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

British Air Mail Letter Card form for Use in East Africa

One of the previous owners made this note on the reverse:

"Kenya +Uganda. Newly discovered similar to 3 MLS will be catalogued"

I have no idea which catalogue was referred to here. My reference is P. R. Adby, Aerogrammes - Air Mail Letter Card - Air Letters, 1997. This handbook is not easy to handle, but here is a shot:

• Shape A, 125 x 95 mm when folded, single top sealing flap, 1 mm blue border, no security overlay on paper
• Width of "LETTER CARD" on the top of the front panel: 50 mm
• Vertical distance M (in Air Mail, covered by the censor label) to R in "LETTER: 4.5 mm
• Affix instruction is "Stamps / must be / affixed / here", which is Adby's type A-7
• No address lines on front panel
• Blue label in top left corner, "BY AIR MAIL" in white
• red 25 cents KENYA & UGANDA imprint over the Affix instruction (partly covered by the censor label

This is Adby type F1A-3, but there is no match with the listed subtypes. The one closest is F1A-3d. The only difference is that the "25 cents .." imprint on Adby F1A-3d is in blue. The one in the copy above is in red.

I'm not aware of a more recent catalogue issue, but I have found similar copies in the "Military Aerogrammes" exhibit of Roggenkämper which is available online: http://www.aerogramme.com/exhibits/wwmals/ExhF2P12.htm.
Unfortunately, the scans of the exhibit pages are not very clear.

New Zealand Air Letter Form with New Rate Information Cachet

This is a New Zealand Air letter form posted on the first day of the new 6d rate for air letters on Octopber 4, 1948.

The message on the writing panel gives some interesting information about the cachet:

"... I am forwarding ten similar Air Letter sheets which mark the inauguration of the reduced Air Letter charge of 6 d, from N.Z. to any country in the world. The cachet is not official ..."

The sender was James Stapleton, the editor of the New Zealand Airmail Catalogue. The addresse, Francis J. Field a well-known airmail collector and author.

Nigeria O.H.M.S. Aerogramme

This one is an O.H.M.S. aerogramme of Nigeria, Official Paid, and intended "For use within Nigeria only".

it is not listed in the most recent aerogramme catalogue I know (the German "Katalog Aerogramme Afrika 2012"). I have recorded some two ore three unused copies, but no used one so far.

Israel: Short Paid Aerogramme

This 100 pruta aerogramme (Wiegand #10) was short paid because the aerogramme rate to the US was already at 180 pruta in March 1955. 

The aerogramme was handstamped "Affranchissement manquant / réclamé à l'expediteur" (Short paid / collect from sender). However, there are no additional franking and/or postal markings to tell about what happened with the aerogramme.

Reference
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Prohibited Matter

This aerogramme form was sent from Kingston, Jamaica (slogan cancel 9 JAN 1956) to Detroit, U.S. On the writing panel there is a hectography of a sweepstakes winnings list. 

The U.S. Postal Laws and Regulations banned specific contents, e.g. lottery tickets, from postal items. This is the reason for the 2-line handstamp "Supposed to contain matter / Prohibited importation".

UK Aerogramme with Enclosure

This aerogramme (Greiner UK #17) was sent from LONDON W.C. (machine cancel 18 NOV 195?) to Sidney, Ohio/U.S.

The aerogramme contains an enclosure, a newspaper clipping, which was against the rules for aerogrammes. The aerogramme was handstamped “Contains Enclosure / Forwarded by / Ordinary Mail” in red and the “by Air Mail” routing instruction was crossed out with a red six bar handstamp. Aerogrammes containing enclosures were diverted to surface mail.

References
Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

Australia Aerogramme sent as Airmail Letter

This aerogramme (Stein A-2) was sent as an airmail letter from URALLA, NSW (cds 25 AP 50) to the U.S. Two 2 1/2 d and a 6 d stamp were added to meet the 1 s 6 d airmail letter rate to the U.S. that was in place from may 1947 to the end of July 1952.


References
Stein stands for Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and its Dependencies, 1944 to 1980

German Aerogramme Form Used in Australia

This German aerogramme form was used in Australia in May 1961. The 10 d franking is paying the aerogramme rate but in Australia aerogramme forms were subject to a license of the Postmaster-General. Without a PMG permit the foreign aerogramme form should have been franked at the airmail letter rate (2 s 3d). This aerogramme form, however, slipped through unnoticed.

Argentina - Not Qualified for Paquebot

This aerogramme (Greiner #16) was sent from a passenger on board UK ship MV Highland Princess when "docked in Buenos Aires" in December 1956.

The aerogramme would have had qualified for paquebot, i.e. the UK aerogramme accepted by the Argentinean postal authorities, when posted on the high seas. All postal items that are handed in after the ship has stopped in a port must be franked with local stamps. This is why the aerogramme was franked with a 3 pesos stamp.


References
Greiner stands for Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

UK Poste Restante Fee in France

This aerogramme (Greiner #10) was sent from WATFORD (machine cancel 25 JNE 1951) to a poste restante address in Strasbourg, France.

The UPU rules allowed a poste restante fee for incoming international mail if the same fee was in place for domestic mail, too.

A "T" handstamp was applied and a 10 f postage due stamp was affixed when the addressee collected the aerogramme on June 26.


References
Greiner stands for Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

Italy

Italy
Delayed because of Missing Postcode

This aerogramme was sent from (cds 1.4.86) to Sao Paolo, Brazil. The aerogramme was uprated with two 100 L stamps for a total postage of 650 L overpaying the 600 L aerogramme rate by 50 L.

The sender did not specify the addressee's postcode. The Brazilian postal authorities applied two red boxed handstamps. The upper one states that the delivery of the aerogramme is delayed because of the missing postcode, the lower one specifies the correct postcode 02515.


Credits
Thank you, stampboards member BigSaint for the information about the Brazilian postcode system.

Pattern of Form Not Approved

New Zealand / United Kingdom
"Pattern of Form Not Approved"

 
This New Zealand aerogramme form was sent from London to New Zealand in March 1963 (according to the message on the writing panel).

The 6 d franking pays the aerogramme rate. However, as this aerogramme form was not accepted the British postal service applied the boxed handstamp “Pattern of Form / Not Approved by P.M.G.”, crossed out the “Air Mail” routing instruction with a 6-bar handstamp and diverted the aerogramme to surface mail.

France - Chinese Private Redirection Label

France
Chinese Private Redirection Label

This aerogramme (Greiner no. 5) was sent from Bandol, France (machine slogan cancel 12 7 1979) to Beijing, China
 
The aerogramme has a redirection label of the office for incoming and outgoing mail of Beijing Foreign Studies University attached to the front panel. The manuscript endorsement in Chinese characters redirects the aerogramme to the "Language Institute". Then, the aerogramme was processed by the postal service again, as indicated by the black handstamp.

The red cachet is not a postmark, but a private handstamp of the office for incoming and outgoing mail of Beijing Foreign Studies University. 


Credits
Thank you, stampboards member stampway, for translating the text on the label

References
Greiner stands for Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

Myanmar
Missent to Malaysia

This aerogramme (Wiegand #1a) was uprated with a 2.25 Kyat meter mark by the postal authorities to meet the new 3.50 Kyat aerogramme rate. It was missent to Malaysia, from where it was forwarded to the UK in January 1994.


References
Wiegand stands for Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Germany
Aerogramme Used as an Airmail Letter

German aerogramme (Greiner no. 5e) used as an envelope for a letter sheet. The airmail letter was sent from Munich (cds 8.11.51) to Cleveland, U.S.

This is the rare variant e with a folding instruction that is grammatically incorrect: “Seiten zusammenfalten, den unteren Teil des Briefes hochgeschlagen und mit der Klappe verschließen”. The correct instruction would have been: “... des Briefes hochschlagen und ...”.

The rate for an airmail letter to the U.S. in November 1951 weighing “8 gr” as endorsed on the left side of the aerogramme was a basic rate of 30 Pf for a letter up to 10 gr plus 30 Pf airmail surcharge for each 5 gr of weight. The required total franking of 90 Pf was made up by the prepaid aerogramme (60 Pf) and an additional 30 Pf stamp.

References
Greiner stands for Greiner/Greiner, Katalog der Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

Australia and Papua New Guinea
Short Paid Aerogramme

This aerogramme of Australia (Stein A-2) was sent to Woking, United Kingdom, on August 21, 1955. 

Australian stamps and airletters were valid in Papua New Guinea until March 2, 1953. On October 30, 1952  and April 17, 1953, respectively, endemic stamps and airletters were introduced.

The sender added a 3d stamp to meet the 10d airletter rate. The Australian aerogramme was not accepted, so the airletter was short paid 7d. Double the deficiency (1s2d) was converted into 42 UPU gold centimes at a rate of 1d = 3 UPU gold centimes as is endorsed in manuscript between the "By Air Mail" routing instruction and the Bristish postage due handstamp.

The same conversion rate was in place for the British currency, which explains the 1s 2d postage due handstamp.


Credits
The scan of this aerogramme was provided by Luc Jacquemin. Thanks!

References
Stein refers to Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and its Dependencies, 1944-1980

Singapore
"Enclosures are not Permitted"

This aerogramme (Wiegand no. 61) was sent to France on 17 AUG 98. Enclosures are not allowed for aerogrammes. Hence, the postal authorities in Singapore applied the boxed h/s "Enclosures are not / Permitted". 

Accordingly, the aerogramme was taxed as a short paid airmail letter.


Credits
The scan of this aerogramme has been provided by Luc Jacquemin. Thanks!


References
Wiegand stands for Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Singapore
D.L.O. Label

This aerogramme form, “Form Approved by the Postmaster General Malaya No. 25 (1)", was sent from Singapore to Karachi, Pakistan in 1959.

Several Karachi post offices tried to deliver the aerogramme as can be seen from three arrival cancels of post offices (2 SEP 59, 4 SEP 59 and 8 SEP 59) on the back panel. 

Finally, the Dead Letter Office was successful in identifying the correct address. A label with this address and the h/s “D.L.O. Karachi” was affixed to the front panel.

Rhodesia & Nyasaland
Short Paid Aerogramme Diverted to Surface Mail

This aerogramme form was sent from BLANTYRE, Nyasaland (machine cancel 13 FEB 1959) to New York, U.S. One stamp has fallen off. However, the original franking had not met the 1 s aerogramme rate. 

The aerogramme was h/s “Insufficiently Prepaid for / Transmission by Airmail” and diverted to surface mail, which is indicated by the h/s “Withdrawn from Airmail / By Surface Route”.

Malawi
Unpaid Aerogramme Endorsed "Pay Forward"

This aerogramme form was sent unstamped from NTAJA, Malawi (cds 20 Jan 1989) to Karachi, Pakistan. The sender endorsed "PAY FORWARD" in a stamps' stead.

The most likely meaning is "Pay it Forward". According to Wikipedia, "Pay it forward is asking the beneficiary of a good deed to repay it to others instead of to the original benefactor". Here, the sender asked the Post Office to pass on the aerogramme for free, which they did, though, after taxing the aerogramme "35/35" tambala, the Malawian currency.

There are no signs that the postage due was collected by the Pakistani postal authorities. So, it is still in the realm of possibility that the Pakistani postal authorities did the good deed the sender has asked for. If not, it finally was the addressee who paid the amount postage due.


Credits
Thank you, stampboard members HayeSmyth, psestamp and GlenStephens for pointing me to the concept of "Pay it forward". The stampboards thread related is here.

Australia
Crash Mail

This aerogramme (Stein A-6) was transported on board the Lockheed L-749A Constellation, registration G-ALAM, which crashed on Singapore Kallang Airport on March 13, 1954.

A violet boxed handstamp "Salvaged Mail / Aircraft Crash / Singapore 12.3.1954" was applied on the front panel of the aerogramme which was salvaged form the burning airplane.

Article from The West Australian (Novermber 17, 1954)

Australia
Forces Mail Air Letter from "HMA Ship"

This airletter (British Army form W.3077) was sent to Brighton Le Sand, New South Wales. The message on the writing panel is dated December 16, 1945.

The airletter shows the machine cancel "Post Office Maritime" in red and the "H.M.A. Ships" handstamp.

The sender added the endorsement "Forces" to "Air Letter" and "Free". Australian troops serving in the Middle East and the South Pacific had, with some exceptions, the advantage of free postage on surface mail. Transfer by airmail was subject to an additional fee.

It is most likely that the sender was based at a ship of the Royal Australian Navy in the South Pacific.

Australia
Invalid Stamps Used on Aerogramme Form

This is a privately manufactured aerogramme form licensed by the Australian Postmaster-General (permit no. 8, manufactured by McCarron, Bird & Co, Melbourne). It was sent from Melbourne (cds SHIP MAIL ROOM MELBOURNE 29 MY 62) to the sender's postal chess partner in Luedenscheid, Germany.

The aerogramme is franked with stamps of Nauru with a total face value of 10 pence. The stamps of Nauru were never valid in Australia.

In his message the sender states:

"This time I am answering with some stamps of Nauru [...] However, I would like to point to the fact that I cannot ask for a clear and light cancellation of these stamps at the post office. The more I insist on this the higher is the risk that the stamps will not be accepted, which would result in the aerogramme to be sent by surface mail.

It is in particular complicated with the stamps of Nauru. I could send the letters to Nauru first to feed them into the postal network there. As Nauru does not have an airport, this will result in about the same transit time as for a seamail letter from Melbourne."

Apparently, the sender wanted to offer his chess partner with the correspondence not only stamps of Australia but also from Pacific Islands. He hoped that the stamps of Nauru, which were not valid in Australia went unnoticed through the Australian postal service. 

It is interesting that he mentions the risk of the Nauru stamps being detected but the consequence he saw is a little bit odd: it is not only that the letter would have been diverted to surface route but that it would have been taxed as short paid. I guess his chess partners would have loved to pay for each move they receive.


References

Thank you, Allan and stampboard members Tassie_Stamps and GlenStephens, for the information that Nauru stamps were never valid in Australia. Here is the link to the stampboards thread concerning this matter.

A list of the manufacturers of the Australian permit aerogrammes is included in the article "Australian Private License Airletter/Aerogrammes 1946 to 1969" by David Collyer in the May 2012 issue of the Postal Stationery Collector.

Ethiopia / France
Special Fee for Poste Restante Service

Aerogramme (Müller/Wiegand 11d, Watermark IMPERIAL AIR MAIL “B”) sent from Ethiopia to Arbois, France, with the instruction “POSTE RESTANTE”.

Four 0,10 F postage due stamps were affixed as a fee for the “Poste restante” service.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) rules allowed countries to charge a fee for incoming international mail sent to a poste restante (general delivery) address provided those countries also imposed a charge on domestic poste restante mail.


References
Müller/Wiegand stands for Müller/Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Afrika, 1995

Austria
Special Delivery

This aerogramme (Greiner no. 5) was sent from GRAZ (cds 27.7.54) to Brussels, Belgium, in the first month of the reduced rate for aerogrammes to European destinations. An 5 S stamp was added to pay for special (express) delivery.

The aerogramme rate to European destinations was 2.80 S from July 1, 1954 to January 31, 1959. The special delivery fee was 5 S until January 31, 1960.

The lozenges in the border design are 9 mm wide, instead of 5.5 mm as usual. The Greiner catalogue in its 1993 (3rd) edition supposes that this varietiy exists.


References
Greiner stands for Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

United Kingdom
Enclosure "Contrary to Regulations / Sent by Surface Mail"

The air letter (Greiner no. 1A) was sent from STAFFORD (cds 16 NOV 1943) to an army address.

The writer states in his message “... my photograph .., it isn’t too bad. I am enclosing one in the letter”. This enclosure was detected by Royal Mail and a handstamp “Contrary to Regulations / Sent by Surface Mail” was applied.


References
Greiner stands for Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

South Africa
Short Paid Aerogramme Diverted to Surface Mail

Aerogramme (Müller no. 48) sent from DURBAN (slogan cancel  5 IX 1967) to Port Richey, U.S.
 
The aerogramme rate to the U.S. was 10 c.
 
A bilingual handstamp in English and Afrikaans language was applied “Insufficiently Prepaid for Trans- / Mission by Air Mail” to indicate diversion to surface mail.


References
Müller stands for Müller/Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Afrika, 1995

South Africa
Return to Sender

The aerogramme (Müller no. 30) was sent from KAPSTADT (machine cancel 19 III 1960) to a passenger onboard MV “Rotterdam” at Piraeus, Greece.

The aerogramme arrived too late to meet the vessel, which is indicated by the boxed h/s “Arrivee Apres Depart Du Paquebot”. Hence the aerogramme was returned to the sender.

Interestingly, the aerogramme was routed back to South Africa via Lisbon, Portugal. The endorsement “Devolver ao Remetente” is Portuguese for “Return to Sender”. There is a corresponding boxed h/s “Retour a l’envoyeur / Devolvido ao Remetente” in the lower left corner of the front panel and a cds of LISBOA 2 MAI 60 on the back panel.

References
Müller stands for Müller/Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Afrika, 1995

India
Short Paid Aerogramme

This aerogramme (Wiegand no. 10) was sent from DIGBOI (cds 3 2 56) to New York, U.S.

The aerogramme rate to the U.S. in 1956 was 12 AS, so the aerogramme was short paid 4 AS. A h/s “Insufficiently Paid for Air Transmission / Hence Forwarded by Ordinary Route. / A. P. Bombay” was applied indicating that the aerogramme was diverted to surface mail.


References:
Wiegand stands for Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

UK
Short Paid Aerogramme

Aerogramme (Greiner no. 89) sent from Manchester (slogan cancel 5 MCH 1981) to Karachi, Pakistan.

The aerogramme rate was 20 p since January 26, 1981. Hence, the aerogramme was taxed “6 /18” where 6 p is the short paid postage (single deficiency) and 18 p the first weight step surface letter rate to Pakistan. The aerogramme was sent by airmail (arrival cds KARACHI 9 MAR 1981 on back panel).

In Pakistan, the aerogramme was taxed 0.66 R which was endorsed under the postage due h/s left to the UK slogan cancel.

Collecting the postage due from the addressee must have failed for any reason because the postman transferred the aerogramme “To Karachi GPO” (endorsement in red under the indicium) on March 13.


References
Greiner stands for Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993

India
Aerogramme in Ambulant Cover - Redirected

The address is missing on this aerogramme (Wiegand no. 24) sent from Dehra Dun (cds 1 5 64). The post office clerk at Dehra Dun endorsed “R.L.O. Lucknow” (Return Letter Office) and transferred the aerogramme there for a closer inspection.

At R.L.O. Lucknow (boxed handstamp 5 5 64 on back panel) the aerogramme was opened to investigate the addressee. The address found was used to prepare an ambulant cover for the aerogramme. The staff at R.L.O Lucknow did not recognize that the address the sender had specified was incorrect.

The ambulant cover went first to the U.S. (arrival cds of JAMAICA A.M.F. Kennedy, May 11 1964 on the back of the cover), where the mistake was corrected and the ambulant cover was redirected to the U.K.

References
Wiegand stands for Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Pakistan
Short Paid Aerogramme

Aerogramme (Wiegand no. 21) sent to Australia in June 1962.

The airletter rate to Australia was 60 Paisa. Hence the aerogramme was short paid 10 Paisa. Double the deficiency (20 paisa) was converted into 16 UPU gold centimes at a rate of 10 Paisa = 8 UPU gold centimes. The amount postage due was endorsed next to the “T” hand stamp.

The Australian postal authorities converted the amount postage due at a rate of 3 UPU gold centimes = 1 d into 6 d (after rounding up). A 6 d taxation stamp was applied, but crossed out. The reason may be that Australia did not consequently enforce the foreign postage due on incoming international mail from about 1951.


References
Wiegand stands for Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000.

Credits
Thank you, Allan, for helping with the conversion rate of UPU gold centimes into Australian currency

Burma
Privately Manufactured Aerogramme Form

This is a privatley manufactured aerogramme form. Its design is most near to that of the 1959 regular issue, which suggests that itwas manufactured at about the same time.

In Burma, privately manufacured aerogramme forms have to be approved by the postal authorities. The aerogramme form shows on its back panel the approval reference "Form Approved by the Director of Posts, Rangoon / vide their No. ST. 82/P. A. F." 

The aerogramme form was printed by The Royal Stationery Supply House, 408-410, Maha Bandoola Street, Rangoon. It was customized for Than Trading & Company, Rangoon.

Australia
"Return to Sender" from Switzerland

This aerogramme (Roggenkämper no. 56) was sent to Bern Switzerland in 1981. The postal authorities were not able to locate the addressee. They even ask the "Fremdenpolizei", an aliens' police department attached to the Immigration Bureau, for help. However, the Fremdenpolizei was not able to help.

Therefore, the aerogramme shows two "Unknown" handstamps. The left one ("UNBEKANNT / Fremdenpolizei der Stadt Bern") was applied by the aliens' police department, the right one  ("Unbekannt / Inconnu / Sconosciuto") was applied by the postal authorities.


References
Roggenkämper stands for Roggenkämper et al., Katalog der Aerogramme von Australien und Ozeanien", 2003