Australia: Underpaid Aerogramme Form, Repaired by Postal Department

Australian privately manufactured aerogramme form, permit #58, small stamp box, “Affix / a / 10c / Postage / Stamp”. IMPERIAL AIR MAIL watermark, year code „C“ below „Air Mail“ for 1969. Printed letterhead of Commonwealth Trading Bank of Australia on writing panel.

Sent from Melbourne (10 DEC 1974) to London, UK.

Franked at 15c, the aerogramme form was short paid by 5c. Double the deficiency was marked as the tax fraction’s numerator. The tax fraction’s denominator (15c) represents Australia’s international surface mail letter rate at that time.

Upon arrival in the UK the tax fraction was multiplied with Great Britain’s international surface mail rate (5½ p), resulting in 3⅔ p. This amount was rounded down to 3½ p postage due, documented with a green, boxed „3½ p tp pay“ handstamp and two postage due stamps.

The aerogramme form was damaged in transit while in Australia and repaired with adhesive tape „Repaired by / postal dept. / Vic.“