Cook Islands: Aerogramme Form Posted at Sea

Aerogramme form posted at sea (S. S. Monterey) and fed into the postal network ar RAROTONGA (17 AU 63)

Gilbert & Ellice Islands: Apsley Aerogramme Form

"Apsley" aerogramme form sent from TARAWA (5 AUG 78 - year slug error, should be 67) to Germany. 10 c aerogramme rate. Commercial use - rare.

Gilbert & Ellice Islands: "Postage Paid" Aerogramme Form

Croxley aerogramme form ("Approved for Posting in N.Z. / New Zealand Post Office Authority, No. 17", on reverse), sent from TARAWA (5 JAN 65) to Walgett, Australia (arrival cancel 8 JA 65, on reverse). Philatelic.

"PAID" handstamp, endorsed "1 /-".

Germany: "Substitute Aerogram"

On May 1, 1948 international air mail services from Germany were re-started. At that time only aerogramme forms were accepted , which have to be bought with, initially, two International Reply Coupons (IRC's) each. From September 1, 1948, on the price was 1 IRC plus 30 Pfg in cash, from October 18, 1948, on it was 60 Pfg.

On the first day of the international air mail service, philatelists were allowed to send letters up to 10 g of weight franked at the 1 Mark aerogramme rate. These letters were called "Ersatz-Aerogramme" ("substitute" aerogrammes).

Ceylon: Short-paid Aerogramme Diverted to Surface Mail

Ceylon air letter (Wiegand #9 - grey paper, no watermark, “Fold here …” on sealing flap is 63.0 mm wide - subtype not mentioned in Wiegand catalogue) sent from MOUNT LAVINIA (25 JU 56) to Newark, US

Two-line red instruction handstamp “ INSUFFICIENTLY PAID FOR / _____ AIR SERVICE”. The aerogramme was not taxed as short paid (the “T” handstamp was crossed out)

The aerogramme rate to the US was 50 ct, so less than half of the rate was prepaid. Hence, most likely, the aerogramme travelled by surface mail to the US.


Reference
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Ceylon: Postage Due Aerogramme

Ceylon air letter (Wiegand #12a - white paper, no watermark, “Fold here …” on sealing flap is 58.0 mm wide) sent from JAFFNA (10 MY 55) to Tours, France.

Postage due calculation in the country of origin
The 20 ct aerogramme was taxed as short paid, because the aerogramme rate to France was 40 ct. So double the deficiency (40 ct) was postage due. The standard conversion rate should have been 20 UPU ctms = 35 ct (1 ct = 0.8 UPU ctms). Ceylon made use of the opt-out clause, which was agreed upon at the 1952 Brussels UPU congress, and calculated with, roughly, a 15% reduction in letter rates: 1 ct = 0.68 UPU ctms, so 20 UPU ctms ≈ 30 ct.

Postage due calculation in the country of destination
In France the standard conversion rate should have been 30 f = 20 UPU ctms 
(1 f = ⅔ UPU cmts). However, also the French postal authorities made use of the opt-out clause converting 27 UPU cmts into 31 f (1 f = 0.871 UPU ctms leading to 20 UPU ctms ≈ 23 f), equivalent to roughly a 20 % decrease in letter rate, Four postage due stamps with a total face value of 31 f document that the postage due has been paid.


Reference:
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Tonga: 1945 Aerogramme Form

Tonga Air Mail Letter Card sent from NUKU'ALOFA (12 NO 45) to the UK, franked at 9 d rate.

Germany: "Dill Reports the News" Privately Manufactured Aerogramme Form

 

Joachim Dill from Bad Neustadt/Saale in Germany published a weekly information service for philatelists. Not much information can be found online on his "Dill Reports the News" information service, but at least now we know that he had also a personalized aerogramme form.

This one was used to document the inaugural Lufthansa flight from Sydney and Darwin to Frankfurt, Germany, in April 1965.

 

Burma: Inland Letter Used as an Air Letter

2 AS inland letter - uprated with a 4 AS stamp to meet the 6 AS air letter rate - sent from RANGOON (2 MAY 1952) to Australia.

Interesting contens: "I am writing you in this 2 annas folder issued lately for local use, as for the other value folders it is not yet out in the post office and it is still uncertain when it will be issue at the G.P.O."

It was this situation that later (Wiegand states in 1955) led to provisional aerogrammes made of the 15 P inland letter and, more rare, this 2 AS inland letter and additional stamps. The provisional aerogrammes, then, were handstamped "Aerogramme / Air letter".


Reference
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Sweden: Aerogrammes at surface mail rate

Swedish aerogram form sent from Stockholm to Aarhus, Denmark. Special cancel of Oktober 9, 1949. "Svenska aerogram med flyg utan tillägg" (Swedish aerogrammes by air without surcharge).

This aerogram form is franked at the 30 Öre surface mail rate.

South Africa: Registered Aerogramme with Free-from-duties Handstamp

South Africa aerogramme (NGK #47 - straight sealing flap) sent registered from BARAGWANATH (5 JUN 70) to Brunswick, Germany.

Upon arrival in Germany, the aerogramme obtained a "Zollfrei" (Free-from-duties) handstamp, the first one I have seen on an aerogramme.


Reference
NGK, Aerogramme Afrika 2012

US: Late Use of First Air Letter

This is the first US air letter, issued 29 April 1947, used very late - exactly 23 years to the day later - on April 29, 1970. The aerogramme rate in 1970 was 13 c, which was met by three additional 1 c stamps.

Gold Coast: Aerogramme Cut-out Used as a Stamp

Cut-out from 6 d Gold Coast aerogramme (NGK #1, #2, or #3) used as a stamp on a letter from ACCRA (21 MAY 1952) to the US, addressed to the famous actor Errol Flynn.

Routing instruction “By Air Mail” crossed out as the air letter rate to the US was 1 s 9 d. Instead, the letter was endorsed “Surface”. The surface rate of 2 ½ d was overpaid substantially.


Reference
NGK, Aerogramme Afrika 2012

UK: Aerogramme Containing an Enclosure

UK 9d aerogramme (Greiner #40) sent from BATH 16. NOV. 1969 to Upper Darby, Pennsylvania/US.

The air letter contained an enclosure, a photo:

“… In fact have just decided to enclose a snap of us taken by the swimming pool at our hotel there - you may keep it! This airletter may go ordinary mail as a result but I’ll take a chance - if you have any extra to pay on it I’ll send you something to repay the money you had to lay out - you name it.”

Instructional handstamps “CONTAINS ENCLOSURE / FORWARDED BY / ORDINARY MAIL” and “INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID / FOR TRANSMISSION BY AIR” in purple. “PAR AVION” routing instruction obliterated with three parallel bars in purple.


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

Pakistan: Inland Aerogramme Used to International Destination

Pakistani inland aerogramme (Wiegand #20 ) sent to Italy. Uprated with stamps of 37 Paisa total face value to meet the 50 Paisa aerogramme rate to international destinations.

The sender had obtained a postal certificate for the aerogramme as a proof for sending as is documented by the boxed "UNDER P.C." handstamp. The aerogramme was returned because the addressee did no longer reside under the address specified ("DESTINATAIRE PARTI" handstamp).


Reference
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Burma: Inland Letter Used as an Aerogramme

In 1955 the Burmese postal authorities ran short of aerogrammes. To fill demand they added a handstamp changing the type designation of a 15 P inland letter to "AIR LETTER / AEROGRAMME" and added a 35 P additional franking.

Endorsed "BY AIR MAIL", the inland letter above is used as an aerogramme about two years later (sent from RANGOON 11 JA 57 to France) without showing the official type designation handstamp. At that time, regular 50 P aerogrammes were available.

Denmark: Advertising Slogan Cancel for Aerogrammes

This advertising slogan cancel "AEROGRAMMER / HURTIGT - BILLIGT" ("Aerogrammes / fast and cheap") was used in Copenhagen, Denmark, in June 1971.


Credits
Thanks to Werner Liechti for pointing me to this slogan cancel I had not been aware of.

Australia: No Airletter Service to the US in 1946

Airletter (Stein #A-2) uprated with a 1 d stamp and sent from MELBOURNE (17 JAN 1946) to Los Angeles, US.

Before the 1952 Brussels UPU congress decisions came into effect on July 1, 1953, airletter service between countries was subject to bilateral agreements. Airletter service from Australia to the US only started on February 10, 1947 (and from the US to Australia on April 29, 1947).

The 8 d postage paid for surface mail to the US and transfer by air within the US. Hence, the type designation "AIRLETTER" was crossed out with blue crayon and "WITHIN AMERICA" was endorsed below the "BY AIR MAIL" routing instruction.


References
Breckon, Pre-Decimal Postal Rates
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and Its Dependencies, 1944-1980

Australia: Law Conference FDC

This aerogramme was issued for the Third Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference, which was held in Sydney from August 25 to September 1, 1965.

The aerogramme (Stein #A-23) was first sold at GPO sales points in each Australian state on August 18, 1965, and later at a temporary post office at the conference venue. In total, the aerogramme was available for about two weeks. This FDC was sent from Brisbane, Queensland, to Bethlehem, U.S.


Reference
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and Its Dependencies, 1944-1980

Australia: Aerogramme Containing an Enclosure Atxed as a Short-Paid Air Mail Letter

Australian 25 c aerogramme (Stein #A-45) sent from Gladesville 6 OCT 1978 to Turku, Finland. Uprated with a 5 c stamp to meet the 30 c aerogramme rate in place since July 1, 1978.

The aerogramme contained an enclosure, as is indicated by the boxed purple “ENCLOSURE” instructional handstamp.
 
The aerogramme was treated as a short-paid air mail letter, as for a surface mail letter the applicable rate would also have been 30 c. The airmail letter rate to European destinations (zone 5) was 55 c up to 10 g.

Hence, the air mail letter was short paid 25 c. This calculation is visible to the left of the stamp. The 1976 Lausanne UPU congress has allowed member countries to introduce a service fee for underpaid mail items. This regulation took effect on January 1, 1978.
Initially, this service fee in Australia was 16 c, which gives the 41 c that were collected from the sender and are endorsed in the octagonal purple “UNDERPAID / POSTAGE … / COLLECTED FROM SENDER” handstamp.

By mistake, the Finnish postal authorities applied a taxation handstamp that was later voided by scribbles.


References
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and Its Dependencies, 1944-1980
Salt, Underpaid Articles - Service Fee, BSAP Bulletin vol. 53 no. 6 December 19998, p. 116

Credits
Thank you, Allan, for pointing me to the Colin Salt's article.

Australia: Stampless Series Sold on Norfolk Island

This is an Australian aerogramme form intended for use in the Australian Dependencies (the so called "Stampless Series". To be precise, it is Stein #AS-1A, the variety "Acccent over 'A' of 'Mail' ", on buff paper. 

Derived from Australia definitive (Stein #A-2) by removing the head of King George VI and part of the dotted overlay area surrounding the indicium leaving a blank rectangle (22x25mm). The occurrence of the accent on A of MAIL flaw, only in the stampless species on both papers, and not on the corresponding Australian airletter definitives indicates that new plates were manufactured especially for the printing of this formular air letter.

Archival records indicate that four ‘Electros for air letter form (no denomination)’ were prepared October 1945. The utilization of four electros is consistent with the 1:4 proportion of these air letters exhibiting the accent on A variety.

This copy was sold at Norfolk Island. According to Stein, the use on Norfolk Island is verified for the period October 1947 to March 1949. In Australia, the 10d rate for aerogrammes was introduced August 1, 1952. Being pre-paid with a 10 d stamp, it seems that AS-1 was still on offer at the post office at that time.


Reference
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and its Dependencies, 1944-1980
Kellow, G., Archival Records of Australian Aerogrammes, 1944-1965, Postal Stationary Collector, February 2003

Credits
Thank you, Allan, for providing the information from Kellow 2003.

Australia: Privately Manufactured Aerogramme Form, Permit #35, New Subtype

This is a privately manufactured Australian aerogramme form, permit #35 (permit holder: Addon Press, 240 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000). However it is not listed in Cornish's study, hence constituting a new subtype.

Watermarked IMPERIAL AIR MAIL "L", the aerogramme form is manufactured in or after 1958. It still has the admonition "If anything is enclosed, letter will be sent by ordinary mail" on the back panel, which was changed to a new one in April 1959. The aerogramme form was sent to France in June 1959.


Reference
Cornish, "The Private Issues". A Study into the Privately Issued Australian Airletters and Aerogramme Issues of 1946 to 1966, 2014

Australia: Odd Use of Official Aerogramme Form in Romania

This is Australia #Stein AS-5, an official aerogramme form intend for use in the Australian Territories and Dependencies. This copy was philatelically used in Romania with a franking that appears to be cutouts from postal stationeries.


Reference
Stein, The aerogrammes of Australia and its dependencies, 1944-1980

Nepal: Aerogramme Parcel Sheet

This is Nepal #9a, purple overlay, issued in 1973. Below is the aerogramme parcel sheet that was packed on top of each package with 500 aerogrammes, dated 8 DEC 1973.

That is the first aerogramme parcel sheet from Nepal that I have ever seen.


Reference
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Asien, 2000

Canada: Forces Air Letter Form Used in UNMOGIP Operations

 

 

Canadian Forces air letter form sent by a member of UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) to Canada in February 1974. Originally franked with Pakistani stamps, the air letter was taxed as short paid and returned to the sender  for 50 Paisa additional postage.

 

The instructional handstamp reads "KAR. AIR 3 / DATE.......... / UN-PAID / RETURNED / PLEASE AFFIX / ......... PAISA / STAMP MORE". A box to which the additional stamps were to affix is on the right hand side of the instruction.

However, no additional Pakistani stamps were affixed and the air letter most likely travelled to UN headquarters in New York in courier mail. There, a 11 c UN New York stamp was affixed and the letter was forwarded to Canada on Feb 19, 1974.

In 1974 the air letter rate of UN New York was 15 c.

Papua New Guinea: PACIFIC 97 Aerogramme

This is Papua New Guinea (Roggenkämper/Russ/Wiegand #28) sent from BOROKO (machine slogan cancel 14 MAR 2001) to France.

It is quite hard to find the aerogrammes (not only from PNG but from most countries) from the beginning of the 1990s on commercially used - like this one.

Prices for used copies in the Roggenkämper/Russ/Wiegand catalogue, for example, might be ok for per favour or FDI cancels, but definitely not for commercially fine used copies. I rate the aerogramme above in the range of 15-20 EUR (instead of the 2 EUR in the catalogue).


Reference:
Roggenkämper/Russ/Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Australien und Ozeanien, 2003

Australia, Aerogramme to Austria, Poste Restante Fee Paid

This aerogramme (Stein #A-8) sent from GUILDFORD 10 JA 57 to a poste restante address at Ostermiething, Austria (arrival cds OSTERMIETHING, 13. 1. 57, on reverse).

The poste restante fee was 30 gr. A 30 gr postage due stamp was affixed at Ostermiething and this amount was recorded in the post office's ledger. The aerogramme was not collected. However, the post office clerk apparently was aware of the whereabouts of the addressee. The postage due stamp was cancelled with blue crayon, the respective record in the ledger was deleted, a proivisional handstamp "Wildshut" was applied and the aerogramme forwarded to Wildshut, about 10 km from Ostermiething.


Reference
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and its Dependencies, 1944-1980

Credits
Many thanks to Andy Taylor, Austrian Philatelic Society, and an unknown society member from Austria.

Australia: Privately Manufactured Aerogramme Form, Permit #14, Used in Indonesia

This Australian Qantas privately manufactured aerogramme form, “Approved by Postmaster-General for Acceptance as Airletter No. 14” (Cornish #14.2), was sent from Denpasar, Bali, to Middletown, Delaware/US. The addressee worked at St. Andrews School, which was the film location for Dead Poets Society, the famous Peter Weir film starring the late Robin Williams.

The airletter most likely contained an enclosure, as is indicated by the “5 grs” weight endorsement in red in the lower right corner of the front panel, the crossed-out “By Air Mail” routing instruction. The post office clerk at Denpasar also endorsed a new routing instruction (“Pos Laut”, Sea Mail).

The post office clerk, however, missed that the airletter was correctly franked as an air mail letter (75 sen surface mail rate plus 175 sen air mail surcharge per 5 grams of weight).

This error was only detected at the intermediate stop at Surabaja, Java, where the stamps on the back were cancelled. The routing instruction on the front panel was changed to “Pos Udara / Par Avion”.

The stamps on the front panel were cancelled DENPASAR 6.11.53 - 7 (at 7 am), the stamps on the back SURABAJA 6.11.53 - 15 (at 3 pm).

Reference
Cornish, "The Private Issues". A Study into the Privately Issued Australian Airletters and Aerogramme Issues of 1946 to 1966, 2014

Australia: Privately Manufactured Aerogramme Form, Permit #14

Australia privately manufactured aerogramme form (permit #14, Cornish #14.6) used from Singapore (cds Singapore Airport 27 DEC 1960) to the US. These aerogramme forms were given to travellers on board of Qantas airplanes.

Cornish states that the approval for this aerogramme form was only granted on January 12, 1961.


Reference:
Cornish, "The private Issues". A Study into the Privately Issued Australian Airletters and Aerogramme Issues of 1946 to 1966, 2014

Rhodesia: Aerogramme Form "Postage Paid"

Aerogramme form sent from Salisbury, Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe's capital Harare) on August 16, 1974 to Sweden.

Postage paid in cash upon delivery to the post office, which is documented by a red "Postage Paid" cds.

Grenada: Uprated Aerogramme

Wiegand #15 uprated with two stamps to meet the 15 c aerogramme rate to the US in 1972.


Reference
Wiegand, Katalog der Aerogramme von Mittel- und Südamerika, 2002

Australia: UK Air Mail Letter Card Used in 1946

This UK air mail letter card, which was the standard air letter form used during WWII, was sent from Melbourne to Hale, Cheshire, UK in February 1946. Correctly franked at 7 d aerogramme rate.

India: Short-Paid Air Letter

Air letter from Bangalore (21 NOV 50) to Portland, US, prepaid 8 As. Indian “T” handstamp, endorsed “23” (ctms) , US two-line handstamp “Postage Due … Cents / AMF Chicago, Ill.”, endorsed “8” (cents).

Country of Origin: 10 As was the aerogramme rate to US in 1950, so the aerogramme was short paid 2 As.  The exchange rate to UPU gold centimes was 3 As 6 pies = 20 ctms, with 1 As = 12 pies. Double the deficiency 4 As = 23 UPU ctms.

Country of Destination: 23 UPU ctms were converted into US currency at an exchange rate of 1 c = 3 ctms. The postage due, after rounding up, was 8 c. 

Malaysia: Short-Paid Air Letter to Canada

Malaysian air letter form sent from KUALA LUMPUR (7 JAN 53) to Montreal, Canada. Franked with 25 c stamp. Since March 14, 1949 the air letter rate to Canada was 35 c. Hence, the air letter is short paid 10 c.

According to UPU rules effective in 1953, double the deficiency (20 c) had to be converted into UPU gold centimes at a rate where Malysia's international first weight step surface mail rate, which was 20 c in 1953, is equivalent to 20 UPU gold centimes. Accordingly, "20" was endosed in pencil within the Malaysian hexagonal T handstamp.

Canada calculated with an exchange rate of 1 c = 3 UPU gold centimes. So 20 UPU gold centimes were equal to 7 c, which is endorsed in the rectangular Canadian handstamp. The endorsement, however, could be misread as "1".

Fiji: UK Aerogramme Form

The Fiji postal authorities ran short of 3d aerogrammes in 1947. It was decided to order aerogramme forms, because it was not clear if the 3d rate remain in force much longer. According to Duberal, on December 6, 1947 29,200 UK type air letter forms were delivered to Fiji.

This air letter was sent from LAUTOKA 20 OCT 49 to Pittsburgh, US.


Reference
Ross Duberal, The Postal Stationery of Fiji, 1998

Australia: Short Paid Aerogramme

This Australian 12c aerogramme (Stein #A-39) was sent from WANNEROO 7 MY 74 to Hilversum, the Netherlands. The aerogramme rate in May 1974 was 14 c. Hence, the aerogramme was short paid 2c.

According to UPU rules a tax fraction should have been endorsed with double the deficiency (4c) in the numerator and the first weight step international surface mail rate (12c) in the denominator. However, only double the deficiency was endorsed.


Reference
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and Its Dependencies, 1944-1980

Norfolk Island: Australia Aerogramme Form

Australian privately manufactured aerogramme form, permit #2, franked with Norfolk Island 10c stamp and sent on 17 MY 71 to Seattle, US.

The supply of the "stampless" series of the regular Australian aerogrammes to Norfolk Island had been ceased with the change to decimal currency in 1966. It is believed that some aerogramme forms where printed without a text in the "stamp box" indicating the aerogramme rate for use in the Australian Dependencies, i.e. Norfolk Island.

Commercial usage, which is very rare.


Reference:
Stein, The Aerogrammes of Australia and Its Dependencies, 1944-1980 (p. 17)

Sierra Leone: Uprated Aerogramme

This is Sierra Leone #18 (issued in 1982), uprated with stamps of a total face value of 50c to match the 70c aerogramme rate in 1984.

The new 70c aerogrammes were only issued in 1985.


Reference:
Müller/Sehler, Aerogramme Afrika 2012

Tonga: Uprated Aerogramme

Tonga #1, uprated with 3s "peel and stick" stamp to meet the 12s aerogramme rate,  sent from NUKUALOFA (cds 25 JA 73) to Australia. Philatelic.