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