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
Gold Coast
Short Paid Air Letter
Airletter sent from KUMASE (cds 18 JUL 46) to Chicago, U.S.
The airletter rate to non-UK destinations was 1 s. Hence the aerogramme was short paid 6 d and double the deficiency
(1 s) was endorsed left to the “T” postmark. Based on a conversion rate of 4 d = 30 UPU gold centimes, which was in place since July 1946, the amount postage due was 90 UPU gold centimes.
The U.S. postal authorities converted 90 UPU gold centimes into 16 cent at a rate of 5 UPU gold centimes = 1 cent, which was valid until end of June 1948. A handstamp “Postage due ... Cents / Foreign Sect. G.P.O.N.Y.” was applied upon arrival, endorsed “16” and two 5 c and two 3 c postage due stamps were affixed.
