Well, at least I got to have a haircut in the Penny Lane barber shop. 22 Feb 2021 08:31:09pm
I'm having trouble finding 1941 international air mail rates from an American military base in Trinidad, British West Indies, to the United States.
The censored piece, postmarked shortly before the Pearl Harbor attack, seems to be personal, from E. Bean to Mrs. (Lily?) Bean in Washington DC. The paper is "air mail thin," so its contents were probably not more than a half- or full ounce.
One U.S. international rate I found for 1941 was 6 cents per half-ounce, so I suppose this could be just an overfrank, for lack of a two-cent stamp. But I've also seen other 1941 overseas censored mail with only a three-cent stamp.
Contrast on my scan was enhanced to show markings better. There's nothing on the back except a scribbled "Lily Bean." And I couldn't find any famous Beans of the period.
there's a concessionary rate for military personnel allowing them 6c per ounce, beginning 12.23.41, shortly after your cover was mailed.
I couldn't find a military rate for that period, but most US territories were paying 15c per half ounce from December 1937 through 1946 (military bases change in 41, as above).
so i think that 15c franking is correct; others might shed clearer light on this
David
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Well, at least I got to have a haircut in the Penny Lane barber shop. 23 Feb 2021 09:49:10am
re: 15-Cent Censored Mail Rate?
Thank you, David.
I'm a little surprised that military and U.S. territories (in this case, a base on a British territory) would charge the lofty sum of 15 cents in the era of the penny postcard.
I'm also researching whether such pre-war Caribbean mail was sent on B-24 bombers modified as transport planes. Or does the fact that it is not stamped "Air Mail" mean it probably went by sea?
As you can see, the real color of this cover is not such a deep blue, but color was the clincher when I decided to buy it.
Joe
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