The items I am posting this evening all relate to WWII and originated in the US.

This cover was mailed from Indianapolis on Sept.28, 1940 to Zelma ?? in Danzig, Germany. The cover is franked with two 15c brown map and plane airmail stamps, paying the transatlantic airmail rate. On the reverse you can see that the item was censored in Germany and that the addressee had left without leaving a forwarding address. There is a blue pencil notation from the PO in Danzig as well. On the front is a violet "zuruck/retour" marking, indicating that the cover should be returned to the sender.

Here is a cover sent from Detroit, Mich. on Aug. 29, 1939 to Braunschweig, Germany. The cover is franked with a winged globe stamp, paying the transatlantic airmail rate. When the Germans invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939, the scheduled Clipper flight was apparently canceled, and the cover was marked "No Service, Return to Sender." From the reverse , we know the cover made it to its destination on Nov. 11, 1939. Presumably, this means that the cover was never actually returned to its sender, notwithstanding the marking on front. I don't know the precise date Clipper Service to Portugal started up after the outbreak of war in Europe, but presumably this letter was on one of the first flights after service resumed. If anyone has any additional information as to what may have happened to this cover, please share.

This cover was mailed from from Wilmette, IL on Sept 5, 1940 to "Louny(?), Bohemia, Germany. The cover is franked with 3 Prexies, including an 18c, plus the Panama Canal 3c commem and the 6c Eagle airmail stamp, paying the transatatlantic airmail rate. The cover travelled via France, where it was censored and marked return to sender.

This cover is one of my all time favorite covers. It is franked with a solo 50c 4th Bureau stamp, paying the transatlantic airmail rate plus the registration fee, addressed to Premysl, Poland. One needs to look at the reverse to understand the journey taken by this cover. The earliest postmark is a Sept. 8, 1939 postmark from Chicago, the city of origin. Then there is a Sept. 9, 1939 transit marking from New York. There is also a handwritten notation from the post office in Poland stating that the area to which the letter is addressed is under occupation by the 3rd Reich. So the cover was marked in red crayon on the front "retur Chicago" and returned to the US, as evidenced by the New York transit marking dated Oct. 23, 1939.

By the time the cover arrived back in NY, however, the German occupation of Poland was completed. Thus, someone in the US Post Office crossed out the "retur" marking on the front and wrote "Deutschland" on the front, indicating that the addressee was now living in Germany. The cover went back accross the Atlantic, receiving a transit marking in Lisbon on Oct. 31, 1939. From there, the cover went to Moscow, Russia, where it received a transit marking on Dec. 4, 1939. Apparently the addressee could not be found, and the cover was once again returned to the US, arriving in Chicago on Feb. 17, 1940.

Finally, this cover was mailed from Flushing, NY on Nov. 10, 1941 to Berlin, Germany. It is franked with a Winged Globe stamp, paying the transatlantic airmail rate. Germany censor markings are on the front. On the reverse is a label and a violet hand stamp indicating that the addressee had left without leaving a forwarding address. There is a Berlin transit marking of Jan. 14, 1942, 1 month after Germany declared war on the US. There is also an August 27, 1940 transit marking from NY. I have not seen any other item of civilian mail that made its way from Germany to the US after Germany declared war on the US.

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

In 1965 a new US definitive series was issued to honor Prominent Americans. The five cent stamp depicted George Washington, but as soon as it was issued the public howled that he looked like a hobo, with his haggard look and the suggestion of stubble on his face. So the stamp was retooled into a movie star version of George—all age lines smoothed away, the stubble gone, a dreamy looked imparted to his eyes. One can see the before and after pictures here.

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

lloydstamps… If you had bothered to read my comment you would see that your indignation is misplaced. I will repeat:

First day covers are, sadly, generally not worth a lot.

If your purpose was merely to find something to carp about, perhaps you could A. in the future keep such comments to yourself, or B. actually read with an eye toward comprehending what has been posted before you saddle up your high horse.

APS strikes again, below the belt as usual…

J

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Bill B.

Jon

Bill B.

jeltonk---the left-hand stamp is Ryukyu ISlands, I believe; the others look familiar, but I can't place them.

Bill B.

here

I am looking for some help in identifying these. (Hopefully I didn't mess up the link.)

I got these in a box lot of supposedly all Korean stamps, but can't seem to find these in Scotts. One looks like it may be Japanese by the SEN, but can't seem to find that one either.

Is there anyone out there who can lend me a hand in identifying these?

Jon

Forgery Identification Site

Bill B. (formerly jakstay)

Here is an interesting (to me at least) item, although not philatelic, and not controversial, about early Oregon.

Local pasture fires are out, no dust hurricane this morning.

Jeff

IO - Got dust? No need to go to Amarillo today, it is blowing by overhead. Was sitting at a restaurant on 287 a few minutes ago, then downtown disappeared.

Angus cattlemen in the area are having to steak down their yearlings. Hereford ranchers have no problem.

3 fires are reported in the area, fighting them is out of the question, just evacuation downwind. Sheesh. No pasture mowing today.

NOIP - there is a BIG difference between reprint and reproduction

Forgery Identification Site

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Today’s Lesson: How to kill time on eBay

I saw this coded postcard this morning and thought I might give a try at breaking it. It turned out to be a simple replacement code, with an easily discernable pattern, so it didn’t take too long.

WELL HELEN, MY (*), I DID
NOT GET THE LETTER I
EXPECTED TONIGHT – WAS
IST LOSSEN MIT DIR**? WELL
SWEETHEART AS I WILL BE
THERE ALMOST AS SOON AS
THIS CARD I WILL ONLY
TELL YOU HOW MUCH I MISS
YOU u† HOW MUCH I WILL
LOVE YOU TO MAKE UP FOR
IT WHEN I SEE YOU. SO GOOD
NIGHT, LOVE u KISSES – YOUR
       FETTSOCK‡

J

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

And yes, that is a mess! Perhaps you can soak it to get the tape off, then reconstruct it from the back side.

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

J

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

lavart - NICE junk.

Nice expo folded card too. Does it weigh over a half oz to warrant the 10c franking ratewise?

Jeff

Lavart… In case you were wondering, the writing on the panorama on your St. Louis card (here) says “Deutschland” in Sütterlin script, pointing out the German exhibit.

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Terence Hines

Today I received from Germany an item that will be of interest to all the Expo collectors here. Here is the address portion of a souvenir mail card from the St. Louis World's fair, mailed from Chicago on Aug. 1, 1904 to Germany. Flip the item over and you see this . Open the item up and you see a three panel view card, shown here and here . Could not get all three panels in a single scan. The 3 panel view looks much nicer in person than it does split between the 2 scans.

From a postal history standpoint, the item was treated as a letter because it exceeded the UPU-allowed dimensions for a post-card. Being heavy, it was a double-weight letter. Thus the fortuitous franking with the 10c Expo stamp.

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Found them in an old album, eh? B*llsh*t.

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

dcderoo… I know nothing of Luxembourg stamps, or I would offer an opinion. That’s the bailiwick of Anne, who has been missing in action here for some time.

Jim

? How to do a “flip-comparison” test on perforations
? US Stamp Identifiers: | 10c Issue of 1855-57 | First 3¢ Stamped Envelopes | Grilled Stamps | Large “Banknotes” | First Bureau Issues | Abe Lincoln’s “tiny eye”
                                    | Washington-Franklin stamps of 1908-22 | 2nd & 3rd Issue Revenue Designs | Colors, Scott 70/78, 24¢ Washington

Thanks!

I just knew a Dane would have the answer!

Ken C.

Ken C.

I need a knowledgeable Germany (DDR) collector to help me identify this block from 1955.

I can't seem to find it in my Michels Germany Specialized catalog, but since my German isn't good, it might be in there without a helpful pic!

What does "V prolongé" and "V verlängert" mean?

good morning

Here was a Bargain of the Day because the seller listed in the wrong category. Easily a $30 card.

Went fishing last night, caught one pan-size bass. Couldn't coax a second so it went back in.

Spring is nearly ready to spring, IO maybe I will fire up the smoker this weekend.

Jeff