A little while back I mentioned I have some WWII completes and offered to scan some on to the forum for those interested ( 3 pages P1 to P3 and front of cover ) I have picked this one as it is philatelically linked and makes some interesting comments about the progress of the war. Enjoy
Nice cover you have there BB. It looks like the cancel is 1947, but the letter is 1939. Just didnt make any sense to me. Any insight on this???
Must admit I had not noticed - I have not taken much notice of Covers - have been intrigued by the contents The Post mark is 29 July 1941 ( not 47 ) as the address on the envelope reverse is teh same as the senders I can only assume that either the recipient has mixed the contents up , or the writer took their time going to the mail box Does any one know what the proceedure would have been during this period - would the post have been held by the Mail service fro this period due to the war ? ( i.e postmarked when shipped rather than when posted ?? ) Scan of reverse added for your info
I must agree with Kacyds, I too see the cancel as 1947 not 1941. Where was the censor applied ? The US entered the war on December 8, 1941 and why censor mail two years after the war ended if it were 1947 ?
It is most def 1941 ( I've been to Specsavers ) take a look at the 1 at the start of the date it is identical to the one at the end . with regard to where it was censored - one has to guess, ( unless some one has some knowledge ) But I would assume it was censored on entry into Ireland, given that the USA did not enter the war until Dec 1941 . I dont see any reason why USA woudl censor mail otherwise , unless they were getting twitchy. Any war time survivors that can throw some light ? Might be an interesting area of research - if only I had the time
Other than UK & Ireland, most European Countries write their "1's" with elongated serifs at the top. These can easily be mis read as a 7 to those not aware. However, when using this font , it is usual to place a small horizontal bar thriugh the middle of the down stroke of the 7 to distinguish it from a 1 However, as this is a New York post mark, this is not the case here.
America was not in the war in 1939 kacyds, but one can save a stamp for a couple of years before using it.
If you read the letter text, USA were not yet in the war when this was written The post mark is most def 1941 ( the first 1 is the same as the last 1 ) unless of course thsi was 7947 and given we have not reached that year yet, it must have been BC, in which case this is the first ever recorded postage stamp So any one got a few million to spare for a 7947 BC cover ?
I always write my sevens with a bar through the middle; is this a Welsh thing? I cannot see the letter BB, it is in a language my PC cannot fathom. I agree with you, 1941.
West Have you blocked Private Messaging ? As I can not send you a message privately to resovle this. You need to download Actrobat, then you can view PDF files.
The two stamps on the envelope is a Scott#900 and #901. They were both issued almost a year after the letter was written. U.S. #900 2¢ Anti-Aircraft Gun National Defense Issue Issue Date: October 16, 1940 City: Washington, D.C. Quantity: 5,211,708,300 Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing Printing Method: Rotary Press Perforations: 11 x 10.5 Color: Rose carmine U.S. #900 was the second in a 3-stamp series issued to raise consciousness of the need for a strong national defense, which President Franklin Roosevelt considered especially important as World War II raged in Europe. The stamp pictures a 90-millimeter anti-aircraft gun. U.S. #901 3¢ Torch of Freedom National Defense Issue Issue Date: October 16, 1940 City: Washington, D.C. Quantity: 8,384,867,600 Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing Printing Method: Rotary Press Perforations: 11 x 10.5 Color: Bright violet U.S. #901 was the third in a 3-stamp series issued to raise consciousness of the need for a strong national defense, which President Franklin Roosevelt considered especially important as World War II raged in Europe. The stamp pictures a raised torch, representing enlightenment.
December 8, 1941 was the date of the US declaration of war, but in fact the US was at war on December 7, 1941 at about 7:55 AM when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This war, while not unexpected, was not the war the US wanted to be in because it was felt that Germany was the greater threat. Hitler didn't declare war against the US until December 11, 1941, in support of his Axis agreements with Japan. Before The Declaration US warships were involved in fighting prior to December 7, 1941. The USS Niblack attacked a German U Boat on April 10, 1941. The USS Niblack was involved in the US occupation of Iceland. And US warships provided escort to convoys to England prior to the declaration, under the Lend-Lease Act. Before the actual attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor, of which the Americans stated they had no foreknowledge, the US Navy attacked and sank a midget submarine trying to enter Pearl Harbor. The AVG, comprised of US pilots and P-40 aircraft, was set up April 15, 1941 by Roosevelt to provide support to China against the Japanese who invaded beginning in 1937. In June, 1941, the US (with about 3000 soldiers) occupied Iceland. Iceland had been invaded by Britain in May 1940. The Iceland government protested the British Invasion. Britain handed over the control of Iceland to the USA in June 1941.
Thanks kacyds I have not had the opportunity to look at these issues, but would imagine that the correspondence has been placed in the wrong envelope either by the recipient, or by those that have handled the documents before they came into my possession via an auction lot So no million £ offer for the 7947 BC cover then Some interesting info there. I find that the period of history you know least about is the 25 years before your own birth. It's too early to be taught and too late to be experienced
I would agree with you, Since I was born in 1966 and the war ended in 1945, that was never(or very little) was taught is school. Both of my grandparents and my wifes father, all served during the war. Now that I am older I appreciate history more and more each day. I wish that my grandparents or father-in-law was still alive so that I could ask questions. One good thing though, my kids, ages 15 and 11, are taught about WWII in school now, and they love it. We have gone to the library and did research on it, and have bought many books about the war. They absolutely love it.
I think the problem is to do with my explorer BB (what is your name anyway?). I do no downloading anyway as my Kaspersky will not let me.
