Malaya. (Straits Settlements - India - Netherlands Indies). 1883. Straits Settlements postal stationery card 3 cents blue written from Penang dated 'May 18 83' with Penang circular dispatch 'Penang/ Paid' dated May 18' addressed to Holland with octagonal 'Bengal' type 'B/172' obliterator and framed 'Ned, Ind/ Via Brindisi/ Britsche - Pakket. B' in blue on face and Rotterdam receiver '19th Juin'.

The 'B/ 172' number had been allocated to Singapore when the Post Office was in the Bengal Postal Circle, however when the Straits Settlements became a Colony it was also transferred to Penang in 1874.
A very rare item in association with the framed Netherlands Indies via Brindisi British Packet hand-stamp. Exhibition piece.

Malaya. (Straits Settlements). 1933. Air Mail envelope addressed to England bearing Straits Settlements SG 218, 1c black, SG 219, 2c green and SG 238, 50c black/emerald tied by Singapore double ring, endorsed 'via Alor Star and Amsterdam'.

Nice Air Mail cover sent via Amsterdam on K.L.M. paying the 53 cent rate.

China. (Russian China - Boxer War - French Sudan). 1901. Picture post card of 'Cherry Blossom at Koganie' addressed to 'Monsieur Emile Magnec, Sergent Secretaire du Treaorier au 2nd Regiment de Tirailleurs Senegalais a Kati, Soudan Francais' bearing Russian China SG 2, 2k green tied by Tyan-Tzin 1 Pochtov Kontora' dated '14th Aug' (Tchillinghirian Fig 488).

The date block month and year became gradually worn until late 1901 the whole year is missing.

The 2nd Regiment of Senegalese Tirailleurs was a regiment composed of African Infantry formed by the French Army. It was created by decree on 23rd April 1892 as the 'Regiment de Tirailleurs Soudanais' and were garrisoned at Camp Gallieni, Kati, French Sudan.

Amazing card sent at Printed Matter rate during the Boxer Rebellion to the 'Secretary Sergeant of the Treasurer in the 2nd Senegalese Tirailleurs (Sharp Shooting) Regiment' addressed to Kati, French Sudan.

China. (Russian Post Office). 1916. Unstamped post card addressed to Hankow, Russian China written from Moscow dated '25th Sept 16' with framed censor cachet in violet and Hankow arrival. Nice item of censored mail into the Russian Post Office in Hankow.

China. (Manchuria - Chinese Eastern Railway). 1904. Picture post card of 'Chinese Dragon' written from Liaoyang dated '27th Avril 04' addressed to Switzerland bearing Russia Yvert 41, 4k rose tied by 'Pochtovii Vagon 265' date stamp (Tchil Fig 679), routed via Siberia' with Geneva receiver '23rd May 04'.

Very rare Chinese Eastern Railway cancel on card on the Manchurian Kharbin to Port-Arthur line 265/ 266.

China. (Russian Post Office in China). 1910. Envelope addressed to France bearing Russian China SG 28, 2k green tied by Chefoo double ring (Tchil Fig 506).

Very scarce item paying the un-opened printed matter rate from Chefoo to France.

China. (Russian Post Office in Manchuria). 1917. Registered envelope addressed to Switzerland bearing 1916 Russia 'Provisional' 10k on 7k blue (2) tied by 'Kharbin Central Station/a' oval date stamp '22nd May 17' with 'R/ Harbine Gare' registration label with censor label tied by framed 'No 59/ H.B.O.' censor cachet in violet with Zurich arrival and forwarded to Grachen. Superb item of registered censored mail to Switzerland from the Russian Post Office in Harbin, Manchuria.

French Colonies. (New Caledonia). 1913. Picture post card of 'Dumbea Lake and River, New Caledonia' written from Poro and addressed to France bearing New Caledonia Yvert 92, 10.c rose tied by Nelle Caledonia/ Sce Mme Cote Est' double ring (Salles 2271) with Noumea transit. A lovely item of mail carried on the monthly Coastal Maritime French mail service going East to West around the islands.

French Colonies. (Guadeloupe). 1872.

French Colonies . (Obock - Somalis Coast). 1909. Registered envelope addressed to Djibouti bearing Obock Yvert 41, 40c orange tied by Cote Francaise Des Somalis/ Djibouti double ring '2nd Dec 1909' with small locally made hand-struck 'R' on face and endorsed '41' in m/s indicating the number of registered mail dispatched. Very fine.

Nice single registered franking from Obock to Djibouti. (Note December yet only '41' items of registration mail sent.

French Colonies. (Obock). 1902. Picture post card of 'Suez, Station de Chemin de Fer (Railway Station')' written from the 'Mer Rouge' dated '1st April 02' addressed to France bearing Obock Yvert 51, 10c black and green mixed with Cote Des Somalis Yvert 23. 0.05 on 75c violet and orange tied by Djibouti/ Cote Des Somalis' double ring in blue with French paquebot 'Ligne N Paq. Fr No 7' date stamp and Ardeche arrival.

Mixed franking covers or cards from Obock and Somalis Coast difficult to find.

French Colonies. (French Congo). 1894. French Congo postal stationery envelope 15c blue upgraded with Yvert 4a, 5c on 25c black/ rose (strip of five) surcharge "COngo", Yvert 13, 2c brown and Yvert 14, 4c lilac/ blue (pair) tied by Libreville/ Congo dates stamp '25th Juin 94' with hand-struck framed 'R', addressed to Germany sent via French paquebot with octagonal 'Loango a Bordeaux L.L. No 2' date stamp in blue on face dated '7th Juil' (Salles 1212) with Paris/ Chargements in red on face '3rd Aout.' Very fine and attractive franking paying the 50c registration rate.

A wonderful item with scarce surcharge error.

Ex Dr Edward Grabowski.

French Colonies. (French Congo). 1893. Registered 'Congo Francais' postal stationery envelope 15 cents blue upgraded with Yvert 13, 2c lilac, Yvert 21, 40c orange, Yvert 22, 50c rose and Yvert 25, 75c violet/ yellow tied by Libreville/ Cong Francaise double ring '3rd Oct 93' with framed hand-struck 'R' addressed to Belgium with octagonal French paqubot 'Loanga a Marseille/ L.M. No 1' date stamp on face, routed via Marseille with Bruxelles registration on reverse and circular postmans chop. Very attractive franking with fifty and seventy five cents scarce on cover.

French Colonies. (Benin). 1904. Picture post card of 'Une Fete a Porto- Novo' addressed to France bearing Benin Yvert 37, 10c black/ lilac tied by Etablissements du Benin/ Ligne M. No 1' date stamp '15th Sept 04' (Salles 1221) with octagonal French paqubot 'Loango a Marseille L.M. No 1' date stamp '23rd Sept' on face. Lovely item.

India. (India used in Pondicherry). 1880 - 1940. A used selection on two black stock cards, diamond '111' with circular '111, squared circle, date stamp, double ring, straight-line, pairs, O.H.M.S. and two KGVI, 25 rupees used in Pondicherry. (must be scarce).

Aden. (India used in Aden). 1870 - 1920. A used selection on 5 stock-cards including blocks, 'Service' Queen Victoria through George V, postmark Aden '124', straight - line, squared circle, double ring and Aden Cantonment values up to 2 rupee and very fine Great Britain 'Jubilee' with bold squared circle and strip of three one rupee Queen Victoria.

United States. (Netherlands Mission in Japan). 1950. Air Mail envelope headed 'William van der Veur, c/o Netherlands Mission, Tokyo, Japan' addressed to Holland bearing United States 'Prexie' SG 806, 5c light blue (strip of three) and SG 816, 15c slate tied by bar obliterator with circular 'U.S. Army Postal Service/ A.P.O.' duplex dated 'Juin 5 1950.'

Attractive item.

United States. (Hawaii). Circa 1942. Air Mail envelope headed by printed 'Soldier's Mail' addressed to Columbus, Ohio bearing United States 'Prexie' SG 807, 6c vermilion tied by Wheeler Field/ Hawaii date stamp 'Jan 21 42' with 'via Air Mail' label and hand-stamped 'via Clipper' with censor hand-stamp 'Censored/ 26/ K E R' and signed with nice illustrated letter card inside headed 'Hawaii'.

Scarce censorship recorded by Helbock '29th Dec 1941 - 27th January 1942.' A rare censor hand-stamp a s never seen by Mike White in forty years of collecting and trading.

United States. (Hong Kong - Egypt - Trans- Pacific Mail). 1941. Air Mail envelope addressed to 'c/o American Mission, Henha, Egypt' bearing United States "Prexie" SG 821, 20c turquoise and SG 827, 50c purple tied by Erie/ PA slogan date stamp 'Sep. 18 41', endorsed 'Air Mail via Hong Kong' with hand-struck 'Trans-Pacific' hand-stamp on face in violet with 'Crown/ G.R./ Opened By Censor/ Hong Kong' black on white label, routed via Kunming and Rangoon with 'Egyptian Censorship' censor seal over Hong Kong tape with circular 'Postal Censor' in violet on face.

18th September 1941. USA to Egypt via Hong Kong. By Pacific Clipper, which left '20th September' but landed in Guam with a broken propeller. '24th September, loaded to California Clipper which departed '10th October and arrived Hong Kong '12th October'. Sent via Kunming to Rangoon. By 'WG129 leaving '14th October' and arrived Cairo '20th October' (backstamped 22nd October after censorship), franked at 70 cents.

Ex Ted Proud.

United States. (Japan). 1945. Air Mail envelope written from 'U.S.S. Darke, APA - 159, C/O F.P.O. San Fran, Calf.' addressed to Canada bearing SG A901, 6c orange-red tied by US/ Navy Sept 2nd' date stamp with 'Tokyo Bay/ VJ Day' hand-stamp and circular 'Passed Navel Censor' on face.

U.S.S. Darke was an attack Transport ship at the Japanese surrender in Tokio Bay.

United States. (Kenya). 1942. Air Mail envelope endorsed 'Sgt. Bailey, A.L.M. 33105543', A.P.O. 626, c/o Postmaster, Miami, Fld. U.S. Army' addressed to Harrisburg bearing United States SG A901, 6c orange-red tied by 'U.S. Army Postal Service/ A.P.O. 626' date stamp 'Dec 28 1942' with framed 'Passed by Military/ Censor/ No 1/ 2' and signed 'John A. Dowres/ 1st Lt. 812th Eng. Brg/ Adjutant'.

Very rare item from American Post Office 626 in Nairobi, Kenya. Very few items known.

Thailand. (Air Mail). 1947. Air Mail envelope addressed to the United States bearing SG 262, 3b green and black and SG 312, 10s carmine (pair) tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp.

Thailand. (Hong Kong). 1932. Air Mail envelope addressed to Hong Kong (China) bearing SG 127a, 2 satang on 2a deep green (block of four), SG 130, 3s on 3a grey and purple, SG 159, 2s on 14s ultramarine and SG 165, 2s on 14s grey-blue tied by bilingual Ubol date stamp '7th April 32' routed via Bangkok. Very attractive franking.

Thailand. (Denmark). 1931. Registered envelope addressed to Denmark bearing SG 218, 15s blue (2 one on reverse) tied by Bangkok/ 2A date stamp with matching registration label and Kobenhavan arrival '31st Oct' on reverse.

Thailand. (Air Mail). 1924. Air Mail envelope addressed to Bangkok bearing SG 166, 2s yellow-brown, SG 213, 3s red-brown and SG 218, 15s blue tied by small 'Aeroplane' date stamp of UBOL, dated '28th August 1924' with Bangkok arrival on reverse.

Carried on the weekly flight of the Royal Aeronautical Service from Ubol to Bangkok.

Thailand. (Postal Stationery). 1913. Registered Siam postal stationery card 'five satong' scarlet upgraded with SG 148, 3s green and SG 150, 12s sepia and black tied by Bangkok/ 2 date stamp '22nd July 13' with matching registration label addressed to Prague with Praha arrival '21/8' on face.

Very attractive franking.

Thailand. (Postcard). 1935.Picture post card of 'Menan River, Looking from Wat Chang' addressed to Florida bearing SG 231, 2s chocolate (2) and SG 252, 2s brown (pair) tied by Bangkok GPB. Very fine.

Card published by "The Siam Photo Studio, Bangkok'.

Thailand. 1934. Siam postal stationery envelope 10 satang carmine upgraded with SG 239, 5s green tied by Bangkok GPO roller '27th Dec 1934' addressed to California. Very fine.

Thailand. (Postal Stationery). Circa 1941. Siam postal stationery card 5 satang pale violet Very fine unused. Fresh.

Thailand. (Provincial Postmarks). 1928. Registered envelope addressed to Bangkok bearing SG 221, 25s indigo tied by bilingual Prae date stamp with matching registration label and Bangkok/ 10B arrival on reverse. Superb.

Thailand. (A. V. 2). 1947. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to New Hampshire bearing SG 256, 15s blue (pair), SG 262, 3b black and yellow-green (pair) and SG 295, 25s grey and orange (4) and SG 312, 10s carmine tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '5th Nov 47' with matching registration label, endorsed 'Air Mail via K.L.M.' with hand-struck 'A.V. 2'on face, New York and New Hampshire arrival '12th Nov 47' on reverse.

High Air Mail rate of seven baht ten satong, very attractive cover.

Thailand. (Censored Mail). 1941. Envelope addressed to London bearing SG 243, 50s orange-brown and black (pair) tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '24th April 41' with bold circular '3' censor chop in violet on face and 'P.C. 90/ Opened by Examiner 2214' censor label.

Thailand. (Printed Matter Rate - United States). 1931. Envelope addressed to Michigan bearing SG 253, 3s green tied by bilingual Bangkok GPO date stamp, endorsed 'Printed Matter'.

Lovely item paying the overseas Printed Matter rate to the United States.

Thailand. (Goodwill Mission Flight Stage 4). 1939. Air Mail envelope endorsed 'Japan Aviation Company/ First Fight Bangkok' addressed to Tokyo, Japan bearing SG 242, 25s blue tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '4th Feb 1939' with notation 'By "General Nogi" machine' with Japanese Post Office slip attached indicating Express service and instructions for re-delivery.

Only thirty covers carried on this stage and only a few with P.O. label (slip) attached.

China. (Boxer Rebellion). 1901. Japanese postal stationery card 1 1/2s grey-blue endorsed 'Corps Expeditionnaire de Chine' addressed to France cancelled by 'Yangtsun/ I.J.P.O.' date stamp '21st Feb 01' (date slug inverted).

Scarce item from Yangtsun this military sub-Agency was only opened for 10 months after the capture of Yangtsun by the International Force.

China. ( Japanese Post Offices - Shanghai Local Post). 1898. Japanese postal stationery card 1s ultramarine upgraded with 'Koban' SG 113, 1s green (3) tied by vernacular Kobe date stamp in red addressed to Shanghai, China, routed via Tokio/ I.J.P.O. dated '14th Mar', Shanghai Imperial Japan Post Office and Shanghai Local Post transits 'March 20' and Tsingtau Fort arrival '27/3' on reverse. Nice item of incoming mail.

China. (Japanese Post Office in China). 1917. Registered envelope written from 'Zijlstra & Co, Tsingtau' addressed to Amsterdam bearing Japanese Post Office in China SG 42, 10s blue (2) tied by Tsingtau date stamp with registered label and bold 'Registered' hand-stamp in violet, endorsed 'via U.S. America' with 'R/ Moji' transit cachet and registration label with 'Opened by Censor/ 4288' censor label applied with Seattle/ Wash and New York transits on reverse and Amsterdam arrival. Lovely item.

China. (Japanese Post Offices in China). 1906. Japanese postal stationery folded letter card 3s violet cancelled by Tientsin 2/ I.J.P.O. date stamp '23rd Dec' addressed to the 'French Concession, Tientsin with Tien-Tsin-Chine/ Poste Francaise arrival on reverse dated '24th Dec 06.'

Scarce item of postal stationery used from the Japanese Post Office in Tientsin.

China. (Japanese Post Offices). 1906. Envelope addressed to Germany bearing Japanese Post Office in China SG 5, 2s yellow-green tied by Foochow/ I.J.P.O. date stamp.

Lovely item paying the Printed Matter rate to Europe.

China. (Manchuria - Spain). 1946. Registered envelope written from Madrid, Spain, addressed to Harbin, China bearing Spain SG 903, 10c carmine, SG 904, 15c green, SG 948, 20c violet, SG 949, 25c claret, SG 953, 50c slate and SG 954, 60c orange tied by framed Certificado/ Madrid date stamp '16th Ago 46' with hand-struck 'Madrid/ Espana' in violet, routed via Changchun (Manchuria) '1st December' on face and Shanghai '12th Dec' on reverse with bold framed instructional 'Mail Route to Destination/ blockaded, return to sender' in black on face and returned.

The USSR did not declare war on Japan until August 8 1945 and took steps to occupy Harbin and other parts of Manchuria. The Soviet occupation of Harbin lasted until April 1946 when control was given to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (CPLA). The CPLA then controlled Manchuria from Harbin and caused a breakdown in postal communications. Changchun in the northeast was in the hands of the Nationalists they regarded to CPLA as causing a blockade and hence the instructional 'Blockaded' cachet applied in Shanghai

A similar cover is illustrated by Robert Johnson in the 'Collectors Club' journal March - April 2011. Johnson notes he has only seen one other example, with this cover three examples of this rare cachet are known.

China. (Manchuria). 1928. Registered envelope addressed to Chicago bearing SG 321, 10c blue (pair) tied by Antung date stamp with registration label hand-stamped by small framed 'Antung', routed via Kobe/ Japan with oval framed vernacular instructional in violet on face, hand-struck 'Registered' on arrival in purple and Chicago receiver on reverse.

Ex Pat Clemo.

China. (Manchuria). 1933. Chinese Imperial Post 'Junk' issue postal stationery card 1 1/2c blue cancelled by Sinmin - Fu date stamp addressed to Peking with arrival on face. Lovely item from Liaoning Province.

China. (Manchuria). 1921. China 'Junk' postal stationery card 4c vermilion cancelled by Harbin/ Priston date stamp addressed to Germany.

China. (Manchuria). 1936. Envelope addressed to Germany bearing Manchuria SG 2, 1f brown-red, SG 5, 3f chestnut, SG 57, 2f yellow-green and SG 48, 4f olive tied by Harbin date stamp endorsed 'via Siberia'.'

Nigeria. (French Camerouns - Dahomey - Spain). 1942. Advertising envelope for 'Exporter of Fruit, Valencia' addressed to the French Cameroun bearing Spain Yvert 665, 25c lilac (3) tied by Valencia/ Franco slogan '9th Juin', routed via Cotonou/ Dahomey '19th Aout 42' with 'Controle Postal' label tied by 'Ouvert/ Par Les/ Autorite Militaire' in blue with Nigeria 'P.C. 90/ Opened by Examiner' label tied by framed 'Passed by Censor/ Nigeria/ 12' hand-stamp in carmine front and reverse, routed via Dakar, Senegal with framed triangular 'LB' , Douala/ Cameroun transit '5/10' and 'Controle Postal Militaire ' label tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par/ L' Autorite Militaire' censor cachet with circular 'Controle Postal/ Commission A/ Territtoire de Cameroun' on face and circular hand-stamp 'A/2' and 'A/5' .

Up to late 1942 Dakar, Senegal was a transit stop for mail to Unoccupied France and Colonies.

A wonderful cover with ten different censor chops and labels from Nigeria, Cameroun, Senegal and Dahomey.

Spain. (Bermuda). 1942. Air Mail envelope addressed to Detroit bearing Spain SG 945, 1p blue, SG 947, 4p slate-grey, SG 949, 25c claret and SG 953, 50c slate tied by Leon double ring with 'de Correos de 15 Centimos' censor label tied by hand-struck 'Militaire' censor, intercepted by the British in Bermuda with P.C.90/ Opened by Examiner/ 336' censor tape, endorsed 'I.C.' on face in blue crayon. Scarce item from Spain detained in Bermuda for censorship.

Examiner 336 listed by Morenweiser as censored in Bermuda but without the 'I.C.' code.

Spanish Colonies. (Cuba). Stamp-less folded letter written from 'Habana' dated '5th Aout 1875' addressed to France with 'J. Schvartz/ Havana' firms oval chop in blue on reverse, endorsed 'via United States' with bold hand-struck '50' and New York transit 'Aug 12', with French entry cachet 'Etats-Unis 2 Cherbourg' in blue on face. Quality cover,

Scarce '1. 20 fr' tariff from Habana, Cuba via the United States only possible for 14 months August 1874 until 1st January 1876.

Spain. (French Reunion). 1888. Envelope imprinted 'Compagnie Generale Transatlantique' endorsed 'par vapeur "Salazie" written from Saint Nazaire by the agent for the French steamer "Washington" with letter headed 'Santander' and cancelled by circular 'Ligne B Paq. Fr. No 2' double ring (Salles 1435) and hand-struck cachet 'Agent de la Ligne B/ sur "La Washington", the envelope with enclosed letter were then transferred to the French paquebot "Salazie" departing Santander addressed to 'Doctor Clou, on Board the "Pei-Ho" at Reunion' bearing Spain Yvert 107, 25c blue/grey tied by Santander dispatch '24/1/88' with 'Irun a Bordeaux' ambulant '25/12' and Entranger/ Marseille transit '26/12' on reverse.

The French paquebot "Washington" departed Saint Nazaire for Vera Cruz 21st December 1888.

Morocco. (Spanish). 1945. Envelope addressed to Switzerland bearing Spanish Morocco SG 273, 15c green tied by Alcazarquivir date stamp '23rd Oct 45' with framed 'Censura Poastal/ Alcazarquivir' in violet on face, routed via Madrid. Very fine.

Netherlands East Indies. (Censor Mail). 1940. Envelope written from Galang Island addressed to Pematang bearing Netherlands Indies SG 403, 10c vermilion tied by Galang date stamp '17th May 40' with 'Geopend Militaire/ Censuur - Medan' censor tape and 'Militaire Censuur/Medan' hand-stamp in violet on face.

Superb item of censorship from this small island near Singapore.