Laos. (Great Britain). 1960. Envelope written from England addressed to 'The Bureau de Poste, Champasak, Republic of Laos' bearing Great Britain 'Wilding' SG 548, 6d purple tied by Kingston-On-Thames/ Surrey slogan dated '5th Dec 1960' with hand-stamp instructional 'Unable To Forward/ Service Suspended' in violet on face.

Mail service to Laos was suspended due to the Laotian coups and counter coup by Major General Phoumi Nosavan from November 21st 1960 - December 11th 1960.

Jamaica. (British West Indies). 1900. Stamp-less Official mail envelope printed 'On Her Majesty's Service' with 'Dead Letter Office/ Jamaica' and 'returned Letter/Paid' addressed to Kingstown with framed 'Returned / Letter Branch/ Mr 9 00/ Jamaica' and Kingston/ Jamaica date stamp 'Mr 9 00' on reverse.

The printed envelope was used for mail that was not delivered and thus returned to the writer. An elusive Official printed envelope.

British Guiana. 1942. Air Mail envelope written from 'M.F. Looney, Elmhurst Contr., Hyde Park. A.P.O. 803 in transit for A.P.O. 807, Trinidad B.W.I.' addressed to New York bearing British Guiana SG 293, 12c orange, SG 310, 4c black and carmine, SG 311, 6c blue and SG 312, 24c green tied by Air Mail/ British Guiana double ring '4th Jan 42' with 'Officially opened and resealed/ By Censor' label (black on buff) and circular 'Passed By Censor/ 6' in carmine on reverse.

Army Post Office No 803 in British Guiana before being transferred to Trinidad early 1942.

Spain. (Spanish Morocco - Civil War). 1938. Stamp-less envelope written from 'Rte. Maraino Zueco, 7th Bon de Aragon No 17, Estafeta, No 28' addressed to the 'Duchess de Guise, Larache, (Marruecos) cancelled by framed 'Censura Militar/ Batallon Aragon 17' struck twice on face with circular 'Censor No 26' cachet and Larache/ Protec arrival '9th Jul 38' on reverse.

The Aragon Offensive was an important military campaign during the Spanish Civil War which began after the battle of Teruel which ran from March 7 1938 to April 19 1938 smashing Republican forces.

Portuguese Colonies. (Mozambique - Madagascar). 1935. Registered Air Mail envelope with circular 'Colonle de Mozambique' in violet addressed to French Madagascar bearing Mozambique SG 334, 20c grey, SG 340, 60c olive, SG 344, 1e claret and SG 347, 2l reddish lilac tied by octagonal Mozambique Central date stamp '18th Juin' in red with Registration label and 'Par Avion/ Affranchissament Percu : Frs. (0.63) label in blue and Tananarive/ Madagascar arrival '25th Juin' on reverse

Fresh and attractive Registered Air Mail to French Madagascar with 'Par Avion tax label of Mozambique.

Gambia. (Egypt - Red Cross). 1943. Air Mail envelope headed 'Comite International Geneve (Red Cross)' addressed to 'Red Cross Society, Bathhurst, Gambia' bearing Egypt Yvert 188, 2m orange (pair), Yvert 192, 10m violet and Yvert 195, 20m blue tied by Cairo date stamp '30th July 43' hand-stamped 'Papiers d' affaires' and 'Serv. mess civ.' with framed bilingual 'Postal Censor' in violet on face and 'Egyptian Censorship' label tied by circular 'Censorship Dept/ 2' on reverse, bilingual 'Par Avion' label and endorsed 'by Air up to Accra' with Freetown transit '2nd Sept 43' on reverse.

A British Red Cross committee was founded in the Gambia to assist British soldiers detained in French West Africa.

Egypt. (Indian Expeditionary Force). 1915. Stamp-less envelope headed ''Dr Azer Wahba, Oculist, Medecin en Chef de l' Hopital, Zagazig' cancelled by 'F.P.O./ No 312' date stamp on reverse '12th May 15' with bold double ring 'Passed By Censor/ Indian Expeditionery Force/ 38' in blue on face and Var arrival '31st May'.

Fine item from Field Post Office No 312 in Zagazig unusually addressed to France.

Fiji.(Pacific Islands). 1952. Registered envelope addressed to 'The Methodist Overseas Mission, Suva' bearing SG 251, 1 1/2d carmine and SG 259, yellow-green and scarlet tied by Buca Bay/ Fiji date stamp '29th July 52' with framed 'R/ Buca Bay/ No 325' hand-stamp on face in violet and Suva/ Registered arrival on reverse '1st Aug'.

Buca Bay registration hand-stamp Proud (15.4.49) - (12.9.53).

Ex Tony Eastgate.

Fiji. (United States). 1949. Envelope written from 'Fiji Leprosy Hospital, Makogai, Fiji' addressed to New York bearing SG 270, 2 1/2d green tied by Makogai/ Fiji date stamp '13th Oct 49', underpaid, routed via Suva with double circle 'T/ 10' Hand-stamp in violet with bold 'Postage Due 4 Cents/ Seattle, Wash' in violet on face and bearing United States postage dues SG D704, 2c carmine (pair) cancelled by 'pre cancel' New York roller.

The Suva tax hand-stamp is known from (23.11.48) - (1.7.50).

Makogai is a volcanic island about 40 miles east of Vitu Levu. In 1911 Fiji transferred its leprosy settlement from Beqa to the small island of Makogai. It was suggested that all inmates and staff should send mail free of charge. The mail was very slow reaching Suva 6 weeks later having been disinfected on the island. By the 1930's the number of patients at Makogai was 700, to be sent there was a life sentence. They consisted of Pacific Islanders and a large Indian population. After WW11 with the result of new drugs it was decided to vacate the island.

Ex Tony Eastgate.

Ceylon. 1885. Ceylon postal stationery envelope 'Five cents on four cents' grey/ blue cancelled by '58' numeral with adjacent Bogawantalawa/ Paid date stamp 'Jy 24 85' addressed to Slave Island, Colombo with Slave Island/ Paid and Colombo arrival on reverse.

In the eighteenth century the Dutch East India Company housed its enslaved people on the island. The name was coined during the period of British Colonial rural and was a reverence to the usage of the island under Portuguese rule as a holding area for African slaves.

Aden. (Persian Gulf - Steamer Point). 1941. Air Mail envelope addressed to Belfast, Ireland bearing SG 22, 3a sepia and carmine (pair) and SG 23, 8a orange tied by Aden double ring '10 Mar 41' with framed 'R.A.F./ Censor' in red on face with 'P.C. 22/ Opened By Censor' label tied by framed 'Passed By Censor/ No 18/ Aden' hand-stamp in violet.

Very fresh cover from the 'R.A.F. Headquarters' at Steamer Point.

Bermuda. (Morocco - Great Britain). 1942. Air Mail envelope addressed to Philadelphia bearing Great Britain SG 470, 6d purple and SG 475, 1s bistre mixed with TANGIER SG 249, 1d red tied by British Post Office/ Tangier double ring '24th Sept 42' with large framed 'Par Avion/ American Clipper' on reverse, intercepted by the British in Bermuda with 'P.C. 90/ Opened By Examiner/ 3608' and endorsed 'I/C'.

Examiner in Bermuda censorship 3608 listed by Konrad Morenweiser in British West Indies World War 11 by Peter Burrows.

Large 'Par Avion/ American Clipper hand-stamp note listed by 'Ian McQueen' in 'Airmail Directional Handstamps'

Gold Coast. (British Packet Liverpool). 1888. Postal stationery card 'penny half penny' brown written from the 'Wesleyan Mission, Cape Coast' cancelled by '556' numeral with adjacent 'Cape Coast/ C' date stamp 'Nov 29 88, addressed to London with circular 'Paid/ Liverpool/ BR Packet/ 22 Dec 88' on face in red with 'A.1.' code slug inverted.

Lovely item very fresh.

Gold Coast. 1889. Envelope addressed to 'Winch Brothers, Stamp Importers, Colchester' bearing SG 13, 2d grey (pair) tied by '556' obliterator with adjacent Cape Coast/ C date stamp 'Ja 9 89', endorsed 'per S.S. "Volta" with 'Paid/ Liverpool/ Br. Packet/ 11 Fe 89' in red on face and Colchester receiver on reverse 'Feb 12th'.

The 'S.S. "Volta" of the British & African Steam Navigation Company sailed from Akassa to Liverpool via West Africa.

Gold Coast.(Travelling Post Office). 1935. Envelope from the 'Bank of British West Africa' addressed to Oda bearing 'Silver Jubilee' SG 113, 1d grey and ultramarine tied by Kumasi/ Gold Coast date stamp '17th June' with 'Central T.P.O. No 2' date stamp on reverse '18th June' and Oda arrival.

This Travelling Post Office or Central T.P.O. ran from Huni Valley to Kade.

British East Africa. (Kenya - India Field Post Office). 1915. Stamp-less picture post card of 'Kikuya Native with spear and shield' addressed to England endorsed 'On Active Service' cancelled by 'F.P.O./ No 25' date stamp '7th Jul 15' with 'I.E.F. "B" - F.P.O. No 25/ Postage Free' hand-stamp in violet on face.
Nice item from Indian Field Post Office No 25 at Kajaido Railhead listed by Proud (13.12.14) - (30.6.17).
The hand-stamp is noted by Proud as 'state 2' (1012.15).

British East Africa. (Aden - Rhodesia). 1915. Stamp-less envelope addressed to Rhodesia endorsed 'On Active Service' cancelled on reverse with 'F.P.O./ No 52' date stamp '5th Dec 15', countersigned by the censor and routed via Aden with 'Base Office/ A' transit on reverse '27th Dec' and Bulawayo/ S. Rhodesia bold arrival on face '24th Feb 16' and forwarded to Surrey.

Nice item from Indian Field Post Office No 52 at MAKTAU, Kenya from (11.8.15) - (5.2.16) with transit in the Base Post Office A at Aden listed by Robertshaw (19.10.15) - (4.10.16).

British East Africa. (Kenya). 1942. Official Bank mail with (oval cachet on reverse) stamp-less addressed to London cancelled by 'Postage Paid/ 20 Cents/ Eldoret' in red dated '24th Sep 42'.

Proud 'The Postal History of Kenya' notes he has only seen examples set with '10 cents' and '15 cents' dated (5.1.54) - (9.9.59).
This Eldoret '20 cents' in red is 12 years earlier than the Ted Proud listing.

British East Africa. (Kenya - Uganda). 1932. Kenya and Uganda postal stationery envelope 'twenty cents' orange cancelled by Gilgil/ Kenya date stamp '2nd July 32' addressed to 'The Postmaster, Kisumu' with arrival '4th Jy' on reverse.

Malaya. (Federated Malay States - Perak). 1917. Picture post card of 'Market Street, Parit Buntar' addressed to England bearing Federated States SG 28, 1c green (pair) tied by Parit Buntar double ring '2nd June 1917', underpaid with circular 'P.T.B./ cts' Parit Buntar postage due hand-stamp.

Scarce postage due hand-stamp from Parit Buntar, Perak.

Malaya. (Perak - Great Britain). 1926. Federated Malay States postal stationery card '2c brown' (printed on reverse, 'Johan Tin Dredging Limited), cancelled by Ipoh/ F.M.S. double ring '4th Oct 1926' addressed to Kuala Lumpur with arrival on reverse '5th Oct', forwarded to Taiping '6th Oct' and taxed with framed triangular 'T.T.P.' on face, re-directed to London bearing Great Britain postage due SG D10, 1/2d emerald tied by London receiver '1st Nov' with bold hand-struck '1/2d/ F.B.' on face.

Malaya. (Perak - Kelantan). 1938. Air Mail envelope addressed to Bournemouth bearing Perak SG 88, 1c black and SG 92, 6c scarlet mixed with Kelantan SG 40, 1c olive and yellow tied by Ipoh double ring '23rd Sept 38' with circular 'I.T.P./ (5) cts' on face.

The Kelantan stamp was disallowed and not cancelled at Ipoh presumably because Kelantan was not a member of the Malayan Postal Union.

Malaya. (Perak - Great Britain). 1936. Air Mail envelope addressed to London bearing Perak SG 91, 5c brown and SG 99, 50c black/ emerald tied by Ipoh double ring '26th Ap 1936', endorsed 'Per Dutch Mail By K.L.M.' and 'Alor Star - London/ Private' with framed instructional 'Air Mail Fee/ Insufficiently Paid' with adjacent circular 'I.T.P./ cts', charged with hand-struck '3d/ F.B.' and bearing Great Britain postage dues SG D14, 3d violet applied and tied on arrival by London date stamp 'May 16'.

The Air Mail rate via 'K.L.M.' was 60 cents in 1936 so underpaid by 5 cents.

The instructional cachet 'Air Mail Fee/ Insufficiently Paid' is unlisted by Proud in his three volume's on Malaya and States.

Malaya. (Federated Malay States). 1916. Envelope addressed to New York bearing Federated States SG 36, 4c grey and scarlet tied by Ipoh double ring, underpaid with large framed triangular 'I.T.P.' on face, routed via Singapore with 'Opened By Censor/ No' label tied by circular 'Passed By Censor/ 1437' in violet on face.

Malaya. (Federated Malay States - Perak). 1924. Picture post card of 'Elephants bathing, Perak' addressed to Denmark bearing Federated States SG 61, 5c mauve/ pale yellow tied by Teluk Anson double ring '13th Oct 1924', routed via Ipoh, underpaid with circular 'T.T.A./ cts' Teluk Anson postage due hand-stamp.

The card has been underpaid at 5 cents as the postage is 8 cents to Europe and tax hand-stamp applied at Teluk Anson.

Malaya. (Federated Malay States - Perak). 1923. Photographic post card of 'Teluk Anson, Perak,' addressed to France bearing Federated States SG 37, 4c scarlet tied by Teluk Anson double ring '13th Jan 1923', routed via Ipoh, underpaid with circular 'T.T.A./ cts' Teluk Anson postage due hand-stamp which has been deleted by a bar oval obliterator.

The card was sent to France with the correct postage of 4 cents (no message so printed matter) but charged in error at the postcard rate of 8 cents, the error being noticed at Ipoh and the tax hand-stamp deleted by barred oval.

Malaya. (Federated Malay States). 1927. Postal stationery card 2 cents brown (printed from IPOH Y.M.C.A.) on reverse, cancelled by Ipoh/ F.M.S. double ring '27th Jy 1927' addressed to Kroh with Kroh/ F.M.S. arrival '28th Jy' and forwarded to Intan via Taiping '28/7', taxed on arrival with circular 'I.T.N./ cts' and Intan receiver '29th July' and re-directed to London.

The only known Intan postage due hand-stamp, as noted by Proud for his book 'THE POSTAL HISTORY OF MALAYA VOL. 11' (28.7.27).

Malaya. (Federated Malay States). 1907. Picture post card of 'Taiping main street' addressed to England bearing Federated States SG 28, 1c green tied by Taiping squared circle '5th July 1907', taxed with framed triangular 'T.T.P.' with m/s '5c' in blue crayon, routed via Penang 'Jy 6' with Bexhill arrival 'Jy 29' with hand-struck '1d/ F.B.'.

The card was franked at the Printed Matter rate but as there is a message on the reverse the postcard rate of 3 cents applied.

Malaya. (Perak - Italy - Postage Dues). 1952. Envelope addressed to Italy bearing Perak SG 129, 2c orange and SG 136, 10c purple tied by Ipoh date stamp '24th March 1952', underpaid with m/s T 16c' in blue ink and bearing Italy postage dues 10l deep blue (pair) tied by Bolzano double ring date stamp. Lovely combination.

The correct postage was 20c so underpaid by 8 cents and taxed at 16c which converted to 20 lira and collected on arrival by Italian postage due stamps.

Malaya. (Federated Malay States - India). 1921. Envelope addressed to India bearing Federated States SG 40, 6c orange tied by Kampar double ring '28th Dec 1923', endorsed 'via Madras', underpaid with circular 'K.T.R./ cts' tax hand-stamp with Ipoh transit, arrival in Karaikudi with framed 'Foreign Postage Due/ Five Annas' hand-stamp on face.

Double rate cover so taxed.

Malaya. (Federated Malay States - Perak). 1923. Envelope addressed to England bearing Federated States SG 61, 5c mauve/ pale yellow tied by Grik double ring '9th May 1923' with adjacent second strike, underpaid with circular G.T.K./ cts' and Kuala Kangsar transit on reverse.

Malaya. (Perak - Great Britain). 1923. Photographic post card of 'Malay village with palm trees' addressed to England bearing Straits Settlements SG 200, 6c claret tied by on arrival by London Foreign Branch (stamp refused at Taiping with pencil crosses), adjacent Taiping/ F.M.S. double ring '19th Ap', and taxed with framed triangular 'T.T.P.' on face in purple, taxed on arrival in London bearing Great Britain postage due SG D2, 1d carmine and SG D4, 2d agate tied by Kensington receiver 'Ap 16' with hand-struck '3/ F.B.' on face.

Unusual item Straits stamp not valid in Perak and tax hand-stamp not often seen in violet.

Malaya. (British Military Administration). 1947. Envelope endorsed 'By Air mail Forces' addressed to England bearing 'B.M.A. SG 6, 8c grey tied by Taiping roller '2nd Oct 47', endorsed 'Posted Out of Course' with bold triangular double framed 'T/ (11c)' hand-stamp applied on face.

The cover was posted in the 'Drop Bag' and so subject to being taxed in Taiping. Proud notes this mark (23.2.48) - (31.8.57).

Malaya. (Federated Malay States - India). 1915. Stamp less envelope addressed to Parit Buntar cancelled by Karaikudi double ring '18th Mar 15' with circular 'T' hand-stamp with horseshoe 'Karaikudi/ Due/ One Anna' on face and Taiping postage due hand-stamp in double circle 'T/ 8 CTS' on reverse.

A very scarce TAIPING postage due hand-stamp. Rated x 100 by Proud.

China. (Russia - Russian Post Office). 1908. Picture post card showing 'Russian rural scene' addressed to Shanghai bearing Russia Yvert 38, 1k orange and Yvert 41, 4k rose tied by Chita date stamp '19th Jan 08' with Shanghai Local Post and Shanghai Poste Russe double ring arrival of the Russian Post Office in Shanghai.
Written by a passenger on the Trans-Siberian railway. "Just a line to say howdy, am enjoying the trip immensely very comfortable."

Cyprus. (Printed Matter Rate). 1934. Envelope addressed to France bearing SG 104, 1/2p grey tied by Famagusta double ring '25th May 34' with Amiens arrival on reverse '2nd June'.

Printed matter rate to France. Scarce.

Cyprus. (United States). 1948. Envelope written from 'Pervolia Village, Larnaca, Cyprus' addressed to New York bearing SG 155ab, 1 1/2p green (pair) tied by Larnaca double ring '3rd Feb 48', underpaid with 'T' hand-stamp and m/s '0.10' in pencil and bearing United States postage dues SG D704, 2c carmine (pair) applied and tied on arrival with cock obliterator and hand-stamped 'Postage Due 4 Cents' in violet on face.

Ex Tony Eastgate.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1946. Envelope headed 'Paleometokho Co-Operative Credit Society' addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 152, 1/2p green and SG 154, 1p orange tied by Palaeometokhi/ G.R. Rural Service/ Cyprus with Nicosia arrival 22nd May 46' on reverse.

The village of Paleometokhi had a population of 1,848 in 1960.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1948. Envelope headed 'New Goudhi, Co-Operative Credit Society' addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 155a, 1 1/2p violet tied by Goudhi/ G.R. Rural Service/ Cyprus, routed via Paphos '7th June 48' with Nicosia arrival on reverse.

The population of the small village of GOUDHI in 1960 was only 277.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1950. Envelope headed 'Akanthou Co-Operative Credit Society' addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 152, 1/2p green (3) tied by Akanthou/ G.R. Rural Service/ Cyprus with Lefkoniko transit '24th July 50' and Nicosia arrival on reverse.

The village of Akanthou had a population of 1,507 in 1960.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1946. Envelope addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 152, 1/2p green and SG 154, 1p orange tied by YERANI/ G.R. Rural Service/ Cyprus, routed via Trikomo '25th Feb 46' with Nicosia arrival on reverse.

The small village of Yerani had a population of 211 in 1960. A scarce item of rural post.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1947. Envelope addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 155a, 1 1/2p purple tied by Xylotymbo/ G.R. Rural Service/ Cyprus with Nicosia arrival '17th Nov 47' on reverse.

The village of Xylotymbo had a population of 1,469 in 1960.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1946. Envelope headed 'Aplanda Co-Operative Credit Society' addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 152, 1/2p green and SG 154, 1p orange tied by Dromoloxia/ G.R. Rural Service/Cyprus with Nicosia arrival on reverse '21st May 46.'

The village of Dromoloxia had a population of 594 in 1960.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1954. Envelope headed 'Akanthoy Co-Operative Credit Society' addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 154, 1p orange and SG 155a, 1 1/2p violet tied by Akanthou/ G.R. Rural Service/ Cyprus, routed via Lefkoniko '24th May 54' with Nicosia arrival on reverse.

The population of Akanthou was 1.507 in 1960.

Cyprus. (Rural Post). 1955. Envelope addressed to Nicosia bearing SG 155ab, 1 1/2p green tied by Piya/ G.R. Rural Service/ Cyprus, routed via Famagusta '18th Ap 55' with Nicosia arrival.

The population of PIYI in 1960 was 1,038.

Thailand. (Singapore - India -Red Cross Form & Label). 1943. Red Cross Enquires Form written from 'R.N.N. Arun Chettiar, Singapore' dated 'September 20 1943' addressed to South India sent via Thailand with bold circular bilingual 'The Thai Red Cross Society' on face in red, routed via 'Comite Internationale de la Croix Rouge/ Geneve' with enquiry processed by the 'Delegation C.I.C.R./ La Cairo' and hand-stamped '24th Feb 1944' with fine 'Red Cross Patriotic Donation Fund/ Simla' label applied on face. (Label may have originally been on reverse).

Superb item from Singapore under Japanese Occupation sent via the Thai Red Cross.

Thailand. (Post Office Official Stationery). 1962. Registered envelope headed with bilingual 'On Postal Service' addressed to Klang with Bangkok dispatch date stamp with matching registration label and Klang arrival on reverse.

Official mail from the Government offices were posted unstamped with the name of the ministry department, the title and signature of the official. The mail was received at the Post Office and registered if required.

Thailand. (Postmarks). 1887. A selection of 1887 issue Siam stamps (5 single stamps and two pairs) showing Post Office No 1 (Head Post Office opened 4th August 1883 and Post Office No 2 (opened on the 1st July 1895).

Thailand. (Singapore - Postmarks). Circa 1890 - 1910). A selection of Siam stamps including SG 17, 24a purple and blue and 'Wat Chang' issue (8 stamps).

Mail from Bangkok could be posted in the letter-box found near the wharf of every mail steamer, almost up to the moment of departure. Such late mail was postmarked on arrival in Singapore.

Thailand. (Military Censorship - Great Britain). 1958. Air Mail envelope addressed to the 'British Embassy, Bangkok, Siam' bearing Great Britain 'Wilding' SG 585, 1/3d green tied by London roller '3rd Nov 1958' with Bangkok slogan receiver '8th Nov' on reverse with 'SHIELD' hand-stamp reading 'Department of News Censorship/ Military' in carmine on face.

Field Marshall 'Sarit Thanarat' came to power in the military coup of 1957. Under his dictatorial Government all mail containing newspapers or cuttings was subject to censorship.

Ex John Garner.