Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1915. SG 160, 5s on 6s rose-carmine cancelled by fancy script 'S.S. "Boribat" and cancelled additionally with 'BAMBOO' chop.

Stamps cancelled with the 'S.S.N. CO' marks can sometimes be found additionally obliterated with a Bamboo chop. These Bamboo cancellations appear to have been applied at the Post Office of arrival where the Purser's hand-stamp was regarded as insufficient.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 and was added to the fleet when the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company' purchased the 'Danish East Asiatic Co.' The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.
The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1915. Siam SG 161, 10 satang on 12s olive and black cancelled by small fancy script 'S.S. "Boribat" in black.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 and was added to the fleet when the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company' purchased the 'Danish East Asiatic Co.'. The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company in 1897. The Company h ad a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, gods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923' and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1915. Siam SG 160, 5 satang on 6s rose-carmine cancelled by large fancy script 'S.S. "Boribat" in black.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563) tones) was built in 1902 and was added to the fleet when the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company' purchased the 'Danish East Asiatic Co.' The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The company had a steamer calling port port from Bangkok down the Malaya Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The S.S. 'Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1912. Siam SG 149, 6s rose-carmine cancelled by large fancy manu-script 'S.S.' "Boribat" in violet.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 and was added to the fleet when the Siam Steam Navigation Company purchased the 'Danish East Asiatic Co.' The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Coimpany' in 1897. The Company had a steamer had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsular with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909.
The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

China. (Manchuria). 1934. Large 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Manchuria SG 6, 4f yellow-olive, SG 11, 10f red-orange and SG 16, 30f orange (pair) tied by vernacular Harbin date stamp '25th Aug 34' with matching registration label with framed bilingual 'Registered' in violet and hand-struck 'via Siberia' on face in violet.

Fine franking paying the 74 fen registered rate to England.
The international postage rates changed on '1st Jan 1934. The 74 fen rate is an 9 times registered cover, letters to 20g, 10 fen plus 6 fen for each extra 20g = 10f plus 6 x 9 = 48 fen plus 16 fen for registration fee, total 74 fen.

China. (Manchuria). 1936. Large 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Manchuria SG 54, 1 yuan deep violet and SG 58, 4f yellow-olive tied by vernacular Harbin date stamp '3.5.16' (16th May 1936) with Harbin 2 registration label and framed bilingual 'Registered' hand-stamp in violet with 'via Siberia' on face.

Very rare registered franking with 'one yuan' third issue usage paying the ;one yuan four fen registered rate,
The international postage rates changed on 1st January 1934. The 1 yuan 4 fen rate is an 14 times registered rate, letters to 20 grams, 10 fen plus 6 fen for each extra 20 gram = 10 fen plus 6 fen x 13 = 88 fen plus 16 fen registration fee = 1 yuan 4 fen.

Japan. (Manchuria - Kwantung Leasehold). 1932. 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Trading Co. London' bearing Japan 'Tazawa' SG 236, 13s bistre (2) tied by vernacular Dairen date stamp with adjacent 'Dairen (1)' registration label, routed via the Imperial Japanese Post Office with Dairen/ I.J.P.O. date stamp in violet '3rd Dec 32' , endorsed 'via Canada' with bold vernacular hand-stamp on face erased.

Lovely item used from the Kwangtung Leasehold, unusually routed across the Pacific to Vancouver and overland then carried across the Atlantic a routed which took 15 days longer to reach Europe.

China. (Manchuria). 1933. Large 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Manchuria SG 13, 15f rosine and SG 17, 50s yellow-olive tied by vernacular Harbin date stamp '11th June' with Harbin registration label with hand-struck 'Registered' in violet and hand-struck 'via Siberia' on face in violet.

Nice franking cover paying the 65 fen registered rate to England. The international postage rates from the '26th July 32 - 1st Jan 34. The 65 fen rate is a double registered rate cover, letters to 20g 25 fen plus 15 fen for each extra 20g = 25f plus 15f x 1 = 15 fen plus 25 fen registration fee = 65 fen.

China.(Manchuria). 1933. Large 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Trading Co, London' bearing Manchuria SG 11, 10f orange-red (strip of three), SG 15, 20f bistre-brown and SG 16, 30f orange (stamps on reverse) tied by Harbin date stamp '3rd May 33' with matching registration label with framed bilingual 'Registered' in violet with hand-struck 'via Siberia' on face in violet.

Fine cover paying the 80 fen registered rate to England. The international postage rates from the '26th July 32 - 1st Jan 34'. The 80 fen rate is a 3 times registered rate cover, letters to 20g, 25 fen plus 15 fen for each extra 20g = 25f plus 15f x 2 = 30 fen plus 25 fen registration fee = 80 fen.

Japan.(Manchuria - Kwantung Leasehold). 1934. 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Japan 'Tazawa' SG 231, 1s orange, SG 233, 3s carmine, SG 241, 2s green, SG 242, 6s carmine (pair) and SG 243, 10s blue tied by Dairen/ I.N.P.O. date stamp in violet '14th Sept 34', endorsed 'via Siberia'.

A very attractive five colour mixed issue franking used from the Kwantung Leasehold.

Japan. (Manchuria - Kwantung Leasehold). 1934. 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Japan 'Tazawa' SG 238, 30s orange and green and SG 266, 4s orange tied by Dairen/ I.N.P.O. date stamp in violet '2nd July 34', endorsed 'via Siberia'.

Attractive item from the 'Kwantung Leasehold.

Japan. (Manchuria - Kwantung Leasehold). 1933. 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Japan 'Tazawa' SG 229, 50s chestnut and deep blue tied by vernacular Dairen date stamp '8.5.20' (20th May 1933) with Dairen (1) registration label and routed via the Imperial Japanese Post Office with Dairen/ I.J.P.O. dated '21st May 33' on face in violet, routed via Changchun with Hsinking/ I.J.P.O.' transit '21st May 33' with hand-struck 'Registered' and vernacular hand-stamp in blue on face (erased by registration label) and endorsed 'via Siberia'.

A very rare single franking of the 'Tazawa' 50 sen used from the Kwantang Leasehold.

Japan. (Manchuria - Kwantung Leasehold). 1932. 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Japan 'Tazawa' SG 238, 30s orange and green and SG 241, 2s green tied by vernacular Dairen date stamp '7.11.29' (29th Nov 32) with adjacent 'Dairen/ I.N.P.O.' in violet dated '30th Nov 32' and Dairen (1) registration label and hand-struck 'Registered' with bold vernacular hand-stamp in blue on face.

Very attractive cover from the Kwantung Leasehold Territory.

Japan. (Manchuria - Kwantung Leasehold). 1935. 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Company, Harbin' registered 'Trading envelope' addressed to 'Anglo-Chinese Eastern Trading Co. London' bearing Japan 'Tazawa' SG 238, 30s orange and green (pair) and SG 267, 8s olive-green tied by vernacular Dairen date stamp '10.8.26' (26th Aug 1935) with adjacent 'Dairen/ I.N.P.O' in violet dated '27th Aug 35' and Dairen/ (1) registration label and hand-struck 'Registered' with bold vernacular hand-stamp in blue on face and hand-stamp 'via Siberia' in carmine (struck three times) and endorsed 'via Siberia'.

Spanish Colonies. (Spanish Morocco). 1943. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to Bettlach, Switzerland bearing Spanish Maroc SG 207, 50c magenta and SG 229, 1p brown and indigo tied by boxed 'Certificado/Tangier' date stamp '23rd Oct 43' with hand-stamp 'Certificado' and framed 'Censura en Destino'in carmine on face, routed via Madrid with 'Censura Gurernativa/ Madrid' censor label and boxed Madrid transit with Bettluch receiver '13th Nov 43' on reverse.

Spanish Colonies. (British Post Offices in Cuba). 1873. Stamp-less envelope addressed to France cancelled by British Post Office 'Havana/ Paid' date stamp 'Jy 9th 73', rated '7d' in m/s red crayon with oval 'PD', endorsed 'voire Anglaise' with London/ Paid transit on face in red 'July 29th', French entry cachet and charged '12' on arrival in m/s with 'Paris a Bordeaux' ambulant and Assum receiver on reverse '31st Juil'.

John Parmenter records the Havana Paid in use from '23rd September 1865 until 8th March 1870' and rated Rarity 'G' (Very rare).

A very beautiful cover.

Spain. (South Africa - Belgian Congo). 1945. Air Mail envelope addressed to Jadoville, Belgian Congo bearing Spain SG 878, 5c maroon (block of four) and SG 972, 60c orange mixed with "Charity" labels 5c brown (pair) and 10c turquoise tied by Jaen date stamp '22nd Feb 45' with 'Censura/ M" tape with boxed 'Censura/ S' and 'Censura/ E" on reverse dated '23rd Feb' in black and violet, endorsed 'via Angola" with Lisbon '26/2' and bilingual 'Opened By Censor' tape tied by South Africa 'Coat of Arms 'B' censor hand-stamp in violet of Johannesburg with Elisabethville and Jadotville arrival '4th Nay 45' on reverse.

Spain. (France). 1916. Stamp-less envelope headed 'Hospital Espanol Para Los Heridos de la Guerra/ Hopital Benevole No 15, 121 Boulavard Bineau Neuilly Sur Seine' addressed to Paris cancelled by Paris/ Jouffro double ring with military cachet 'Hopital Benevale No 15 bis/ 121 Bould. Bineau Neully s Seine/ Hopital Espanol/ Le Medicin Chef' double ring in violet with Paris arrival on reverse '12th Nov 1916'.

Founded in 1906 the American Hospital in Neully sur Seine has been much documented on its work during World War One but little information is known on the Spanish Hospital also in Neully sur Seine.

A very rare item not recorded by Bertrand Sinais in his livre France in World War One.

Morocco. (British - France). 1899. Picture post card of 'Souvenir of Tanger' addressed to France bearing British Morocco SG 2, 10c carmine tied by French Post Office Tanger/ Maroc double ring '3rd April 1899' , underpaid with triangular 'T' hand-stamp of the French Post Office in Morocco and bearing French postage dues Yvert 29, 10c brown (pair) applied and tied by Grenoble date stamp '8th Avril 99'.

Lovely item of quality taxed in France because British Post Office Morocco stamps used in the French Post Office in Tanger.

Early French Maroc card pre 1900 published by 'Y. Hell, Depostitaire, Tanger'.

Iraq. (Trans-Pacific Mail - Singapore). 1941. Registered Air Mail envelope written from the 'American Mission, Mosul' addressed to New York bearing Iraq Yvert 110, 5f grey-green, Yvert 115, 25f lilac (pair) and Yvert 118, 50f brown (pair) tied by bilingual Mosul/ Reg double ring ' 19th Mar 41' with matching registration label and 'Registered' hand-stamp, carried via Singapore with censor tape tied by 'Passed By/ Censor 161/ A' in violet on face and reverse with circular 'F' and '7' censor cachet on face, routed via Hawaii with Honolulu, Hawaii/ Registered transit in violet 'April 20' and New York arrival 'April 24'.

Attractive cover paying 1d 55 fils rate via Singapore and the Pacific.

Persian Gulf. (Indian Postal Agencies in Persia). 1911. Envelope addressed to Dizfoul (Persia) bearing India SG 122, 1/2a green (5) tied to reverse of cover by Bagdad date stamp '13th Feb 1911', routed via the Indian Post Office in Mohammerah and Persia with oval transit '19th Feb' and Dizfoul arrival '27th Feb 11' on reverse.

Persian Gulf. (Kuwait). 1958. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to London bearing Kuwait SG 126, 20 n.p. on 3d violet (4) tied by large bilingual Kuwait - Safat/ Registered double ring '2nd Aug 58' with adjacent 'R/ Safat Kuwait' registration label.

Scarce postmark with renewed 'd' in 'Registered'.

Persian Gulf. (Kuwait). 1960. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to London bearing Kuwait 10 m.p. claret and 50 n.p. red (pair) tied by oval bilingual Safat - Kuwait - Reg date stamp '12th Jy 1960' with 'R/ Safat Kuwait "D" registration label with London receiver and forwarded to Northamptonshire.

Persian Gulf. (Indian Postal Agencies in the Iraq). 1909. Registered envelope addressed to Muscat bearing India SG 125, 2a mauve and SG 126, 2a6p blue tied by Bagdad/ Reg date stamp '8th Nov with Provisional registration label and Muscat receiver '17th Nov 09'.

French New Caledonia. (Australia - Hong Hong). 1940. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to Paris, France bearing New Caledonia Yvert 120, 50c blue, and 'Air Mail' Yvert 18, 85c green and brown, Yvert 29, 65c violet, Yvert 30, 4f50 scarlet and Yvert 32, 9f blue tied by Noumea/ Nelle Caledonia double ring '21st July 40' with matching Noumea registration label with 'Ouvert Par La Censure/ Nouvelle Caledonie' censor label in green, endorsed 'voie Panair' with framed 'Le Aerienne/ Traverse/San Francisco/ Honolulu/ Canton/ Hong Kong' in green on reverse and '1st Corrier/ Pan-American Airways/ Noumea Nlle Caledonie' in violet on face, routed via Sydney with 'Opened By Censor' (two dots underneath) with instructional 'Retour a L' Envoyeur/ Relations Postales/ Interrompus' on face in violet and returned via Sydney with '2/ Opened By Censor' label tied by triangular '2/ Passed By Censor' in violet and received back in Noumea '31st Jan 42' , endorsed 'Indo-Chine' and carried to French Indo-China with triangular censor cachet '2' and '7' and returned again to New Caledonia with receiver '16th Oct 44' and forwarded to Paris with 'Geoffnet' censor tape tied by circular German censorship in violet applied in Paris and tied by Paris arrival '7th Dec 45' on reversed.

Remarkable item condemned and held for 5 years due to the Occupation of Paris by the Germans. Fantastic item of Service Suspended mail.

Ex Tony Eastgate collection.

French Colonies. (French Cameroun - Tchad). 1917. Stamp-less picture post-card 'Une rue de Fort-Lamy, Tchad' addressed to France cancelled by 'Jaunde/ 5.2.17/ (Cameroun) hand-stamp in violet with framed 'T' hand-stamp and Maisse arrival '6th Mar 17'.

French Colonies. (Gabon). 1937. Air Mail envelope addressed to Gabon bearing France Yvert 246, 1f orange-red and Yvert 289, 1f 75 lilac (pair) tied by Orleans Quatier/ Loiret date stamp '15th Mai 37', endorsed 'via Toulouse - Dakar/ 1st Service Cotonou - Pointe-Noire' with framed 'Service Aerien Senegal - Congo/ 1st Voyage Mai 1937/ En Liaison Avec Air France - Air Afrique' in violet on face, underpaid with 'T/ 4.00' hand-stamp and bearing French Gabon postage dues Yvert 2, 10c brown, Yvert 6, 45c green (pair) and Yvert 11, 3f violet tied by Port Gentil/ Gabon receiver '20 Mai 37' on face.

Very rare Gabon A.E.F. postage dues on cover.

Thailand. (Provisional Censor Mail). 1942. Envelope addressed to Bangkok bearing SG 292. 5s violet (pair) tied by Pattani ambulant (railway post office) date stamp with Provisional orange-red blank censor tape with m/s 'Verified/ Passed/ Censor' and dated.

Thailand. (Burma - Trans -pacific Mail). 1940. Air Mail envelope addressed to France bearing Thailand SG 242, 25s deep blue and SG 243, 50s black and orange-browen (4) tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '23rd Nov 40', carried by 'BO.A.C.' to Rangoon '24/11' with censor label 'Opened By Censor' (red on white tape) and triangular 'Passed Censor Rangoon/ 6' in violet on face, sent 'C.NA.C.' via Hong Kong and Hawaii, two Oceans route via Lisbon and Ireland with 'P.C. 90/ Opened By Examiner/ 6616' label applied with red parallel bar "jusqu'a mark applied at London office of exchange and sent by rail to France with written notation indicating the letter arrived 'R. 23.3.41' on reverse.

Thailand. (Domestic Air Mail Service - Laos). 1923. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to Switzerland bearing Siam SG 134, 6s on 5a carmine, SG 150, 12s sepia and black, SG 161, 10s on 12s sepia and black (pair), SG 167, 3s bright green (block of four),, "Victory' SG 189, 3s bright green and SG 221, 25s indigo tied by large bilingual Korat "Aeroplane" date stamp stamp (17.7.66) - '17.10.23' with 'R/ Siam Nagor Rajasima' registration label, endorsed 'By Air Post' with 'Par Poste Aerienne' label, routed via Ubol with large "Aeroplane" Ubol transit '22.10.23' on reverse, routed via PAKSE/ Laos with double ring '31st Oct' and Saigon/ Cochinchine transit with Bern receiver '9th Dec 23.' on reverse.

Lovely item of mail sent by the 'Siam Royal Aeronautical Service' from Kotat to Ubon by domestic airmail service and then by road and river steamer to Pakse, Laos and down the Mekong River to Saigon and carried onwards by mail steamer to Europe.
The rate for foreign airmail 35 satang, additional fee for inland airmail 10 satang and registration fee 25 satang and 8 satang for transit via Laos rather than via Bangkok.

Thailand. (British Force in Thailand). 1965. Air Mail envelope headed 'Forces (Air Mail)' written from 'Plant Troop, Cre Op, Crown, B.F.P.O. 656' addressed to England bearing Great Britain 'Wilding' SG 615, 3d violet tied by 'Field Post Office/ 573' double ring dated '13th April 65'.

Operation "Crown" involved the building of Loeng Nok Tha airfiled in the remote border area of Northern Thailand.

The British had the Field Post Office 573 from '7th Dec 64 - 7th July 1965'.

Thailand. (Royal Postcards - Kedeh). Circa 1920. Black and white post-card of 'Prince Paribara Sukhum Bandhu, Siamese Prince of Nakhon Sawan' visiting Changlu a village on the Siam - Kedah border in his roll as Minister of the Interior.
Lovely card showing the Royal Procession on Elephant in Chang Loon.

Prince Paribatra was a son of King Vajiravudh (Rama V).

Thailand. (Netherlands - Dutch East Indies - First Trial Flight). 1928. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to Galang, Sumatra bearing Netherlands Yvert 136, 3c yellow-green, Yvert 180, 22 1/2c bistre-olive and Air Mail 4, 40c red and Yvert 5, 75c green tied by Amsterdam Zud double ring '11th Sept 1928' with matching registration label with 'Per Luchtpost/Par Avion' label in orange and red 'Aangeteekend' label, endorsed' 'Per Luchtpost Nederland - Nederland Indies van 13/9/28' with Medan backstamp '23/9' and Galang arrival '24th Sept' on reverse.

The first K.L.M. trial flight from Amsterdam to Java left Amsterdam 13/9/1928. Due to the flooded condition at Don Muang Airport the plane continued to Singora without landing at Don Muang. The plane departed Amsterdam Thursday 13th reaching Rangoon on 21st September and owing to the floods at Don Muang landed at Singora Saturday 22nd and departed for the Dutch Indies '23/9' arriving Batavia '25th Sept.

Forty two post-cards were carried but very little REGISTERED mail is known.

Ex John Garner collection.

Thailand. (Hong Kong - Philippines). 1939. Air Mail envelope headed 'Cornelder's Scheepvaart Maatschappij N.V. Rotterdam' addressed to Manila (Philippines) bearing Netherlands Yvert 145, 20c blue, Yvert 150, 50c blue-green, Yvert 152, 1g blue, Yvert 212, 15c orange and Yvert 372, 10c violet tied by Rotterdam double ring '28th Aug 1939' with 'Per Luchtpost/ Par Avion' label and endorsed '35 gram', carried 'K.L.M.' to Bangkok with arrival transit ''2/9' and forwarded by Imperial Airways to Hong Kong with Victoria/ Hong Kong receiver 5th Sept', jusqu'a mark with 'bars' hand-stamp applied over 'Par Avion' blue label (Ian McQueen Type 60) indicating the end of Air Mail service and carried onwards by steamer to Manilla.

'Nils Ramm - Ericson' in Air Mails of Siam does not record any mail via Siam with the 'Jusqu'a obliterator via Hong Kong.

The 35 gram rate is an exceptional 7 times Air Letter franking.

Thailand. (Siamese World War One Expeditionary Force). 1918. Picture post card of 'L' Fontaine de Brouchere, Bruxelles' written by Siamese personal addressed to 'Lieutenant Colonel Phra Song Suradej, 3 Boulevard Delessert, Paris' endorsed 'F.M.' (French Militaire).

The ' Mission Militaire Siamese' Headquarters was set up at '3 Boulevard Delessert, Paris to coordinate with the Expeditionary Force and the French authorities.

Special regulations for Army personal deployed outside the Royal Territory (Siam) sending mail via the 'Military Post' (F.M.) were not required to pay postage and to use the camp's military mailboxes without the need to pay postage.

Thailand. (Royal Thai Air Force in World War One). 1913. Photographic card produced by 'First Lieutenant Thip Ketudat' of the Royal Siamese Aeronautical Service' showing 'The three Thai Officers 'Major Luang Sakdisulyauvdh, Captain Luang Arvudsikitkorn and First Lieutenant Thip Ketudat' on their return to Siam inspecting an airfield near Warsaw'.

The Royal Siamese Aeronautical Service was founded on the 18th January 1911 as the military aviation section of the Army. At this date the Siamese Ministry of Defense decided to send a delegation of three officers to France for the study of flying and maintenance of airplanes.

All three got their pilots licenses in France after comprehensive training at Avord. In November 1913 the three officers returned to Siam with four "Breguet 111" and four "Nieuport" planes for assembly at Don Muang.
On 23rd March 1914 the 'Royal Siamese Aeronautical Service' was renamed Royal Siamese Flying Corps' and placed under control of the 'Royal Siamese Engineers Corps.'
In January 1915 work began on a sports filed at Don Muang, Rangsit and in May 1915 the first of the "Breguets' having been assembled was flown.

Thailand. (Postcards). 1929. Picture post card from Siam 'Promoting Hygiene showing mosquitos and bugs on a pair of hands' addressed to London bearing Siam SG 255, 10s carmine tied by Bangkok GPO date stamp '30th Nov 29' with hand-stamp '28 Nov 1929' adjacent.

Very unusual card perhaps issued by the Thai Red Cross.'

Brigadier General R.C. Stevenson (Royal Artillery) was the Military Attaché in Bangkok during WW1 1914/15 and was awarded the Order of the White Elephant.

Thailand. (Luxembourg). 1938. Envelope addressed to Luxembourg bearing Siam SG 164, 2s on 2a grey and deep violet (block of six) on reverse, SG 253, 3s green (reverse) and SG 255, 10s carmine tied by Bangkok/ 6 date stamp '23rd Feb 38' with Luxembourg Ville arrival '19th Mars' on reverse.

Lovely franking to Luxembourg and a scarce block on cover.

Sudan.(Parcel Tag Label). 1938. Parcel Tag headed 'Sudan Air Mail (Pmr. No 148 E.) dispatched from Juba to London bearing Sudan SG 74, 5m on 2 1/2p magenta and blue (block of six) tied by Khatoum date stamp '1st Jul 38', endorsed 'Kilos 1 grs. 500'.

Rare and colourful Air Mail Parcel Tag from Sudan.

Fiji. (V FOR VICTORY). 1944. Illustrated envelope 'V FOR VICTORY' addressed to England bearing SG 256, 2 1/2d brown and green tied by Suva date stamp.

Mauritius. (Rodrigues Island). 1944. Stamp-less envelope headed 'On Active Service' addressed to 'Rodrigues Battery, Rodrigues Island' cancelled by 'E.A./ A.P.O. 73' double ring dated '31st Aug 44' with 'Opened By Examiner/ E.E.' censor label tied by framed 'Passed By/ Base Censor/ E.E.' and '(Crown)/ Passed By Censor/ No 4982' in violet on face and signed by the Censor.'

Nice item from Army Post Office 73, Mauritius Garrison H.Q. (15.12.43) - (1.5.45).
A small Garrison of 215 Rodrigues men were active on the island to protect the cable station from Japanese attack.

Pakistan. (India - War Label). 1943. Air Mail envelope addressed to New Jersey bearing India SG 248, 1/2a brown (3), SG 259, 1r grey and red-brown, SG 268, 1a carmine (pair) and SG 269b, 1 1/2a dull violet tied by Karachi date stamp '15th June 43' with 'Help To Defend Your Country/ SIND War Stamp' bilingual label in violet, endorsed 'Karachi/ U.S.A.' with 'Opened by Examiner' label tied by framed '(Crown) Passed DHB 25' censor with hand-stamp 'DHB/ 58' in violet, routed via Great Britain with 'P.C. 90/ Opened By Examiner 8102' censorship.

The "SIND" War Stamp label tied to front of envelope by part of the framed Karachi crown censorship.

Malaya. (Straits Settlements). 1875. Folded letter addressed to the 'Bank of Scotland, Glasgow' bearing Straits Settlements SG 17, 30c claret tied by circular dotted bamboo obliterator with adjacent Penang/ A dispatch in red dated 'Sept 20' with oval 'forwrded By/ Sandhands Buttery & Co/ Penang' in blue, endorsed 'via Brindisi' with Glasgow receiver 'Oct 25 75' on reverse.

Very attractive Forwarding agents covers from Penang. Knowing the bamboo chops were applied in Bangkok could this cover have originated in Siam !

Hong Kong. (Treaty Ports). 1878. Envelope addressed to Switzerland bearing Hong Kong SG 12, 12c pale blue tied by 'Y/ 1' obliterator with adjacent Yokohama/ A date stamp 'Mr 4 78', endorsed 'via Brindisi' with Hong Kong transit 'Mr 12th' on reverse. bold Brindisi '17 Apr' and Dubendorf arrival '20th Avril' on reverse.

The British concession and trading in Yokohama was very prosperous yet the number of surviving covers is less than 200, far smaller than those of the French Post Office in Yokohama.

Rhodesia & Nyasaland). (Southern Rhodesia). 1960. Envelope addressed to the 'Namingomba Tea Estate, Cholo' bearing Rhodesia & Nyasaland SG 19, 1d carmine red and black tied by Tekerani/ Nyasaland date stamp '12th May 60', underpaid with 'T/ 4d' in m/s and bearing Southern Rhodesia postage due SG D3, 2d agate (pair) tied by Cholo/ Nyasaland receiver dated '16th May 1960' on face.

The Central African Federation consisted of the three southern African territories of the self Governing British Colony Southern Rhodesia and the British Protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland which existed between 1952 and 1963.

Nyasaland. (Tanganyika - Northern Rhodesia). 1916. Stamp-less envelope (with two page letter) headed 'On The Public Service' addressed to Portugal written from 'J.M. Lional Vaughan, "B.S.A.P." (British South Africa Police), c/o Army Post Office, Broken Hill. Northern Rhodesia dated 'October 3rd 1916' and signed, routed via Tanganyika with double ring 'F.P.O.' 1' on face '16th Oct 16' at New Langenburg (Tukuya) with 'Opened by Censor/ 568' censor label tied by Lisbon receiver '3rd Jan 1917' on reverse.

The Nyasaland Rhodesia Field Force under the Command of Brigadier General Edward Northey, began their offensive in East Africa on '20th May 1916'. Northey's forces crossed into German East Africa on 26th May 1916'. On May 30th they had occupied New Langenburg.
The Nyasaland Rhodesia Field Forces Troops could send normal letters via the Filed Post Office, F.P.O. No 1 New Langenburg G.E.A. (4.6.16) - (26.12.16).

French China. (French Naval Forces in China). 1946. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'F.M.' , addressed to France written from the French cruiser "Suffren" cancelled by octagonal 'Croiseur "Suffren" date stamp '26th Aout 46' with framed 'FNEO' (Forces Naval Extreme Orient) with Trebeurden arrival '7th Sept' 46' on reverse.

The "Suffren" returned to Indo-China arriving in Saigon on 25th Feb 1946'. She spent her time between Saigon and Ha Long Bay and repatriating troops left in Hong Kong and China.

The 'F.N.E.O.' (Forces Naval Extreme Orient) is a scarce cachet, not listed by 'Desrousseaux' in his 7 volume work on French China and French Indo-China.

China. (French China - Liberation of Shanghai). 1945. Chinese illustrated stamp-less envelope (with censored four page letter in French) addressed to Hanoi, Tonkin written from China (Shanghai) dated '17th Oct 1945' with framed 'Troupes Francais/ En Chine/ Controle Au Depart' in violet on reverse and signed by the 'lieutenant' (bottom left).

The Shanghai French Concession was a Foreign Concession in Shanghai, China from 1849 until 1943. The Concession came to an end when Vichy France under German pressure signed the enclave over to the Japanese puppet State in Eastern China (Nanjing). The Japanese occupied the International Settlements of the British and Americans. Civilians and the Troops surrendered and were placed in P.O.W. or Internment Camps. The French Troops did not move from the preserved French Concession as the Vichy Government considered itself Neutral. Towards the end of the war the city was liberated from the Japanese and the French Troops left for home at the end of 1945.

This rare censor is only found on the reverse of military mail and is scarce with just a few items known. The cachet (censor) is illustrated in Desrousseaux, Livre 4, page 309.

China. (French China - French Naval Forces). 1937. Stamp-less envelope endorsed 'F.M.' addressed to France written from the French cruiser "Primauguet" cancelled by octagonal 'Croiseur "Primauguet" date stamp '27th Nov 37' with bold hand-stamp 'Mers De Chine/ Franchise Militaire' on face and Marseille arrival on reverse dated '27th Dec 37'.

The "Primauguet" was one of the first cruisers built for the French Navy after WW1 in 1924. She served in the south China Seas and sank after coming under heavy attack from the American battleship "Wichita" at Casablanca in 1942.

Desrousseaux in volume 4 of his French China classic 7 volume livers places the "Primauguet" in Dairen, Manchuria from 1935 - 1937.

French China. (Occupation of Tientsin). 1940. Stamp-less envelope written from 'B.M.J. C.C.N.' Sector Kos Rang, Tientsin, Chine de Nord' addressed to Vosges France', endorsed 'F.M.' cancelled by circular 'Corps D' Occupation De Chine/ Le Vaguemestre; (with anchor in center) and hand-stamp dated '29 May 1940' in violet on face, endorsed 'via Siberia' with "Gepruft" German censor label tied by circular censor cachet in red and Vosges arrival '20th Nov 40' on reverse.

Scarce item from the Imperial Japanese Army's Japanese North China Area Army whom blockaded the British Settlement in Tientsin, thus escalating into a major international incident. The cover was 6 months in transit. Parts of France had just been placed in German Occupation at this early date in the War.