- £275.00
French Colonies (Madagascar). 1941. Envelope addressed to Majunga bearing French Madagascar Yvert 164, 5c green and carmine, Yvert 166, 15c red (pair) and Yvert 172, 65c brown and lilac tied by Diego-Suarez double ring '5th Dec 41' with 'British Censorship' tape tied by oval 'British Military Administration/ Passed by Censor/ 111 Madagascar' in violet. Scarce B.M.A. censor used from Diego Suarez.
Initially from June 1940 Madagascar sided with Vichy France. The British after a Japanese attack on Ceylon in April '42 feared Vichy providing a base for the Japanese and cutting off Allied supply routes around the Cape launched operation "Ironclad" leading to the setting up on 16th September 42 a B.M.A. The Vichy French capitulated on 6th Nov 42 and mail from the early part of the B.M.A. is rare.
