Hello all,
this is one for any postal historians out there. I think I have more or less figured out the routing of this cover and I outline it below. I am not 100% (not even close) sure so any observations would be most welcome. Any remarks on the postage would also be invaluable.
Thank you
Adrian
- Posted via airmail in Douala (Cameroun, Fr.Eq.Africa) on September 12th 1940 to Greece
- 9 francs 75 centimes postage. What exactly for?
- Passed by Cameroonian censor (2 circular handstamps CONTROLE POSTAL * Commission A /TERRITOIRE DU CAMEROUN)
- On August 28th Cameroons went over to De Gaulle, so Aeromaritime terminated at Cotonou. No airmail service out of Douala at this stage until October 16th.
- Either by sea all the way to the UK or by sea to Lagos and from there on BOAC’s flying boat route to UK, to be forwarded to Greece via BOAC’s Horseshoe route.
- OPENED BY EXAMINER 4237 in the UK, since this mail had not been previously censored by Imperial authorities.
- By sea to South Africa where it joined BOAC’s Durban – Cairo leg.
- Arrived in Cairo where it was passed by Egyptian censor. Opened and resealed.
- In the meantime service to Greece had been suspended due to the German invasion. The marking Return to Sender was applied in Cairo.
- Returned along the same route (but by air?) to South Africa where it was to be transported by sea back to the UK.
- In Cape Town, it received the linear handstamp MAIL SERVICE SUSPENDED in English and Afrikaans, as well as a Capetown Returned L.O. 7 October 1941.
- By sea back to the UK where it was passed by censor for a second time, resealed with OPENED BY EXAMINER 444 (over the Return to Sender Cairo handstamp).
- Presumably by sea back to Duala, arriving perhaps late 1941.
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