Remember the Wartime Airgraphs?

[gabriel 1 11]

For those interested in Wartime Postal History or Postal History in general, the following is taken from an article published in the June 2006 SA Philatelist, written by Jim Findley, Military Mail Study Group of JHB.

 

The Airgraph service was introduced during the Second World War with the purpose of reducing the amount of valuable cargo space occupied on aircraft by airmail. Letters were written on special forms which were then photographed. Films, which could carry some 1500 letters each, were dispatched to the recipient country where they were processed and printed on a continuous roll. After cropping to 105mm by approx 130mm, they were posted in dedicated window envelopes. Cameras and processing equipment were supplied by Kodak.

 

The first Airgraphs were dispatched from Cairo on 21 April 1941 to the United Kingdom and arrived on 13 May. The cost was 3d per letter. With the increase in popularity of the 6d Air Letter, the service was terminated on 31 July 1945.

 

I happen to have some of these in my own collection and believe me they make a great addition to any specialised collection, especially War time Postal History.

 

Hope some of you find this interesting.

 

Regards

Gabriel1

[ISITAMPO AFRICA 10]

Postal History

 

Dear Gabriel I just want to commend you and all the other bid or buy buyers and sellers who take the time to add that little extra to stamp collecting. The life line of this hobby is friendship before function as we live in this community we need to take the time to firstly enjoy our hobby and secondly to help and aid collectors on all levels with honest and uplifting information. For too long pride and arrogance has ruled philately and the cheque book buyers would critisise and bar budget collectors from exhibiting or showing there stamps. even on club level many junior collectors have felt intermidated.

As they say times are a changing and all new collectors are welcome in this great hobby and as a individual I will give or refer information when neaded. To all keep up the great work, have a great Christmas and a wonderful 2009. Clinton Goslin

[gabriel 1 11]

Hi Clinton

 

Welcome to the forum, we definetely need your input into some of the questions that have been posted, especially on the revenues. Please go through the posts and enjoy a new type of stamp club, always open, diverse, sometimes contravercial but there for the love of the hobby.

 

Regards

Gabriel1