<![CDATA[Kingston Stamp Club Community Forum - Stamps / covers discussion]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:30:42 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[An Airmail Packet from London]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=319 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:25:17 +0000 Janet MacD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=319
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This is a wonderful piece of mail for so many reasons! It has Machins, a customs declaration, a customs acceptance stamp, and advertising with product samples. Even better, it is an artifact that connects international trade from Victorian England to present day, and illustrates industrial mechanization in the textile industry. This was an envelope stuffed with history! And although I would like to keep the contents intact, I doubt I will be able to resist my urge to incorporate them in a quilted or collaged fibre art project!

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The business, Metro Textiles Corner in London, England was founded in 1968 and is still operating. They serve retail and wholesale customers, and they specialize in selling to west Africa. One of the manufacturers they represent is Vlisco, a Dutch company founded in 1846. Vlisco specializes in wax-based batiks, and acknowledges that their company history reflects “complex historical and cultural connections.” That is an understatement. 

In 1846 the company was called van Vlissingen & Co. The Dutch were colonizing Indonesia and van Vlissingen discovered traditional “wax resist” hand blocked textile design methods that dated back to the 11th century. He noted that the fabrics were used for women’s traditional dress but were not affordable to the masses. He developed the “Dutch wax” process to mechanize manufacturing. The Indonesians considered his fabrics to be poor quality and didn’t buy them. But - riflemen from Ghana, who were part of the Dutch colonial army in Indonesia, took home large quantities of the bright, colorful fabrics. Then, between late Victorian and Edwardian times, the missionaries arrived in Ghana and told women to cover themselves, increasing demand for inexpensive textiles. By the time this package of samples was mailed, Vlisco was manufacturing “wax fabric” in Africa and China was producing cheap knockoffs of Vlisco’s fabric. China has captured about 90% of the wax fabric market. Vlisco’s products now represent high quality. Traditional African fabrics have been pushed into the background.

Now, 180 years after their founding, Vlisco specializes in creating fabric for the west and Central African market, and Metro Textiles Corner sells their fabric to Africans in England and around the world. 

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Thank you, Roy, for the wonderful history lesson!]]>
.jpeg IMG_5957.jpeg Size: 294.79 KB  Downloads: 0


This is a wonderful piece of mail for so many reasons! It has Machins, a customs declaration, a customs acceptance stamp, and advertising with product samples. Even better, it is an artifact that connects international trade from Victorian England to present day, and illustrates industrial mechanization in the textile industry. This was an envelope stuffed with history! And although I would like to keep the contents intact, I doubt I will be able to resist my urge to incorporate them in a quilted or collaged fibre art project!

.jpeg IMG_5953.jpeg Size: 134.56 KB  Downloads: 33


The business, Metro Textiles Corner in London, England was founded in 1968 and is still operating. They serve retail and wholesale customers, and they specialize in selling to west Africa. One of the manufacturers they represent is Vlisco, a Dutch company founded in 1846. Vlisco specializes in wax-based batiks, and acknowledges that their company history reflects “complex historical and cultural connections.” That is an understatement. 

In 1846 the company was called van Vlissingen & Co. The Dutch were colonizing Indonesia and van Vlissingen discovered traditional “wax resist” hand blocked textile design methods that dated back to the 11th century. He noted that the fabrics were used for women’s traditional dress but were not affordable to the masses. He developed the “Dutch wax” process to mechanize manufacturing. The Indonesians considered his fabrics to be poor quality and didn’t buy them. But - riflemen from Ghana, who were part of the Dutch colonial army in Indonesia, took home large quantities of the bright, colorful fabrics. Then, between late Victorian and Edwardian times, the missionaries arrived in Ghana and told women to cover themselves, increasing demand for inexpensive textiles. By the time this package of samples was mailed, Vlisco was manufacturing “wax fabric” in Africa and China was producing cheap knockoffs of Vlisco’s fabric. China has captured about 90% of the wax fabric market. Vlisco’s products now represent high quality. Traditional African fabrics have been pushed into the background.

Now, 180 years after their founding, Vlisco specializes in creating fabric for the west and Central African market, and Metro Textiles Corner sells their fabric to Africans in England and around the world. 

.jpeg IMG_5954.jpeg Size: 172.57 KB  Downloads: 33


Thank you, Roy, for the wonderful history lesson!]]> <![CDATA[Corrupted again...]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=318 Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:23:44 +0000 Carmen]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=318
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Sigh... so as seen in the pic:

- an American Philatelist and an interesting piece of postal history, to wit a letter marked Manual Sort Mail by Canada Post (thanks Richard!)
- some Titanic Stamps (thanks Mark!)
- a lovely Brittannia 10-pound high value stamp and some Canadian stamps (thanks John!)

STOP IT, PEOPLE! I'm trying to cull my collection LOL!

THEN I find out that Leon (who lives about 6-8 houses from me on the same street) is ALSO selling Stuff I Don't Need, so you KNOW I'm going to have to wander over there to have a look, RIGHT?

Cool]]>
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Sigh... so as seen in the pic:

- an American Philatelist and an interesting piece of postal history, to wit a letter marked Manual Sort Mail by Canada Post (thanks Richard!)
- some Titanic Stamps (thanks Mark!)
- a lovely Brittannia 10-pound high value stamp and some Canadian stamps (thanks John!)

STOP IT, PEOPLE! I'm trying to cull my collection LOL!

THEN I find out that Leon (who lives about 6-8 houses from me on the same street) is ALSO selling Stuff I Don't Need, so you KNOW I'm going to have to wander over there to have a look, RIGHT?

Cool]]> <![CDATA[Watermarks and Light Tables]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=315 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:46:22 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=315
Others can be seen in normal light. A light table can really make them pop (and easier to photograph)

Here are a couple of examples using souvenir sheets from Danzig. Helping out is Meg. 

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Here's what they look like off the light table. 

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Others can be seen in normal light. A light table can really make them pop (and easier to photograph)

Here are a couple of examples using souvenir sheets from Danzig. Helping out is Meg. 

.jpeg Image.jpeg Size: 307.18 KB  Downloads: 0


.jpeg Image 1.jpeg Size: 356.7 KB  Downloads: 0


Here's what they look like off the light table. 

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]]> <![CDATA[Barclays Bank Covers]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=300 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 17:05:15 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=300
And, all for one dollar each. 

I don't even collect these but I bought five just for the fun of the perfins, the postal markings and the seals. And, look at the ship label on the bottom cover in this photo. A hand-stamp from the storied S/S Ile de France. Very cool coves indeed. 

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Send him a note if you want to get some at the next meeting. 

Cheers, Hugh

PS: For more information on the SS Ile de France, check out ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Île_de_France

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And, all for one dollar each. 

I don't even collect these but I bought five just for the fun of the perfins, the postal markings and the seals. And, look at the ship label on the bottom cover in this photo. A hand-stamp from the storied S/S Ile de France. Very cool coves indeed. 

.jpeg IMG_3748.jpeg Size: 889.27 KB  Downloads: 0


Send him a note if you want to get some at the next meeting. 

Cheers, Hugh

PS: For more information on the SS Ile de France, check out ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Île_de_France

.jpeg Image.jpeg Size: 75.18 KB  Downloads: 1
]]> <![CDATA[Does anyone else have STAMP-FOMO...?]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=292 Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:20:50 +0000 Carmen]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=292

I speak as I am starting to clear out my collection...]]>

I speak as I am starting to clear out my collection...]]> <![CDATA[You know you have too many stamps when...]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=290 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 11:10:50 +0000 Carmen]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=290
This is because you were LAZY, and wrote their location as "Canada Album" when you catalogued them, because you couldn't be bothered to locate them as TBPA (To Be Put Away), which would have saved you lots of money, ya know?! Oh well, I'll sell them.

That why I have kept this picture, quite a few years old (weight loss and no glasses are now the Real Me LOL!), to use for these whimsical, lesson-learning moments, yes?  Big Grin

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]]>
This is because you were LAZY, and wrote their location as "Canada Album" when you catalogued them, because you couldn't be bothered to locate them as TBPA (To Be Put Away), which would have saved you lots of money, ya know?! Oh well, I'll sell them.

That why I have kept this picture, quite a few years old (weight loss and no glasses are now the Real Me LOL!), to use for these whimsical, lesson-learning moments, yes?  Big Grin

.jpg Whimsical me.jpg Size: 14.25 KB  Downloads: 15
]]> <![CDATA[The sometimes-tedium of stamp collecting...]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=284 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:58:19 +0000 Carmen]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=284 ) at October's Kingston Stamp Show. They commemorate the anniversary of his birth. 

Each is a beautiful piece of art... from 16 different countries, 2 different stamps each, hence 16 different databases in EZStamp, with two stamp records for each. 32 entries, with of course, 16 pics of the cover itself because I'm taking the trouble to do that for this. Thank goodness for Google Drive and how it simplifies me getting the pics into my Stamp Collecting directory.

Ya, tedium. But at least I get to Look At The Pretty FDCs, ya know?  Tongue So what's your version of Tedium?

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]]> ) at October's Kingston Stamp Show. They commemorate the anniversary of his birth. 

Each is a beautiful piece of art... from 16 different countries, 2 different stamps each, hence 16 different databases in EZStamp, with two stamp records for each. 32 entries, with of course, 16 pics of the cover itself because I'm taking the trouble to do that for this. Thank goodness for Google Drive and how it simplifies me getting the pics into my Stamp Collecting directory.

Ya, tedium. But at least I get to Look At The Pretty FDCs, ya know?  Tongue So what's your version of Tedium?

.jpg Turks&C 652-3 FDC.jpg Size: 283.83 KB  Downloads: 1
]]> <![CDATA[The perfect stamp]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=225 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 23:51:26 +0000 RICHARD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=225
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]]> <![CDATA[What has happened with this cover? I need your help]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=143 Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:24:46 +0000 RICHARD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=143
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]]> <![CDATA[Every Sunday learn postal history]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=107 Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:26:51 +0000 RICHARD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=107 https://postalhistorysunday.substack.com...ng-you-see   .Here is a link to an interesting site its all about postal history and postal markings postal routes. I read it every week enjoy.]]> https://postalhistorysunday.substack.com...ng-you-see   .Here is a link to an interesting site its all about postal history and postal markings postal routes. I read it every week enjoy.]]> <![CDATA[The Juggler - a True Story (Unfortunately)]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=101 Wed, 24 Sep 2025 06:12:15 +0000 Janet MacD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=101
You send a request for a catalogue to the upstairs study. You receive a massive book that gives a new definition to “kiloware”. You discover the print is too small to read. You submit a request for help and a large magnifying glass is delivered. You look at the stamp. Its face is hidden by the postmark. You move on to the next stamp. You are able to sort of identify it. You put down the magnifying glass and pick up your phone. In order to take the picture, you need two hands. You put down the page of stamps, take a photo, and edit the photo into 5 strips of stamps. You ask Google Lens what it thinks of a stamp. The AI says “This is a stamp from Queensland. It is green.” It links an eBay listing for a completely different stamp. You show Google another stamp. It says “This stamp is Scott 101. Or Scott 120. It is similar to 101b.” You can’t use the Israeli sourced superior stamp identifier app because you are taking a stand against the government of Israel. Netanyahu hasn’t noticed yet …

You put down the phone, place the catalogue on your lap and notice it is now twice as heavy. You look for Scott 101. You hold the magnifying glass over the page and notice the slight tremor in your hand is making it difficult to focus on the print. You hold a ruler in your other hand to help you read. Of course you are now unable to make notes. You put down the magnifying glass and can no longer read the catalogue. You put down the ruler. You reach for your phone and take a picture of the catalogue. 

You now have a picture of the catalogue listings for 101 and 120. The stamp you are looking at doesn’t seem to be related to either listing. But there are variations that seem dependent on watermarks and perforations. You know from past attempts that you can’t see watermarks, even with the magic fluid. You begin to curse. You attract the polydactyl cat, followed by the occupant of the upstairs study. You are given a perforation gauge because you have no idea what happened to the ones you were given previously. You interrupt your toils long enough to say “No, another damned perforation gauge would not be a good Christmas stocking stuffer!”

You announce that you are too stupid to do this and you won’t buy any of the stamps. Another catalogue makes its way to you.

“Australia is hard” says the bearer. “Start with Iceland.”

An hour later you still can’t read the catalogue without taking a photo to enlarge the print, but you have found all the stamps on one page, even the stamp that Scott has insisted on sticking at the back of the book like an orphan instead of listing it with its siblings.

You realize that the people of Iceland were very sensible designers of stamps and you decide to search for a list of other sensible countries. You vow to devote your time to the sensible. As you begin to Google, you realize that the AI is mocking you. You decide to give up on philately for now, and soothe your troubled mind with a sudoku. You knock off the easy and medium puzzles, and are feeling much smarter. But half way through the difficult puzzle you realize they are the New York Times puzzles, and you have vowed to avoid US purchases. “But they are free and you cancelled your subscription” you argue. “It’s a slippery slope” says the little voice in your head. You decide to read before bed. “Don’t even think about saying anything right now” you tell the little voice as you pick up your Kindle. At least the book was purchased from a publisher in the UK.]]>
You send a request for a catalogue to the upstairs study. You receive a massive book that gives a new definition to “kiloware”. You discover the print is too small to read. You submit a request for help and a large magnifying glass is delivered. You look at the stamp. Its face is hidden by the postmark. You move on to the next stamp. You are able to sort of identify it. You put down the magnifying glass and pick up your phone. In order to take the picture, you need two hands. You put down the page of stamps, take a photo, and edit the photo into 5 strips of stamps. You ask Google Lens what it thinks of a stamp. The AI says “This is a stamp from Queensland. It is green.” It links an eBay listing for a completely different stamp. You show Google another stamp. It says “This stamp is Scott 101. Or Scott 120. It is similar to 101b.” You can’t use the Israeli sourced superior stamp identifier app because you are taking a stand against the government of Israel. Netanyahu hasn’t noticed yet …

You put down the phone, place the catalogue on your lap and notice it is now twice as heavy. You look for Scott 101. You hold the magnifying glass over the page and notice the slight tremor in your hand is making it difficult to focus on the print. You hold a ruler in your other hand to help you read. Of course you are now unable to make notes. You put down the magnifying glass and can no longer read the catalogue. You put down the ruler. You reach for your phone and take a picture of the catalogue. 

You now have a picture of the catalogue listings for 101 and 120. The stamp you are looking at doesn’t seem to be related to either listing. But there are variations that seem dependent on watermarks and perforations. You know from past attempts that you can’t see watermarks, even with the magic fluid. You begin to curse. You attract the polydactyl cat, followed by the occupant of the upstairs study. You are given a perforation gauge because you have no idea what happened to the ones you were given previously. You interrupt your toils long enough to say “No, another damned perforation gauge would not be a good Christmas stocking stuffer!”

You announce that you are too stupid to do this and you won’t buy any of the stamps. Another catalogue makes its way to you.

“Australia is hard” says the bearer. “Start with Iceland.”

An hour later you still can’t read the catalogue without taking a photo to enlarge the print, but you have found all the stamps on one page, even the stamp that Scott has insisted on sticking at the back of the book like an orphan instead of listing it with its siblings.

You realize that the people of Iceland were very sensible designers of stamps and you decide to search for a list of other sensible countries. You vow to devote your time to the sensible. As you begin to Google, you realize that the AI is mocking you. You decide to give up on philately for now, and soothe your troubled mind with a sudoku. You knock off the easy and medium puzzles, and are feeling much smarter. But half way through the difficult puzzle you realize they are the New York Times puzzles, and you have vowed to avoid US purchases. “But they are free and you cancelled your subscription” you argue. “It’s a slippery slope” says the little voice in your head. You decide to read before bed. “Don’t even think about saying anything right now” you tell the little voice as you pick up your Kindle. At least the book was purchased from a publisher in the UK.]]> <![CDATA[Questions new collectors ponder]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=89 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 20:47:16 +0000 Janet MacD]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=89
If you will be a guest speaker, it may help you prepare. 

I hope it will help all KSC members think about possible topics of interest to new members or prospects. Maybe we could include mini training sessions at a table in our meetings occasionally?

I would like to know how to soak stamps off envelopes.

The first thing to know about soaking stamps is - Don’t do it! At least not until you have studied the envelope in its entirety. Who sent it, who is it addressed to, what was its path through the postal system, what slogans and date stamps and cancellations does it carry? Often the envelope is of more interest to a collector than the stamp. 

The second thing to know about soaking stamps is - Don’t do it! Soaking can cause dyes to run from paper onto stamps. The material you layer between drying stamps can leave embossed patterns on stamps. Modern stamps require dangerous chemicals to dissolve adhesives. 

The third thing to know about soaking stamps is - Don’t do it! Your time is too valuable. Once you have determined that there is nothing on the envelope other than the stamp that you wish to keep, use a small paper trimmer (or scissors) to cut out a piece of the envelope with the stamp centred within a frame of 1/4 to 1/2 inch on all sides. These “stamps on piece” can be organized in stock books, in binders with specialty inserts, or secured on custom made pages with scrapbook tape or glue.]]>
If you will be a guest speaker, it may help you prepare. 

I hope it will help all KSC members think about possible topics of interest to new members or prospects. Maybe we could include mini training sessions at a table in our meetings occasionally?

I would like to know how to soak stamps off envelopes.

The first thing to know about soaking stamps is - Don’t do it! At least not until you have studied the envelope in its entirety. Who sent it, who is it addressed to, what was its path through the postal system, what slogans and date stamps and cancellations does it carry? Often the envelope is of more interest to a collector than the stamp. 

The second thing to know about soaking stamps is - Don’t do it! Soaking can cause dyes to run from paper onto stamps. The material you layer between drying stamps can leave embossed patterns on stamps. Modern stamps require dangerous chemicals to dissolve adhesives. 

The third thing to know about soaking stamps is - Don’t do it! Your time is too valuable. Once you have determined that there is nothing on the envelope other than the stamp that you wish to keep, use a small paper trimmer (or scissors) to cut out a piece of the envelope with the stamp centred within a frame of 1/4 to 1/2 inch on all sides. These “stamps on piece” can be organized in stock books, in binders with specialty inserts, or secured on custom made pages with scrapbook tape or glue.]]> <![CDATA[Worldwide Occupation Stamps]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=84 Sat, 30 Aug 2025 19:32:59 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=84
Here, for example, is a cover from October 24, 1961. A CDS from Gaza was applied to this FDC with two UAR issued occupation stamps. The United Arab Republic was a short-lived union of Egypt and Syria between February 22, 1958 and September 28, 1961 when, following a coup d'etat in Syria, the union was ended. However, Egypt continued to be known officially as the UAR until it was formally dissolved in September 1971.

This cover, therefore, was cancelled after Syria had pulled out of the UAR.

The UAR stamps, also issued on this date, celebrated the UN Technical Assistance Program (UNTAP) and the 16th Anniversary of the UN. The stamps on the cover, however, which were printed in different colours, are the 'occupation' version of the stamps and were produced for use in Palestine (Gaza). Egypt had occupied the Gaza strip since 1948.

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Stamps:
UAR - UNTAP / World Refuge Year (Occupation Series)
Issued on October 24, 1961

10m, Dark Blue and Orange
Sc. N81

35m, Vermilion and Black
Sc. N82]]>
Here, for example, is a cover from October 24, 1961. A CDS from Gaza was applied to this FDC with two UAR issued occupation stamps. The United Arab Republic was a short-lived union of Egypt and Syria between February 22, 1958 and September 28, 1961 when, following a coup d'etat in Syria, the union was ended. However, Egypt continued to be known officially as the UAR until it was formally dissolved in September 1971.

This cover, therefore, was cancelled after Syria had pulled out of the UAR.

The UAR stamps, also issued on this date, celebrated the UN Technical Assistance Program (UNTAP) and the 16th Anniversary of the UN. The stamps on the cover, however, which were printed in different colours, are the 'occupation' version of the stamps and were produced for use in Palestine (Gaza). Egypt had occupied the Gaza strip since 1948.

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Stamps:
UAR - UNTAP / World Refuge Year (Occupation Series)
Issued on October 24, 1961

10m, Dark Blue and Orange
Sc. N81

35m, Vermilion and Black
Sc. N82]]> <![CDATA[What's New? What Are You Working On Today?]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=83 Sat, 30 Aug 2025 03:01:47 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=83
Here's what I've been doing tonight.

...

I've been working on this cover. I picked it up this week and was intrigued by it's unusual instructional marking. 

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It's a May 14, 1947 patriotic cover from Muncie, Indiana to Hill Field a USAAF base in Ogden, Utah. On it there is a boxed purple hand-stamp with:

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE INSTRUCTED / TO HAVE PERSONAL MAIL SENT TO THEIR / HOME ADDRESS

Hill Field, at its peak in 1943, employed 22,000 civilian and military personnel. When this cover was sent, in 1947, the base was engaged in the preservation and storage of surplus aircraft. Following the creation of the USAF, Hill Field became Hill AFB on February 5, 1948.

This cover appears to have been sent to a civilian employee of the USAAF, OASC. Which I assume is the Ogden Air Service Command (the logistics HQ) the original name of the unit. The sender was probably unaware that, after the war, the unit name changed to the Ogden Air Material Area (OAMA) ... (in July 1946).

A bit of a puzzle is the manuscript (pencil) 'T-4' with the added number '41021' above the address. I'm assuming that it was made by a base postal worker. You can see that the base address was underlined several times, also in pencil. That was, presumably, the reason why the purple hand-stamp was applied. My guess is the T4 / 41021 was added at the same time. The civilian employee's job level and employee number?

What are you working on today?

Cheers, Hugh]]>
Here's what I've been doing tonight.

...

I've been working on this cover. I picked it up this week and was intrigued by it's unusual instructional marking. 

.jpeg Instructional Marking US Civilian Employees.jpeg Size: 772.97 KB  Downloads: 0


It's a May 14, 1947 patriotic cover from Muncie, Indiana to Hill Field a USAAF base in Ogden, Utah. On it there is a boxed purple hand-stamp with:

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE INSTRUCTED / TO HAVE PERSONAL MAIL SENT TO THEIR / HOME ADDRESS

Hill Field, at its peak in 1943, employed 22,000 civilian and military personnel. When this cover was sent, in 1947, the base was engaged in the preservation and storage of surplus aircraft. Following the creation of the USAF, Hill Field became Hill AFB on February 5, 1948.

This cover appears to have been sent to a civilian employee of the USAAF, OASC. Which I assume is the Ogden Air Service Command (the logistics HQ) the original name of the unit. The sender was probably unaware that, after the war, the unit name changed to the Ogden Air Material Area (OAMA) ... (in July 1946).

A bit of a puzzle is the manuscript (pencil) 'T-4' with the added number '41021' above the address. I'm assuming that it was made by a base postal worker. You can see that the base address was underlined several times, also in pencil. That was, presumably, the reason why the purple hand-stamp was applied. My guess is the T4 / 41021 was added at the same time. The civilian employee's job level and employee number?

What are you working on today?

Cheers, Hugh]]> <![CDATA[Missing Stamp Fun!]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=65 Sun, 10 Aug 2025 16:31:48 +0000 Hugh]]> https://kingstonstampclub.ca/forum/showthread.php?tid=65
Here's another fifty-cent cover I pulled from Roy's box KSC. Who would want it, right? The stamp is missing.

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Nonetheless, let's see what we can figure out.

It looks like it was an Italian picture postcard provided to guests at the Grand Hôtel in Menaggio on Lake Como. There is a big friendly handstamp in purple that confirms this and adds that the proprietor of the hotel was L. Martinelli.

There are (or were) two CDS receiving cancels from Menaggio. One is still visible, the other has mostly vanished with the stamp - which either fell off or was stamp-napped by a collector sometime in the last 125 years. It is a circular, single ring cancel with MENAGGIO under the ring and 25 / LUG / 99 in the centre - suggesting it was mailed on July 25, 1899.

It was sent to a Miss Kathleen Walker in Budapest in the care of [bei] Frau v[on] Miklós. The street address is a bit of a challenge. It looks like a mix of Hungarian and German, perhaps Délidő?‑gasse , 33. Perhaps not that surprising for a cosmopolitan city like Budapest in fin-de-siècle Europe. One assumes that Frau von Miklós is a friend or landlady.

Getting back to the missing stamp. The UPU foreign postcard rate from Italy to Hungary in 1899 would have been 10 centesimi. This suggests that the missing stamp may have been the 10c King Umberto 1 carmine definitive issued in 1896 (Sc. 68). It's size and shape also nicely matches the rectangular space and residue still visible on the card.

If so, this is the missing stamp:

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But wait, there's more.

There seems to be a small circle arrival cancel on the bottom left dated 99 / JUL / 27 [July 27, 1899]. The location is only partially visible but, it is reasonable to conclude its from Budapest. A two-day trip by rail is very possible. Here, delivery was attempted but the original Budapest address was crossed out. The card appears to have been redirected within the Empire of Austria-Hungary to Kaltenleutgeben - a spa near Vienna  in the district of Mödling in Austria (see, the town name on the lower left of the card - written in a different hand). It arrived the next day.

There is a single ring CDS from KALTENLEUTGEBEN. In the centire, it reads BESTELLT / 28.7.99 / 8-9V. [July 28, 1899, time-stamp 8-9 in the morning]

However, it appears that Miss Walker was not there either. Kaltenleutgeben was struck out and the card was redirected again to Szt.  Kereszt [Holy Cross]. That may or may not have been the end of the matter. However, it is interesting that Szt. Kereszt was, in the end, also crossed out.

There is evidence that some information was erased ... probably information about the sender. Otherwise, there is no message. It's a postcard from the undivided back era and the picture side of the card, had blank space for messages. It shows an image of a foot path in Menaggio. It appears to have been published by Edizioni  Vierbücher who owned  a postcard printing house in Milan. He specialised in view‑cards of northern‑Italian resorts around  1898 – 1906. The card is number 280 in a series. I understand that his cards with numbers less than 300 are monochrome collotypes.

That was a lot of fun for fifty cents. I may have the order wrong. Perhaps it went to Szt. Kereszt before it ended up at the Spa in Austria. I'll keep looking. 

.jpeg Image 9.jpeg Size: 483.33 KB  Downloads: 0


Update:

OK ... I've done a bit more research. I now think the card was initially redirected from Budapest to Ladomér-Szentkerest a spa town on the river Garam about 160Km north-east of Budapest (now in Slovakia) where it was again, and quickly, redirected  to another spa town, this time care of Frau von Miklós, in Kaltenleutgeben. Presumably that was where it was finaly delivered to Miss Walker on July 28.

This appears to be confirmed by the BESTELLT on the Kaltenleutgeben cancel which I now undertand indicates delivery.

On Card ... Ladomier [Hungarian Ladomér]
On Card ... Szt. Kereszt [Hungarian Szent Kereszt
That is, 'Holy Cross' a spa / market town in the Old Kingdom of Hungary.

Today ... Žiar nad Hronom, Slovakia [German, Heiligenkreuz, Hungarian, Ladomér‑Szentkereszt]

I think I've now wrung every historical drop out of this I can find. Did I miss anything?]]>
Here's another fifty-cent cover I pulled from Roy's box KSC. Who would want it, right? The stamp is missing.

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Nonetheless, let's see what we can figure out.

It looks like it was an Italian picture postcard provided to guests at the Grand Hôtel in Menaggio on Lake Como. There is a big friendly handstamp in purple that confirms this and adds that the proprietor of the hotel was L. Martinelli.

There are (or were) two CDS receiving cancels from Menaggio. One is still visible, the other has mostly vanished with the stamp - which either fell off or was stamp-napped by a collector sometime in the last 125 years. It is a circular, single ring cancel with MENAGGIO under the ring and 25 / LUG / 99 in the centre - suggesting it was mailed on July 25, 1899.

It was sent to a Miss Kathleen Walker in Budapest in the care of [bei] Frau v[on] Miklós. The street address is a bit of a challenge. It looks like a mix of Hungarian and German, perhaps Délidő?‑gasse , 33. Perhaps not that surprising for a cosmopolitan city like Budapest in fin-de-siècle Europe. One assumes that Frau von Miklós is a friend or landlady.

Getting back to the missing stamp. The UPU foreign postcard rate from Italy to Hungary in 1899 would have been 10 centesimi. This suggests that the missing stamp may have been the 10c King Umberto 1 carmine definitive issued in 1896 (Sc. 68). It's size and shape also nicely matches the rectangular space and residue still visible on the card.

If so, this is the missing stamp:

.jpeg Image 8.jpeg Size: 132.14 KB  Downloads: 0


But wait, there's more.

There seems to be a small circle arrival cancel on the bottom left dated 99 / JUL / 27 [July 27, 1899]. The location is only partially visible but, it is reasonable to conclude its from Budapest. A two-day trip by rail is very possible. Here, delivery was attempted but the original Budapest address was crossed out. The card appears to have been redirected within the Empire of Austria-Hungary to Kaltenleutgeben - a spa near Vienna  in the district of Mödling in Austria (see, the town name on the lower left of the card - written in a different hand). It arrived the next day.

There is a single ring CDS from KALTENLEUTGEBEN. In the centire, it reads BESTELLT / 28.7.99 / 8-9V. [July 28, 1899, time-stamp 8-9 in the morning]

However, it appears that Miss Walker was not there either. Kaltenleutgeben was struck out and the card was redirected again to Szt.  Kereszt [Holy Cross]. That may or may not have been the end of the matter. However, it is interesting that Szt. Kereszt was, in the end, also crossed out.

There is evidence that some information was erased ... probably information about the sender. Otherwise, there is no message. It's a postcard from the undivided back era and the picture side of the card, had blank space for messages. It shows an image of a foot path in Menaggio. It appears to have been published by Edizioni  Vierbücher who owned  a postcard printing house in Milan. He specialised in view‑cards of northern‑Italian resorts around  1898 – 1906. The card is number 280 in a series. I understand that his cards with numbers less than 300 are monochrome collotypes.

That was a lot of fun for fifty cents. I may have the order wrong. Perhaps it went to Szt. Kereszt before it ended up at the Spa in Austria. I'll keep looking. 

.jpeg Image 9.jpeg Size: 483.33 KB  Downloads: 0


Update:

OK ... I've done a bit more research. I now think the card was initially redirected from Budapest to Ladomér-Szentkerest a spa town on the river Garam about 160Km north-east of Budapest (now in Slovakia) where it was again, and quickly, redirected  to another spa town, this time care of Frau von Miklós, in Kaltenleutgeben. Presumably that was where it was finaly delivered to Miss Walker on July 28.

This appears to be confirmed by the BESTELLT on the Kaltenleutgeben cancel which I now undertand indicates delivery.

On Card ... Ladomier [Hungarian Ladomér]
On Card ... Szt. Kereszt [Hungarian Szent Kereszt
That is, 'Holy Cross' a spa / market town in the Old Kingdom of Hungary.

Today ... Žiar nad Hronom, Slovakia [German, Heiligenkreuz, Hungarian, Ladomér‑Szentkereszt]

I think I've now wrung every historical drop out of this I can find. Did I miss anything?]]>