This is a scan of a cover from a Canadian Airman in Iceland. Under the POSTAGE FREE with a slogan ON SERVICE machine cancellation is a date stamp RAF POST OFFICE 001 for the 6th of October 1943. The machine cancellation is dated the 13th of October.
I have not found any info regarding this machine cancellation - mainly where was it used Iceland or Canada - I assume the later but some reference would be useful.
[attach id=6549]Iceland.jpg[/attach]
There is also an RAF censor cachet type R6 number 114 which is recorded used in Reykjavik.
John Cranmer
Hi John,
I assume the machine POSTAGE FREE was applied on arrival in Canada so that no charge was applied to the cover, prior to delivery.
I will ask a few collectors in Canada and come back to you.
Peter
Hi John,
I asked Mike Street of BNAPS and he does not think the machine mark is Canadian, so he is making further enquiries, I hope this is okay.
Regards
Hi John,
Mike Street came back to me with the following information, he found reference to this. If you would like to email Mike directly, drop me a note and I will pass on details:
Cecil Coutts, SLOGAN POSTMARKS OF CANADA, Third Edition 2007
In the catalogue it is number SSM-75: ON SERVICE. Dater reads POSTAGE FREE.
A 1941 proof exists. Saw 9 Oct 1941, 13 Aug 1942 and 27 May 1944. Others reported.
Used at Ottawa 1941-45. Machine is Pitney Bowes
I have been in touch with Mike Street re the above and its scarcity. He points out that Peter somehow omitted the last line of his reply - see below.
Cecil Coutts, SLOGAN POSTMARKS OF CANADA, Third Edition 2007
In the catalogue it is number SSM-75: ON SERVICE. Dater reads POSTAGE FREE.
A 1941 proof exists. Saw 9 Oct 1941, 13 Aug 1942 and 27 May 1944. Others reported.
Used at Ottawa 1941-45. Machine is Pitney Bowes
[b][u]50.00 $ <<<Value in 2007. Not sure what it would be worth today, but the 2007 value suggests how rare it is.[/u][/b]