I have been researching some local history of my hometown of Pittsburgh (USA) and have discovered that it was a center of recruitment of Poles to return to Europe to fight in the Polish Army of France during WWI.

Does anyone have an example of mail from this force back to the US (implying the sender was recruited in the US)?

I understand these might be very scarce...

Thanks!

This is a non-military question, but I have searched in vain for 10+ years for information on this label and I suspect it originates in the UK so maybe some member can help.

I have a serous collection of Hollywood movie star fan mail (20,000+ covers) and have three with a label reading "Member S.P.S. Club" (see attached scan). All are from either England or a Commonwealth nation and are addressed to a Hollywood movie star (posted between 1928 and 1930). The labels appear to have stylized film sprocket holes in the design and maybe be from an organized cinema/movie fan club.

If any member knows about these or maybe knows someone who studies UK film history, maybe they know the origin of these labels. I have searched books, movie fan magazines, and reached out to label/cinderella collectors, but cannot find the meaning of "SPS Club."

Thanks for any help!
Regis Hoffman

Attached are scans of a WWII POW letter to the Hollywood actress Deann Durbin.

Can anyone identify the nationality of the sender?

Thanks!
Regis Hoffman

I have several 1946 covers with RAF cancels as follows:

- RAFPOST - JAPAN
- RAFPOST 183
- RAF POST - COLOMEO [from Ceylon]

Is there a philatelic reference for these markings?

Where was RAFPOST 183?

Thanks.
Regis Hoffman

I am in the "include it in the book" camp.

I believe philatelic books should include as much information as possible, even if it is a discussion of something that may or may not exist.

In response to a question, the Egyptian cover has no transit markings.

Thanks for all your in-depth analysis. I am not sure how many of you are alos members of the US-based Military Postal History Society, but these two covers plus several others will be written up for the next issue of the MPHS bulletin.

Regis Hoffman

I have a question about British FPO postage rates after WWII.

Shown are two fan letters to Hollywood movie stars from two British FPOs in Egypt. One bears Egyptian stamps, the other British stamps.

My questions:
- at what time after WWII ended were stamps required on FPO mail?
- why does one cover use Egyptian stamps and the other UK stamps?

Thanks!
Regis Hoffman

Shown is a cover from the Belgian Congo forces attached to the MEF in WWII.

A few questions:

- Does anyone know where the British censor mark (#6382?) was applied?
- Is there any general reference on these troops and their role in the MEF?

Of particular interest is that the envelope is addressed to the famous actress Dorothy Lamour.

Thanks for any information!
Regis Hoffman

Can anyone provide more information or references for the cover below?

It is a registered cover from the Belgian Congo to actress Dorothy Lamour in Hollywood. The registration label reads "R (?) P M 101 MEF". The boxed cancel on the stamps reads "Poste Militaire - No 101" with a date of 25 March 1944. It also bears a Belgian Congo censor mark and a British military censor mark (#6382).

Apparently Belgian Congo forces were attached to the British Middle East Forces. This cover appears to originate from this force, but was mailed in the Belgian Congo. How to reconcile this?

Thanks!
Regis Hoffman