ON SERVICE machine cancellation 1943

[John Cranmer]

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

[Peter Harvey]

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

[Peter Harvey]

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

[Peter Harvey]

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

[John Cranmer]

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]