Civil Censorship Study Group

Can anyone tell me anything about the PC5 label on the reverse of this cover? I am a bit perplexed also by the HS Ship Tombstone censor on a cover being sent to a person with the same last name in New Jersey. Its dated 3/12/43, noted to be maritime mail. Where would the PC5 label have been applied? I also thought the free franking privilege only applied to surface mail, and air mail required a stamp - could the air mail surcharge have been paid in cash? Thanks, Larry Oliver

Hi Larry

Can you please send scans of both sides of your cover to peterburrows116@btinternet.com

Then I may be able to help you

Cheers Peter

Hi again

The scans suddenly appeared

The label is my M2.2 used on Trinidad & Tobago

It looks like it was from an American working at the British naval base on the island writing to his mother

Hope this helps Peter

Hi Peter,
Thanks greatly for the information. Can you give me the information on your book or article? And, if available, where can I get it? I assumed the addressee was the man's wife, since the initials are the same.

Larry

oliverl wrote:Can anyone tell me anything about the PC5 label on the reverse of this cover? I am a bit perplexed also by the HS Ship Tombstone censor on a cover being sent to a person with the same last name in New Jersey. Its dated 3/12/43, noted to be maritime mail. Where would the PC5 label have been applied? I also thought the free franking privilege only applied to surface mail, and air mail required a stamp - could the air mail surcharge have been paid in cash? Thanks, Larry Oliver

Good evening,

Dear Oliverl.

Here we have two notes about this P.C.5 [Enclosed] Memoranda label and one about the so-called "Tombstone" mark.

1 - P.C.5 - Trinidad and Tobago. Known circa January 1944 "[...] to be inserted into censored items before re-sealing." (1)
2 - P.C.5 - Trinidad and Tobago. Known from 3 December 1943 to January 1944. (2)
3 - "Tombstone" mark - It seems to be the N107 (3)

(1) - WIKE (1993). British Empire Civil Censorship Devices World War II Trinidad and Tobago. [...]
(2) - BURROWS (Edited by) (2016). British Empire Civil Censorship Devices World War II Trinidad and Tobago Section 6 British West Indies & Falkland Islands [...].
(3) - COLLEY (2016). World War Two Censor Marks. Forces Postal History Society, 2nd Ed.