Description

1917 (May 31) Plain blue paper envelope to Italian Commercial Agency, Karen, Eritrea bearing USA Washington 5c tied New York N.Y. /D datestamp & with violet cogwheel PASSED CENSOR ADEN / No A 156 (M.A.M. Graham type 10) & black unframed COLONIA ERITREA CENSURA No 1 & on reverse unframed violet OPENED BY CENSOR (M.A.M. Graham type 5)plus Aden (12 Jul), Asmara Eritrea (7 Aug) & Cheren Eritrea (8 Aug) transit cds then clearly returned to sender with Brooklyn N.Y. / 1.C. (30 Oct) arrival…A fascinating & remarkably rare cover, the monograph of M.A.M. Graham states OPENED BY CENSOR (Type 5) the first Opened by Censor stamp used in Aden was used only for a very short time at the commencement of the war….this somewhat defies & certainly extends the date of that statement