Page 8 - CONGOLATRES-MAI-2020

Les Congolâtres

Fig. 3 Congo to
Argentina via Nigeria
1944

Fig. 3 Du Congo Belge
vers l'Argentine via le
Nigeria 1944

An unusual airmail
cover is displayed in
Fig. 4. This was sent
from the Ministry of
Information in
Leopoldville to Buenos
Aires. The high postage
rate on this cover was
249 Fr. This relates to a
packet weighing
between 90 and 95g.
The international
surface rate for a letter
weighing between 80
and 100g was 11 Fr
50ct. The airmail
supplement for a
package up to 95g was
237 Fr 50ct. This item Fig. 4 Belgian Congo to Argentina via Trinidad 1945
was not censored before Fig. 4 Du Congo belge vers l'Argentine via Trinidad 1945
departure. The cover was
posted shortly after the
end of the war – on 20 July 1945. This was flown by a different route to the preceding covers. This was
flown by Panam to Trinidad where it was censored. Censoring of mail was still in force at this time. Note the
cover is endorsed ‘PAA’ (Pan American Airways) in red crayon. The cover was re sealed with a label
inscribed ‘P.C.90 / OPENED BY EXAMINER / IE/ 8072. IE was the censor code for Trinidad.
The cover reached Natal in Brazil on 1 September 1945 and was then forwarded on to its final destination.
This cover had taken over 5 weeks to reach Brazil.

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