Clipper Rate Air Mails. 1940-41 Covers from Singapore to the USA (6) or Canada franked $1.40 for sea mail to Hong Kong or Manila and then by air to the USA (4), or $1.90 for air mail to New Zealand (3). One cover torn with a U.S Officially Sealed label applied, another illustrated "Clipper air mail from the Hawaiian Islands" cover franked 20c from U.S.S "Helena" to Singapore, handstamped "Insufficiently paid for / clipper air mail" then reposted back to USA franked $1.90. An interesting group, all censored in Singapore, three differing censor types with various numbers. (7).

1941 (May 9/10) First flight of the clipper service from San Francisco to Singapore, philatelic covers flown from Manila to Singapore (3), Singapore to Manila (with circular First Flight cachet, applied to just 38 covers), Guam or San Francisco, all with triangular "PASSED FOR / TRANSMISSION", various numbers; and a commercial cover from Penang (May 12) franked $1.45 to the USA, with boxed "Opened by Censor 2" cachet. This was the one and only flight from Singapore to San Francisco at the $1.45 rate, the "California" clipper departing on May 12th and arriving on the 20th; the rate was then reduced to $1.40 on May 27th, prior to the next clipper flight. A good group, the commercial cover very scarce. (7). Photo on Page 144. (Image1)

1941 Covers franked at the $1.40 rate to USA or Canada, the rate in force for 35 days (May 27 - June 30) during which only three clipper flights left Singapore, comprising May 28 cover from Singapore to USA with meter machine U2 carried on the first of these three flights, and June 19 cover from Temerloh to Canada franked Pahang $1 + 40c, carried on the third and final flight at this rate, both with differing censor cachets. A fine and very scarce pair. (2). Photo on Page 144. (Image1)

1941 (Sep/Oct) Triple rate covers from Singapore to the USA or Canada franked $4.50, both carried on the "Pacific" clipper which left Singapore on October 6th, having been delayed on its inbound flight after breaking a propeller at Guam. The cover to Canada (26x18cm) franked 50c + $2 pair (three vertical folds, one through one $2 stamp), the cover to USA bearing 50c + four $1 stamps, both with violet "PASSED BY / CENSOR 20 / A" or similar number "70" cachet (both very low numbers). A good pair. (2). Photo on Page 144. (Image1)

1941 (Aug 29) Registered cover (23x14cm) from Singapore to New York franked an incredible $13.65 (15c registration + nine x $1.50 rate, weight 8-9oz), the franking comprising 5c, 10c, 50c, $1 vertical strip of three and $5 vertical pair, carried on the "Honolulu" clipper which left Singapore on September 10th, arriving at San Francisco on the 15th. Handstamped "PASSED BY / CENSOR 300 / A" and oval "U.S CUSTOMS / FREE OF DUTY / Port of NEW YORK", backstamped at Singapore and New York (Sep 21). Two light vertical folds (well away from the stamps), otherwise fine, a remarkable franking. Photo on Page 148. (Image1)

1941 Covers from Singapore to G.B franked at the $2 "two ocean" clipper rate, the first two covers with triangular "PASSED FOR / TRANSMISSION / 71" (July 17) or "111" (Sep 9); the final cover (Dec 6) scheduled to leave Singapore on the December 8th clipper which returned to Wake Island on December 7th, never reaching Singapore due to the news of the attack on Pearl Harbour, the cover sent by air by an unknown route, with "PASSED BY / CENSOR 312 / A". A good trio, the final cover intended for the aborted clipper flight very unusual. (3). Photo on Page 144. (Image1)

Palestine - Forces Mail. 1940 (Aug 2/14) Covers from Palestine to G.B franked at the 3/- clipper rate by G.B 1½d (4) + 2/6, one cover from F.P.O 121 at Tiberias, the other a green Honour Envelope from F.P.O 123, both with British army censor cachet, triangular "PASSED FOR / TRANSMISSION / 49 / SINGAPORE" and "TO BE FORWARDED BY / AIR FROM SINGAPORE". Both very early (possibly first day?) uses of this routing cachet (first recorded used August 16), carried on the clipper "ANZAC" which left Singapore on August 21st. The Honour Envelope with a little creasing and small tear at right edge, the other cover superb. (2). Photo on Page 148. (Image1)

Palestine/India. 1940-41 Covers comprising 1940 (Aug 14) cover from Haifa to USA bearing Palestine 10m, 20m, 50m, 100m and 200m with Palestine censor and triangular "PASSED FOR / TRANSMISSION / 1 / SINGAPORE", and a 1941 (May 19) cover from Calcutta to Switzerland bearing India 3½a, 1r and 2r, both handstamped "TO BE FORWARDED BY / AIR FROM SINGAPORE". Two fine clipper covers, the Palestine cover possibly a first day use of the routing cachet. (2). Photo on Page 148. (Image1)

Netherlands Indies. 1940-41 Covers from the Netherlands Indies to USA (5) or England, the covers to USA franked 80c, 125c, 145c (2) or 165c (registered) all with circular framed letter and number routing handstamps, the 1941 (Dec 12) cover to England franked 1g, all censored in Singapore. Two 1941 (Nov 28/29) covers carried on the "China" clipper on the final flight to leave Singapore on November 30th, the cover to England intended for the following flight which was aborted due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. The final cover with address partly inked out, otherwise fine and an unusual group. (6).

Egypt/Iraq. 1940-41 Covers from Iraq to USA (3) franked 130f (2) or 135f, Egypt to Jamaica franked 242m or Egypt to USA franked 117m all sent by Trans-Pacific clipper, the Iraq covers all with circular framed letter and number routing handstamps and Singapore censors. A good lot, the Egypt to Jamaica cover very unusual. (5). Photo on Page 148. (Image1)

Barbados/Indo-China. 1941 (June 3) Registered Cover franked 5/9 from Barbados to Saigon bearing 1d, 2d block of four and 5/- (the first day of issue of the 2d and 5/- values), redirected to New York with Indo-China 5c, $1 and $2 applied, with circular "B" and "10" routing marks, Barbados censors seal, backstamped at Barbados, Trinidad, San Juan, San Francisco, Saigon (July 12), Honolulu and New York, an unusual cover. Photo on Page 150. (Image1)

1941 Covers comprising registered cover from Bangkok (May 7) to USA franked 200st with circular letter and number routing handstamps and triangular "PASSED FOR / TRANSMISSION / 7"; cover from Holland (Sep 16) to Netherlands Indies redirected with a label to "Fleet Mail Officer, H.M Naval Base, Singapore", censored in Germany and Dutch Indies; cover from Canada (Oct 18) to Java franked 90c, censored in Canada, Singapore and Dutch Indies, circular routing handstamps (two punch holes); cover from Fiji (Nov 9) franked 2/9 to Singapore with "First Transpacific Air Mail, Suva Fiji to Auckland N.Z" cachet; also a cover from G.B (Dec 29) to Singapore franked 5/-, returned handstamped "TRANSPACIFIC / SERVICE SUSPENDED". (5).