Trengganu. 1939 Covers franked 8c to G.B or Canada, censored in Singapore with violet boxed "PASSED BY / CENSOR", number "22" with the lower right corner clipped, or number "11" with three corners clipped. These censors with clipped corners probably done to identify other censors using these marks whilst new handstamps were being made, this No. "11" cachet the only recorded example with three clipped corners. (2). Photo on Page 144. (Image1)

Civilian Mail from Straits Settlements. 1939 (Sep 1) Cover franked 12c to Batavia, endorsed "Qantas air mail, Singapore - Java", bearing a Singapore censor label (small part removed from front with no loss of wording, to show the Singapore c.d.s) endorsed "10". The earliest recorded censorship from Malaya, the label used two days before war was actually declared. An exceptional cover. Photo on Page 142. (Image1)

1939-40 Covers to USA with censor cachets showing numbers altered in manuscript, comprising 1939 (Sep 5) cover with boxed "PASSED BY / 19 / CENSOR" showing manuscript "B" after the number; 1940 (May 15) cover franked 60c for air to Hong Kong then sea to USA with similar type boxed censor, the central number "14" crossed out and altered to "6" and initialled; and 1940 (July 6) cover with "PASSED BY / CENSOR 46 / SINGAPORE" showing manuscript "R" after the number. Very unusual, probably due to a shortage of censor cachets. (3).

1939-41 Covers franked 12c or 15c to USA (12) or 8c to Canada (3), six different types of Singapore censor cachets with various numbers, one bearing a Malayan Patriotic Fund 1c label unusually tied by the Singapore c.d.s, one with U.S "Supposed to Contain Matter Subject to the Provisions of Executive Order 8389 as amended" cachet. (15).

1939-41 Printed Matter covers franked 2c or 3c to USA (7), G.B, Ireland or Java, a postcard franked 2c to India, and a 2c postal stationery card to England, five differing types of Singapore or Penang censors with various numbers, one cover bearing Malaya Patriotic Fund 1c label unusually tied by the triangular Penang censor, a 1941 (Oct 6) cover with first day use of KGVI 2c orange and also bearing "Arrived Safely thanks to the British Navy and Air Force" patriotic label. (12). Photo on Page 142. (Image1)

1940-41 Covers paid 12c or 15c to USA, or 8c to Egypt, all with Singapore meter marks (machines U8, U32, U34, U43), one with "Enthrust Your Thirst to F.&N." slogan and bearing U.S "Supposed to Contain Matter Subject to the Provisions of Executive Order 8389 as amended" cachet, another with a "V" breaking a Swastika cachet. One uncensored, the others with triangular "PASSED FOR / TRANSMISSION / SINGAPORE / 63" or similar unnamed cachets numbered "63" or "110". (4).

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).

1939-40 O.H.M.S Covers franked 8c from Singapore to India with differing "FORCE EMU" cachets, violet "PASSED / FOR / TRANSMISSION" or boxed "PASSED / 46 / CENSOR". (2).

1940-41 Covers with army censors, comprising covers franked 8c from Singapore to G.B or India both with boxed censor No. 1111 or 1123; triangular censors on stampless cover to India with "F.P.O / No 32" c.d.s, covers franked at 25c Imperial Airways rate to India with "BASE POST OFFICE 4" or "F.P.O / No 36" c.d.s, or a cover to G.B franked 8c with "F.P.O / No. 50" c.d.s; and a stampless O.A.S cover with F.P.O SP502 c.d.s and boxed "PASSED BY / ARMY / CENSOR". Also 1941 air mail cover to India with 25c cancelled "INDIAN SECTION BASE OFFICE 3" and triangular "PASSED FOR / TRANSMISSION / 24" civil censor, and a 1942 cover from Scotland to a soldier in Malaya but returned to the sender, with boxed cachet. (9).

Royal Navy / R.A.F. 1940-41 Covers with "FROM H.M SHIP" tombstone censors comprising three air mail covers to G.B franked 55c cancelled at Singapore (2) or F.P.O SP501 (also bearing 1c Malayan Patriotic Fund label), and a stampless O.A.S cover with F.P.O SP502 c.d.s; and an airmail cover franked 25c cancelled at F.P.O SP501, unusually addressed to New Zealand, with "RAF / CENSOR / 82". (5).

Other Mails to or via Singapore or Penang. 1939 (Nov 28) - 1940 (Jan 2) Covers (3) and a postcard from Java to Germany all with boxed "OPENED BY BRITISH / NAVAL AUTHORITIES", the three covers with red censor seals, two censored in Germany, one cover with a clipped corner, otherwise fine. A scarce censor cachet (applied at Singapore, or possibly on a British naval ship), used on mail intercepted by the Royal Navy. (4). Photo on Page 150. (Image1)

1939 (Sep 9-19) Covers from Thailand franked 15st to Penang or England (registered) or the 10st printed matter rate to USA, all with circular "PASSED BY CENSOR / (arms) / PENANG". A scarce censor cachet only recorded in September 1939, one an exceptionally fine strike. (3). Photo on Page 150. (Image1)

1939-40 Covers from Holland, USA or China to Singapore, or Philippines to France all with violet numbered boxed "PASSED BY / CENSOR" comprising number 2 on an early cover received at Singapore on 8th September 1939 and forwarded to Netherlands Indies, cover from USA redirected back to the sender with two censors numbered "5" and "11" (with clipped lower right corner), 1939 (Aug 25) cover from Manila with number "10" (lower right corner clipped, an early use), and number "68" on a cover from China sent via Hong Kong. (4).

1939-41 Covers from the Netherlands Indies to Europe (5), Thailand (2), China, Sarawak, USA, Kedah or Singapore, various rates, all censored in Singapore or Penang, five types of censor cachets with various numbers, the 1940 (June 1) cover to USA franked 145c for KLM service via Europe but handstamped "RETOUR AFZENDER / Verbinding per KLM / Verbroken" and returned (this air route suspended after Italy's entry into the war), then reposted with a further 50c in stamps to go Trans-Pacific air route via Hong Kong. (12).