Crete. 1941 (Aug 3) Stampless cover from Crete, sent from a mother to her son, addressed to the Italian Consulate in Salonica for onward transmission, with full contents which were censored where the dateline with the name of the locality of origin was cancelled, but indicating in line 13 in the text "here in Crete...", with "P.M.550E/Comando Superiore FF.AA.Egeo/Essente da Tassa Autorizzazione Postgen/N.563613-164634.V.3 del 26.4.4.1XIX" free-postage marking, which was mysteriously applied on a mail from a mother (was she a member of a military unit?), two P.M. 550 cds's, one also intriguingly struck one day after (as it was not necessary), but justifying why this letter was never delivered to the addressee, and then, being even more surprising, showing the "Return to Sender/Service Suspended" cachet which may have been applied years later when the British arrived to Greece in 1945 and could not forward this mail as the addressee was no longer available. (Valter Astolfi acquired this envelope deducing that it was never opened, as it was not delivered, and extracted the contents by removing one lap of the censor's label). An extraordinary, mysterious and fascinating postal history usage also illustrating the liberation of Crete. (Image)

1941 (May 31) Military telegram "Servizio Radiotelegrafico Militare" sent to the Command of the Italian troops in Crete, concerning a report during the third day of Italian operations to occupy Crete, a very rare document of historical interest (from 29.5 to 11.6 the Italian troops had no military P.O. and postmarks available in Crete). (Image)

1941 (Aug 10) Cover from Vrachasi to Athens, slightly overfranked by 5c or the airmail external rate with Aegean 10c, 20c, 50c pair (one defective), tied in transit at Rhodes, with the dispatch cds, as it was the norm in the early period, struck at left with ""Vrakhasion/Kritis" cds (Astolfi fig. 2, p "="), "Neapolis/Kritis" in transit on back (Astolfi p. 12), censorship label removed at top. A very infrequent mail from this small village with an extremely rare cancellation. (Image)

1942 (April 29) Telegram from the Italian Navy in Rhodes to Crete, endorsed "Servizio Telegrafonico della R. Marina", showing very fine "Ufficio telegrafico Italiano Creat/Egeo" cds (erroneously catalogued iwth p. 12 as it is unique). The only example recorded of this telegraphic cancellation. (Image)

1941 (Aug 25) Commercial envelope from Sitia to Athens, franked at single rate by Aegean 20c (2), 25c and 30c (2) tied in transit at Rhodes, with "Siteia" dispatch cds at left (Astolfi fig. 1, p. 11), Agios Nikolaos transit on reverse, exceptionally carried to Vienna to pass the German censorship, arriving to destination on 20.11 (backstamp). A very rare combination of these Italian and German censorships. (Image)

1941 (Oct 12) Censored cover from Neapolis to Athens, with Aegean airmail 50c on front, completing the single rate on reverse with Aegean 5c, 10c pair and 50c pair, all tied in transit by Rodhodes cds's, showing very fine "Neapolis/Kritis" cds (Astolfi fig. 1, p. 12) aside the franking on front, Agios Nicholas and Athens backstamps; the last known date of usage of the Rhodes cancel on mail from Crete. (Image)

1941 (Dec 31) Censored cover from Neapolis to P.O.W. camp for Greek prisoners in Italy, carried at single airmail external rate with Itly "Imperiale" 25c (creased) and 50c (2), in combination with Aegean airmail 50c, tied by "Neapolis/Kritis" cds's (Astolfi fig. 1, p. 12), Italian and Agios Nikolaos transits on back, small arrival cds on face. A very scarce mixed franking, and in addition a rare cancellation. (Image)

1941-43 Civilian Mail: an outstanding collection mainly mounted on exhibition pages, comprising 27 cvoers/cards and three fragments, including numerous rare usages and duplication with Aegean frankings from Chandras, Tzermiadon (Astolfi p. R), Ierapetra (p. 13) also applied in red and blue, Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, a very rare usage of Italy "P.M." stamps tied by Ierapetra cds, mail from Neapolis to a Greek P.O.W., rare mail from crete to Athens via Brindisi, etc. Viewing recommended. (Image)

1941-43 Military Mail: an extraordinary collection mostly mounted on exhibition pages, comprising 33 items, including rare Aegean frankings tied by mute type or P.M. 550 Sez A, 121 & 121 Sez A cds's, registered mail, mute cancellation and "Franchigia Postale" combined, rare cachets of the Italian Navy also cancelling frankings,, "P.M. 550 E/Essente da Tassa..." markings (two types), Red Cross greek postcards used by Italians, "P.M." overprinted stamps, censorship in crete, rare documents as various money orders (one with Aegean stamp), parcels and a very rare telegram sent on the second day of invasion; (several usages in Marchese as p. 12, R or "="). Viewing recommended (Image)