Group of 80 Mostly Prisoner of War Covers and Cards, a Number with Japanese Censor Chops and Handstamps, 1942-1946, most of which are addressed to Lieutenant Walter Gilray Anderson (later Captain) of the Indian Army Medical Service. Starts with 2 letters to Bombay India, re-directed to Singapore and a registered letter to Dhar India, with a manuscript "P.O.W.". There are also 49 covers to Lt. Anderson as a prisoner of war, mostly sent to the Japanese Red Cross in Tokyo, but note 10 which were sent to Camp No. 2 in Thailand, which was one of the camps for P.O.W.s building the Thailand-Burma railway, also known as the "Death Railway". There are then 20 covers sent after he was released, and mostly marked recovered or ex P.O.W. mail. Also includes 8 non-Anderson items: a Japanese P.O.W. card to England, 3 P.O.W. covers from camps in India, with 2 to Italy plus three 1942 military covers to the U.K. and an internal India cover. This lot is accompanied by a book about Lt. / Capt. Anderson titled "Canadian Missionary P.O.W. on the Death Railway" by Ann Louise Smith, as well as a few contemporary ephemera items related to the story. Considering the type of covers, the group is very fine and rare, with loads of postmarks not checked by us. From the Anderson family correspondence (see other lots in this sale relating to the same person, Lt. Walter Anderson). (Image)

Estimate $ 3,000

China 1942 Cover to Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong, despatched from Shanghai, 29 Sept? 1942. Franked with two vertical pairs of China 1940 8c olive green Sun Yat-sen, Dah Teng printing, type III, secret mark, p14, Dah in button, no wmk (Scott 383, SG 492), mailed to Leon Weill, Camp “S” (Shamshuipo Camp). Japanese Ken’etsuzumi (censored) handstamp in carmine with small Hasegawa seal. Indistinguishable pencil marks at left. Circled “48” in pencil possibly prisoner or barrack number. Hong Kong occupation arrival c.d.s. on reverse “17-10-22” (17th year of Hirohito, October 22, 1942), believed applied at Kowloon postal station. Some minor creases plus a light stain on front, otherwise very fine and scarce, a new find therefore first time on the market.

Leon Weill, a French national, was born in Hong Kong. Prior to the war he worked as a stock broker. He served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and was thus sent as a POW to Shamshuipo Camp (French nationals were not otherwise interred). He died in the camp, 27 April 1944.

Est $ 300

China 1942 Airmail Cover to a Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong, despatched from Shanghai, 24 Dec 1942, franked with 1) Japanese Occupation of Nanking and Shanghai, 1941, 20s on $1 apple green airmail, secret mark, p12.5 (Scott 9NC3 on China C28 or C38 depending on whether watermarked; SG 3 on China 552 or SG 4 on China 562, ditto). 2) China, 1941, 30c Scarlet Sun Yat-sen (Scott 458, SG 592). 3) China, 1940, 2c olive green Sun Yat-sen, Chung Wha printing, type III, re-engraved, p12.5, no wmk (Scott 368, SG 463), sent to Leon Weill, Camp “S” (Shamshuipo Camp) with air mail label. Canton transit strikes on front. Japanese Ken’etsuzumi (censored) handstamp in carmine with Numori seal. Cachet “Arden Ashore and Afloat.”. Some minor creasing and opening faults on backflap, otherwise very fine and scarce, a new find therefore first time on the market.

Leon Weill, a French national, was born in Hong Kong. Prior to the war he worked as a stock broker. He served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and was thus sent as a POW to Shamshuipo Camp (French nationals were not otherwise interred). He died in the camp, 27 April 1944.

Est $ 300

China 1942 Airmail Cover to a Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong, despatched from Shanghai, ? Oct 1942, by air. Franked with 1) China, 1940, ½c olive black Martyr (Scott 402 or 421 depending on whether watermarked; SG 507 or 526, ditto), 2) China, 1940, 30c brown carmine Martyr (Scott 418 or 437 depending on whether watermarked; SG 523 or 542, ditto), 3) Japanese Occupation of Nanking and Shanghai, 1941, 20s on $1 apple green airmail, secret mark, p12.5 (Scott 9NC3 on China C28 or C38 depending on whether watermarked; SG 3 on China 552 or SG4 on China 562, ditto). Missing stamp (likely 1½c), mailed to Leon Weill, Camp “S” (Shamshuipo Camp) with airmail label attached. Interesting Canton transit strikes on front and notably on reverse where they appear doubled. Japanese Ken’etsuzumi (censored) handstamp in carmine with small Hasegawa seal. Hong Kong occupation arrival c.d.s. on reverse “17-10-9” (17th year of Hirohito, October 9, 1942), believed applied at Kowloon postal station. Some minor creasing, otherwise very fine and scarce, a new find therefore first time on the market.

Leon Weill, a French national, was born in Hong Kong. Prior to the war he worked as a stock broker. He served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and was thus sent as a POW to Shamshuipo Camp (French nationals were not otherwise interred). He died in the camp, 27 April 1944.

Est $ 300

Collection of 260 World War I Picture Postcards, with Most Mailed at Military Field Post Offices, all stored in an old time postcard album, many showing German soldiers or attractive young ladies, or both, often with 2 or 3 of views of the same photograph, but in slightly different poses and with different printed messages. A very hard to duplicate collection, and considering most were mailed the overall condition is better than average. See our many pictures online for examples of this lovely collection. (Image)

Est $ 1,000

Macau 1942 Registered Cover to a Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong, mailed from Macau, with hexagonal despatch strike with indistinct date tying three Macau adhesives, 1934 12a blue (Scott 278, SG348). Total 36a registered rate to Hong Kong with Macau registration label (normal letter rate was 20a), mailed to Jan Solecki, Camp “S” (Shamshuipo Camp). Well-struck Japanese Ken’etsuzumi (censored) handstamp in carmine with faint (probably small Hasegawa) seal. Hong Kong occupation arrival c.d.s. on reverse “17-7-16” (17th year of Hirohito, July 16, 1942), believed applied at Kowloon postal station. Cover has three vertical folds, one through the far left stamp, still a very scarce item, and first time on the market as it is a new find.

Jan Solecki, a Polish national, was born in Mongolia and raised in Harbin where his father had been sent to work on the Russian railway concession. Sent to study in Hong Kong, at the outbreak of the war he joined the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and served in the artillery. He was interred as a POW at Shamshuipo Camp and later in Japan. He survived the war, emigrating first to the UK and later to Canada where he taught Russian at the University of British Columbia. He died in 2011.

Est $ 500

Macau 1942 Registered Cover to a Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong, mailed from Macau, hexagonal despatch strike dated 19 Aug? 1942, franked with (on reverse) two Macau 1934 3a Violet (Scott 271, SG 341) plus 30a apple green (Scott 282, SG 352). Total 36a registered rate to Hong Kong with Macau registration label (normal letter rate was 20a), mailed to Jan Solecki, Camp “S” (Shamshuipo Camp). Excellent rendition of Japanese Ken’etsuzumi (censored) handstamp in carmine with small Hasegawa seal. Marked “D” in coloured pencil crossed out to “A” in pencil, possible barrack or camp area identification. Hong Kong occupation arrival c.d.s. on reverse “17-8-22” (17th year of Hirohito, August 22, 1942), believed applied at Kowloon postal station. Minor stains and creases, still very fine and very scarce, first time on the market as it is a new find.

Jan Solecki, a Polish national, was born in Mongolia and raised in Harbin where his father had been sent to work on the Russian railway concession. Sent to study in Hong Kong, at the outbreak of the war he joined the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and served in the artillery. He was interred as a POW at Shamshuipo Camp and later in Japan. He survived the war, emigrating first to the UK and later to Canada where he taught Russian at the University of British Columbia. He died in 2011.

Est $ 500

Worldwide Group of 181 Military World War I Covers and Cards, includes 125 envelopes, 12 honour envelopes, 8 field service cards and 36 postcards. Note picture post cards, cigarette cards, registered mail and more, most mailed to the U.K., but note mail to Canada, Australia and South Africa. Many have censor markings and most with APO or FPO c.d.s. cancels, but also noted base army P.O. cancel from Salonica. Some items described by owner. Saw a few fronts, else typical condition for WWI material. (Image)

Est $ 150