Detained Cover to Australia postmarked 'VICTORIA/6 DEC/41' with boxed 'RETOUR' marking indicating the HK PO tried to reroute the item after hostilities commenced but there being no available route the boxed 'NO SERVICE' marking was applied. The item was returned to the sender but as businesses had closed due to war the boxed 'SHOP CLOSED' in Chinese was applied. The Japanese chose to detain covers franked with stamps of enemy countries in Hong Kong and after their surrender in 1945 several bags were found. The boxed 'DETAINED IN HONG KONG BY JAPANESE FROM DECEMBER1941 TO SEPTEMBER 1945' handstamp was applied and the mail sent to its original addressee. Purple ink was used on westbound detained mail and black ink on eastbound detained mail. A rare survivor particularly bound for Australia. (Image1)

Estimate AU$500