Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
David Tett’s Collection of Prisoner of War Mail in East Asia and Dutch East Indies
Auctioneer: Spink Location: 4/F and 5/F, Hua Fu Commercial Building, 111 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Contact: TTel: +852 3952 3000 Fax: +852 3952 3038
Date: 18th January 2015 Time: 10:00AM
Details: Please contact office for viewing details in London and Hong Kong
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Auction Lots - Page 1

Prisoner of War Mail

China

The first captives of the Japanese were the 204 North China Marines when they surrendered in December 1941. They were held under house arrest in their barracks until transferred to a POW Camp. There they were joined by 1,187 marines and civilian contractors captured on Wake Island. About 9,000 allied civilians in China, were systematically rounded up and interned in early 1943 in Civil Assembly Centres mostly in the Shanghai area

Prisoners of War - Shanghai - Incoming Mail

2001
Click to view full image... 1942 (12 June) stampless envelope to Chalas Loveland bearing Nampa machine postmark, U.S. censor seal at left, circular Red Cross Geneva handstamp in violet, a light strike of Shanghai Prison of War Camp handstamp in red with Endo seal, pencil notes on reverse indicate that the letter arrived in camp on 14th December 1942 and received on 21st December. Also undated International Red Cross envelope to the same addressee, from Idaho and bearing a fair strike of Shanghai Prisoner of War Camp handstamp with Matsui seal and 1943 (1 Apr.) envelope to Woosung Camp from Idaho with machine postmark, U.S. censor seal and the Camp handstamp in red with Matsui seal with a note on the reverse that the cover was received in camp on 23rd December 1943 and delivered on 4 April 1944. Tett figs. 4-7-2, 4, 8. (3 covers). Photo HK$2,000-2,500
2002
  1942 (7 July) envelope to Sgt. de Tallentire, formally of Wake Island bearing U.S. 6c. franking tied by Akron despatch duplex and sent air mail, with U.S. censor seal at left, a good strike of circular Red Cross, Geneva handstamp in red, a good strike of Shanghai Prisoner of War Camp handstamp in red with Endo seal. With the original letter which also bears the Japanese censor handstamp and seal. Fine. Tett fig. 4-7-3 HK$800-1,000
2003
  1943 (15 Nov.) stampless Prisoner of War envelope to John Castelton with Bay City, Texas machine cancellation, U.S. censor tape at left with circular censor handstamp, routed via Vienna with German "Ag" mark and a good strike of Shanghai Prisoner of War handstamp in red with Matsui seal. Also 1944 (11 May) envelope to Jon Thuesen with Mountain View, California machine postmark, U.S. censor tape at left and the Shanghai Camp handstamp again with Matsui seal. Tett figs. 4-7-9, 10. (2 covers) HK$1,500-2,000
Included with this lot is a copy of 1982 Ex CBI Roundup which includes the article by Paul Webb, Shot Down Over Hong Kong

Prisoners of War - Shanghai - Outgoing Mail

2004
Click to view full image... 1943 (1 Jan) first type envelope with "Shanghai War-prisoner's Camp.", from Naad Gustafson to his parents in Fort Bragg, California, bearing "Sec Des Prisonniers De Guerre" in red, unframed Prisoner of War Post handstamp in red and with Endo seal. With the original letter on the special stationery. Fine and interesting. Tett fig. 4-8-2, 3. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
2005
Click to view full image... 1943 (c.) first type printed envelope from R. Mackie to Coleraine, Minnesota bearing "Sec Des Prisonniers De Guerre" in red and with Endo seal and U.S. censor tape at left. Tett. fig. 4-8-1. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2006
Click to view full image... 1943 (c.) two first type printed envelopes from Barracks no.4 to U.S.A. from Elbert Mansur and John Pace, both indicate Japanese Field Post Office 106 bearing straight-line "Sec Des Prisonniers DE Guerre" (both with capital "E"), unframed Prisoner of War Post handstamp in red, both with Endo seal and with U.S. paper censor seal at left. One
with pencil date "6-2-42" which may be the sent date; one with vertical creases. Tett figs. 4-8-4, 5. (2 covers). Photo HK$2,500-3,000
2007
Click to view full image... 1943 (c.) second type "Shanghai War-prisoner's Camp." envelope from George Laubach to Omaha, Nebraska bearing straight-line "Sec Des Prisonniers De Guerre" in red, Shindo seal, U.S. censor tape and circular handstamp. Fresh and fine. Tett fig. 4-8-7. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
2008
Click to view full image... 1943 (c.) second type printed envelope from John Lange to his family in Los Angeles with straight-line "Sec Des Prisonniers De Guerre" in red, with Shindo seal, U.S. censor tape and circular handstamp; readdressed on arrival without further postage marks. Tett fig.
4-8-6. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2009
Click to view full image... 1943 (13 July) first type card with the outline letters "Shanghai War-prisoner's Camp", from John Pace to his parents in Arizona, with Endo seal and U.S. censor handstamp; creased. Tett fig. 4-8-8. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
2010
Click to view full image... 1944 (1 Dec.) second type card with solid lettering, from Chalas Loveland to his parents in Idaho, with Matsui seal; without U.S. censor as this probably arrived after the end of hostilities. Fine. Tett fig. 4-8-15. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
2011
  1945 (Jan.-Feb.) two type 2 cards to U.S.A., from Eugene DeTurck and Donald Smith, both with Matsui seal and without any U.S. censor as they arrived after the end of hostilities, the second card with manuscript "9-11-44". Good to very fine. Tett figs.
4-8-16, 17. (2 cards) HK$3,000-4,000

Civilian Internees - Incoming Mail

2012
Click to view full image... Pootung Camp: 1943 (?) (14 Jan.) envelope to G. Norris at Civilian Assembly Centre, Pootung bearing China $1.50 on 3c. pair tied by Shanghai c.d.s., sent by his wife, the envelope bears the large letters "CENSORED" in red, a postman's chop and manuscript "5", thought to be the designation of this camp. Fine. Tett fig. 4-7-15. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2013
Click to view full image... –– 1943 (?) (17 Jan.) envelope (flap missing) to J.E. Watson bearing China $1 on 8c. tied by Shanghai c.d.s. and bearing the large letters "CENSORED" in red with blue crayon annotation directing it to Room 5 Section B-19, Shanghai (18.1) backstamp. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2014
  –– 1943 (30 Apr.) stampless envelope to B.T. Cunningham bearing Morris Plains machine postmark, with U.S. censor seal at left and the large "CENSORED" in red and sent via the Red Cross in Geneva. Also 1944 (15 Dec.) prisoner of war air mail lettersheet bearing U.S. 6c. air stamp cancelled by New York c.d.s., bearing U.S. censor stamp;
this letter addressed to Pootung. Good covers from his girlfriend. Tett fig. 4-7-16, 17.
(2 covers) HK$2,200-2,500
2015
Click to view full image... Shanghai - Lincoln Avenue Camp: 1943 (31 Mar.) stampless Prisoner of War envelope to Miss R. Groves bearing Tunbridge Wells machine postmark with British censor seal at left; without further censor marks. Tett fig. 4-7-47. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
The Lincoln Avenue Camp was opened for those who were old, frail or ill. Miss Groves was an 80 year old missionary who was in Lincoln Avenue from June 1944
2016
  Shanghai - Lunghwa Camp: 1945 (3 Oct.) air mail envelope registered to John Sweet bearing U.S. 90c. franking cancelled by dumb ovals and sent c/o Liberated Personnel Section, San Francisco, much travelled and with an array of backstamps including Juneau (Alaska) despatch c.d.s., several U.S. Army Postal Service c.d.s., Chinese Shanghai c.d.s. (25.11). Unusual late mail. Tett fig. 4-12-37 HK$1,000-1,500
2017
Click to view full image... Yangchow Camp: 1943 (c.) stampless envelope to Mrs Alice Evans at Civil Assembly Centre no.10 (Yangchow B) bearing a good strike of International Red Cross/Shanghai oval in violet with handstamped number "0003546" in black, "X8" in blue crayon and pencil "C" (Yangchow C camp); without Japanese censor marks. Fine. Tett fig. 4-7-24. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
2018
Click to view full image... –– 1943 (20 Apr.) typewritten postcard to Mrs J. Evans bearing Sun Yat Sen 50c. tied by Amoy c.d.s., boxed Censored handstamp in red with unreadable square seal, and Amoy District Special Base Corps handstamp in violet, pencil "Yangchow 10", "C" and "X8" in blue crayon, the reverse with Shanghai transit c.d.s. Fine and unusual markings. Tett fig. 4-7-25. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
2019
Click to view full image... –– 1943 (12 May) envelope to Master Edward Evans bearing Sun Yat Sen 16c. tied by Shanghai c.d.s. and sent from Pootung Camp and with Kiangtu City, Kiangsu c.d.s. on the reverse, with "X8" in red ink and "'C' Camp" in pencil. Fine and good inter-camp mail. Tett fig. 4-7-26. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
2020
Click to view full image... –– 1943 (c.) stampless Prisoner of War envelope from Surrey to D.W. Laycock with British censor label at left, "X8" in blue crayon and with unidentified censor seal in red. This appears to have been delivered to Laycock's wife in Yangchow. Tett fig. 4-7-27. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
2021
Click to view full image... Yangchow Camp: 1945 (30 May) 1 1/2d. air mail Prisoner of War card to the Parrys in Yangchow camp, bearing Paddington slogan cancellation and with British censor "P.W.3299" handstamp in red. Without Japanese censor and would have been delivered after the end of hostilities. Fine. Tett fig. 4-7-30. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2022
  Non-Interred Aliens: 1943 (6 Oct.) newspaper wrapper to Albert Simoes, bearing Sun Yat Sen 10c. tied by Shanghai c.d.s. and addressed locally; also stampless Civilian Internee Mail envelope bearing Toronto machine postmark, two censor seals at left and Japanese Red Cross Tokyo handstamp and two pencil numbers. Tett figs. 4-7-14, 48. (2 items) HK$1,500-2,000
2023
Click to view full image... Undelivered: 1945 (16 June) 1 1/2d. air mail Prisoner of War card to W.G. Morcher in Shanghai, cancelled by Kilburn machine postmark, with British censor "P.W. 3665" handstamp in red and boxed "returned in undelivered mail/from territory formerly occupied/by japanese forces" in purple with large red crayon cross through the address. Fine. Tett fig. 4-7-37. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
2024
Click to view full image... Local Messages: 1944 (10 Feb.) To Civil Assembly Center lettersheet to Elsie Youngs in Lunghwa from a Danish friend in Shanghai bearing a light strike of the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai handstamp in blue and an indistinct Sano seal. Tett fig.
4-7-40. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
2025
Click to view full image... –– 1944 (12 July) "Communications" lettersheet to Mrs Youngs in Lunghwa Camp from a friend, bears a good strike of Lunghwa Enemy Civilian Assembly Centre handstamp in red, and unidentified seal at foot, pencil "28 July 1944" being the date of receipt. Also 1945 (10 Mar.) a similar lettersheet from the same correspondence bearing Haiphong Road censor handstamp in rose-red; minor age faults. Tett figs. 4-7-42, 4-8-18.
(2 letters). Photo HK$3,000-4,000
2026
  –– 1944 (19 July) Civil Assembly Center lettersheet to the Bermans in Chapei from a Latvian friend, with a fair strike of circular Chapei Enemy Civilian Assembly Centre handstamp in blue (10.8). Tett fig. 4-7-21 HK$1,800-2,200
2027
Click to view full image... Red Cross Lettersheet: 1944 (21 Nov.) printed lettersheet to John Riddell in Yangchow bearing faint British censor "P.W. 2816" in red, Red Cross Message Bureau 585 handstamp in rosine, Cairo Red Cross handstamp in blue with "13 DEC 1944" datestamp and circular "delegation cicr/ankara" in red and Yamamoto seal. Tett fig. 4-7-29. Photo HK$2,000-2,500

Civilian Internees - Outward Mail

2028
Click to view full image... Peking Religious Residence: 1942 (10 June) Red Cross lettersheet from Rev. Clement Schapker to Indiana, U.S.A. and bears a fine strike of oval "comite international/shanghai/croix rouge" in purple and circular Geneva Red Cross handstamp in red with date "17 SEPT 1942"; good. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2029
Click to view full image... Shanghai - Lincoln Avenue: 1944 (Aug.) envelope from Johanna van Herwijnen to her friend in Shanghai beaing 50c. on 5c. and $1 on 8c. tied by Shanghai c.d.s. and bears a good strike of small circular censored handstamp in red and manuscript note that this was received on 20th August. Fine and scarce mail from this camp. Tett fig. 4-8-41. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
2030
Click to view full image... Shanghai - Lunghwa: 1943 (11 Aug.) local Shanghai envelope addressed to Miss R. Groves, The Missionary Home, bearing Martyr 25c. tied by Shanghai c.d.s. with a superb strike of Lunghwa Enemy Civilian Assembly Centre censored handstamp in red and pencil date "Aug. 12.". Tett fig. 4-8-34. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
2031
Click to view full image... –– 1943 (12 Oct.) and 1944 (Feb.) two envelopes from the same correspondence from Johanna van Herwijnen to friends in Shanghai, the first with 25c. franking and the second with 50c. on 8c. tied by Shanghai c.d.s. and bearing fair to good strikes of Lunghwa Enemy Civilian Assembly Centre censor handstamp in red and with pencil dates of receipt. Letters numbers "6" and "10". Tett fig. 4-8-35, 41. Photo (2 covers) HK$3,500-4,000
2032
Click to view full image... Shanghai - Lunghwa: 1943 (9 Dec.) envelope and "Communications" lettersheet from Elizabeth Porter to Marcel Annett in Stanley Camp in Hong Kong, the envelope bearing Sun Yat Sen New York print 25c. (4) tied by Shanghai (7.1.44) c.d.s. and circular Lunghwa censor handstamp in red plus Hong Kong Governor General's Department censor handstamp with Takamatsu seal. The lettersheet also bears the Lunghwa censor handstamp and with the reply written on the front, dated "25/3/44". Fine and a rare complete message to Hong Kong. Tett fig. 4-8-36, 37. Photo HK$3,000-4,000
2033
Click to view full image... –– 1944 (6 June) Red Cross lettersheet from Ian Thornley to Blackpool bearing a good strike of the Lunghwa circular censor handstamp, Red Cross Ankara handstamp (15.12), Geneva Red Cross handstamp (2.1) and British censor "P.W. 6780"; fine. Tett fig.
4-8-39. Photo HK$1,200-1,800
For 1943 cover from W.C. Bond to Stanley Camp, Hong Kong, see lot 2091 and for an envelope sent from Pootung Camp to Yangshow, see lot 2019
2034
Click to view full image... Weihsien: 1944 (4 Feb.) envelope from Alice Cameron to a German friend in Tientsin bearing a good strike of boxed Weihsien Enemy Civilian Assembly Centre censored handstamp in violet with Tsukikawa seal, the reverse with pairs of 4c. on 8c. and 5c.
on 10c. tied by the despatch c.d.s. and indistinct Tientsin roller postmark. Fine. Tett fig. 4-8-27. Photo HK$1,800-2,200
2035
Click to view full image... –– 1944 (25 Nov.) envelope from John Anderson to his wife in Tientsin bearing 50c. tied by a very neat strike of the despatch c.d.s. and showing a fine strike of the Weihsien Civilian Assembly Centre censor handstamp in purple with Tsukikawa seal, Tientsin roller cancellation on the reverse (6.12). Fine. Tett fig. 4-8-28. Photo HK$2,500-3,000
For 1944 (24 Apr.) card from Stanley Internment Camp, please see lot 2133
2036
Click to view full image... –– 1945 (6 Feb.) envelope from Elinor Clarke to a German friend in Tientsin bearing 50c. tied by the despatch c.d.s. and showing a good strike of the boxed Weihsien Civilian Assembly Centre censor handstamp with Tsukikawa seal and, on the reverse, Tientsin roller cancellation (24.2). Tett fig. 4-8-32. Photo HK$2,500-3,000
2037
Click to view full image... Yangchow: 1945 (6 July) envelope from A. McGregor to a friend in Shanghai bearing pair of $200 on $5 Anniversary stamps tied by dotted c.d.s. and showing a good strike of Yangchow Civilian Assembly Centre censor handstamp in orange with Hashizume seal. Fine. Tett fig. 4-8-25. Photo HK$2,000-2,500

Liberated Internees - Outward Mail

2038
Click to view full image... 1945 (5 Sept.) envelope from Ernest Jones still in Lincoln Avenue Camp, to Bath by "Internee Mail" and with a fine strike of the boxed "Internee/mail free/of postage/Shanghai P.O." in purple with "A/2" in hexagon (an Indian mark applied in Calcutta) and, on the reverse, Shanghai c.d.s. A good cover. Tett fig. 4-12-4. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
The relieving American forces introduced a handstamp to indicate that the mail was from an internee and therefore free from postage
2039
Click to view full image... 1945 (17 Sept.) envelope addressed to J Palin-Jones, c/o Yangtsepo Camp bearing a good strike of boxed "Internee mail free/of postage/Shanghai P.O." handstamp in purple and with Shanghai c.d.s.; vertical folding crease. Tett fig. 4-12-6. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2040
Click to view full image... 1945 (24 Sept.) envelope from Stefanie Goldstein sent air mail to the Admiralty in London bearing a good strike of the boxed "Internee mail free/of postage/Shanghai P.O." handstamp in mauve, overstruck by "u.s. army postal service/a.p.o." duplex. Good. Tett fig. 1-12-5. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
2041
Click to view full image... 1945 (Oct. 31) envelope to Chicago bearing a good strike of the boxed "Internee mail free/of postage/Shanghai P.O." handstamp in violet overstruck by a fine strike of "u.s. army postal service/a.p.o." duplex. Fresh and fine. The late usage and address suggests that this was probably sent by a member of the U.S. liberating forces. Tett fig. 4-12-7. Photo HK$1,000-1,500

Repatriated Mail

2042
12,000 POWs, British, Indian and Canadian, and 2,500 civilians were captured when Hong Kong fell on Christmas Day 1941. Many of the POWs were shipped to Japan to work in the factories, shipyards and mines. Hundreds died en route when their ships were attacked by allied submarines and bombers. The civilians were housed in Stanley camp on the island
Click to view full image... 1942 (16 Sept.) envelope from New York bearing 5c. franking tied by Arcade duplex addressed to "Brayton Meyer, American Repatriate Returning from China By M.S. Gripsholm, Lorenco Marque, Portuguese East Africa" and with "Postmaster N.Y. City. Please despatch by M.S. Gripsholm", with U.S. censor seal at left. Although mailed a year earlier, this letter was probably carried on the second exchange. A desirable cover addressed via the 'Gripsholm'. Photo HK$2,500-3,000
Brayton Meyer was an executive of the Standard Vacuum Oil Company and was originally interned in Pootung. He was repatriated during the second exchange in September 1943

Hong Kong

Detained Mail

2043
Click to view full image... 1941 (3 Dec.) commercial envelope to New York bearing pair of 15c. tied by Victoria Hong Kong c.d.s., bearing strikes of the boxed "no service" in purple, "retour" in black, "not opened/by/censor" and a fine strike of "detained in hongkong/by japanese/from december 1941 to september 1945". A fine cover. Photo HK$8,000-10,000
Seven mailbags of outbound mail missed the last mails from Hong Kong on 5th December

Incoming P.O.W. Mail

2044
Click to view full image... From Australia: 1942 (27 Oct.) opened-out printed Australian Red Cross Prisoners of War Post envelope to Sidney Fowler, a member of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps with Australian censor seal and handstamps "398"; redirected to Osaka and bearing the characters of Narumi camp in blue. Tett fig. 4-2-10. Ex Richard Chan. Photo HK$2,000-2,500
Sidney Fowler was transferred to Japan on the 'Toyama Maru' and probably received this letter in 1944
2045
Click to view full image... –– 1944 (23 July) envelope bearing Australia 5d. tied by Horsham c.d.s. to Private Frederick Marsh of Hong Kong Dockland Volunteer Defence Corps at Sakurajima Camp in Osaka P.O.W. Camp, with Australian censor seal and "326" handstamp at left, air mail etiquette plus a fine strike of the camp censor handstamp with Nakanishi seal plus the two characters of Sakurajima, pencil "17.2.45" being the delivery date. Tett fig. 4-2-36. Photo HK$1,500-2,000
Sakurajima was Osaka 4-D, the men were used in shipbuilding, etc., and was later transferred to Akenobe (Osaka 6-B)
2046
Click to view full image... From Canada: 1942 (27 Apr.) stampless envelope from Canada bearing "postage free/prisoner of war mail/c/o Japanese Red Cross/tokyo" handstamp in purple with a fine strike of Hamilton despatch c.d.s.; addressed to Donald Geraghty of the Royal Rifles of Canada. Canadian censor seal at left and a good strike of Hong Kong Furyo Shuosho (Prisoner of War) handstamp in blue with large Niimori censor seal and bearing "6444 S" in red crayon (the prisoner's number and Camp S). Good to fine and scarce early Canadian mail, carried on the first exchange ships. Tett fig. 4-2-2. Photo HK$2,500-3,000
Although these Canadian covers were dated April and May 1942, they were held until July 1942 until an accord had been agreed with Japan for mail to be delivered through the International Red Cross
2047
Click to view full image... –– 1942 (12 May) envelope bearing Canada 3c. tied by Winnipeg slogan cancellation and bearing a good strike of "postage free/prisoner of war mail/c/o Japanese Red Cross/tokyo" in purple with the Canadian censor label at left. A good strike of Hong Kong Furyo Shuyosho in blue with small Niimori seal in red. Addressed to A.W. Mactier of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and with "4951/S" indicating that this P.O.W. was being held at Shamshuipo, Fine. Tett fig. 4-2-5. Photo HK$2,500-3,000
2048
Click to view full image... From Canada: 1942 (27 July) stampless envelope to William Irwin of the Winnipeg Grenadiers, marked "Prisoner of War Post" and "Postage Free" with Edmonton slogan cancellation, Canadian censor seal at left, a good strike of boxed Tokyo Prisoner of War handstamp in carmine and marked "3D" in red crayon for Camp 3D; some soiling. Tett fig. 4-2-13. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
2049
Click to view full image... –– 1942 (24 Aug.) stampless envelope to L. Speller of the Canadian Corps of Signals from his mother bearing Victoria slogan cancellation and Canadian censor seal at left, with pencil "Camp 3(D)" (Tsurumi near Yokohama) and unboxed Tokyo Prisoner of War handstamp in red. Tett fig. 4-2-12. Photo HK$1,200-1,500
For a 1943 envelope addressed to H camp in Hong Kong, see lot 2347
2050
Click to view full image... From China: 1943 (16 Jan.) envelope from Shanghai bearing Sun Yat Sen 2c. and 30c. (a further 20c. stamp fell off in transit) and sent by air mail to G.S.O. Mayne in Camp N, bearing an indistinct Canton transit datestamp and with boxed censored handstamp in rose with small Niimori seal. Good to fine. Tett fig. 4-2-21. Photo HK$2,200-2,500
Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
David Tett’s Collection of Prisoner of War Mail in East Asia and Dutch East Indies
Auctioneer: Spink Location: 4/F and 5/F, Hua Fu Commercial Building, 111 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Contact: TTel: +852 3952 3000 Fax: +852 3952 3038
Date: 18th January 2015 Time: 10:00AM
Details: Please contact office for viewing details in London and Hong Kong
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