BermudaSailor

04 Apr 2017
09:47:59am

Here’s a recent acquisition, courtesy of my wife, who gave me this postcard in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of WW I. As you can see from the scan the face of the card features General Charles Mangin, the French general known affectionately as the :Butcher”

What’s more interesting, at least to me, is the address and message side of the card. Unfortunately it is not dated, but there is a more or less clear censor’s mark. It is stampless and in lieu of a stamp is inscribed “soldiers mail”. It is addressed to Lt. George Potts of Asbury Park, N.J., sent no doubt by one of Lt. Pott’s former colleagues.

It reads: Dear Leuit - How does home look now still at Bordeaux expect to get back some day. You can drop a card if your hand is fit. (Signed) R. McGrail Box 208 APO 705.

A bit of investigation turned up the History of Monmouth County New Jersey 1660 – 1920. From that source I learned that Lt. Potts was wounded in France, won the Silver Star and was a practicing physician.

The reference can be found here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=Nz8VAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA232&lpg=PA232&dq=George+Potts+Asbury+Park,+NJ&source=bl&ots=icvGQ4z-GY&sig=PfcHy3jCJ4pHleKwXNFZAxSfY60&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjO24Tx7orTAhUl2oMKHUU5DhoQ6AEIIDAD#v=onepage&q=George%20Potts%20Asbury%20Park%2C%20NJ&f=false

The one inconsistency is the statement in the above reference that Doctor Potts did not return to New Jersey until 1920. I suppose that there could have been two different George Potts fighting in France at the time, however unlikely.

I have been unable to learn anything of the sender, Mr. McGrail.

Lt. Pott’s Silver Star citation is here: http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=33525

As the postcard is undated and there is no cancellation and the censors mark lacks a date it is difficult to ascertain when it was written or received. Any insights about the censor mark design, and when and where is was used would be appreciated.

 
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Ningpo

04 Apr 2017
10:29:29am

re: World War I Soldier's Mail

The first two lots on this auction site show the censor marking more clearly. Unfortunately, the images will not enlarge adequately:

Kelleher Auctions

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re: World War I Soldier's Mail

There is a lengthy and fascinating article on World War I philately in this month's American Philatelist. There are several illustrations of that censor stamp so it seems of fairly wide use, and according to the article APO 705 would be a fairly early office, and the 800's and 900's came during 1918-1919.

I'm definitely no expert in this field, but if you have access to the article it is a good read with plenty of references at the end.

Geoff

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re: World War I Soldier's Mail

As my Aviation Pioneers collection of postally used picture postcards matures, I've been looking around the edges of that collecting focus. Just acquired this beauty:

Under magnification, I can see that caption at the bottom of the photo is a transcription of the placard hanging on the front of the SPAD VII. You can make out the lettering "VIEUX CHARLES" on the side of the aircraft. The plane is preserved at Musee de l'Air:
.
The stork badge of unity on the side of the plane is the emblem of Escadrille No.3, Cigognes (Stork), a unit that Guynemer commanded.

This postcard is a memorial to Georges Guynemer, France's second highest scoring (and most beloved) ace in WWI, with 54 kills. He was killed on September 11, 1917, in combat, in a SPAD XIII northeast of Ypres, Belgium, in "Flanders fields". (Guynemer was influential in the design of the SPAD XIII.) As you can see, the card was mailed on November 12, 1917. The sender was "Louis", and the addressee is "Ida", of Eyguieres, in the Rhone region of southern France. The message of the card is difficult to decipher (any help appreciated), but apparently ends in wishes for "la famille".

I'm interested in the postmark, wondering if it was posted (apparently by unmarked Free mail) from near Ypres. I can make out "TRE" easily, and it looks like the fourth character in the town name is probably "G". The only possible hit I have so far is Tregra, a small village just west of Ghent, about 32 km northeast of Ypres, as the crow flies. Can anyone associate the postal code in the postmark, "196" with a particular location?

For me, this item hits a number of highpoints of collectability:
- There was a probable meaning in sending it - honoring the event depicted on the card.
- It was sent in the contemporary time period of the event depicted.
- It's probably soldier's mail, honoring a fellow soldier.
- It seems to have been posted from very near the area where the event occurred (implying that the sender was touched by the event).
- The image is a nice close-up, showing great detail

There is a fascinating and very detailed account of Guynemer's military career, here:
Guynemer

-Paul

 
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