Prexie Clipper AIRMAIL Piece used to ship ORCHIDS 1945 #831 #E17 Exciting Find!

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

C46

Stamp Type

Special Delivery

Condition

Cover (Postal History)

Centering

F/VF

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

Flowers & Trees

Year of Issue

1945

Item Description

RARE 1945 AIRMAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY piece from box used to ship ORCHIDS to mainland: 10c Prexie & 50c Prexie, 13c Special Delivery issue (#815, 831, E17), tied to roughly 6" x 9.5" cardboard piece from shipping box (complete franking) by APO 953 Nov 16 1945 cancel, with Rare label stating Clipper Air Mail (Special delivery), addr Portland OR, prexie stamps pay air rate (noted as 60 on the piece),
slightly uneven and tape stains or remnants in five places, was sent by a Lt. stationed in Hawaii to a woman (wife, sister?) in Portland, handstamped "Inspected and Released US Department of Agriculture / Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine / Inspector No. 35", partly on tape, Fine-VF- and a very scarce
item! 

Special arrangements were often made for shipments of Orchids. I can remember in the 1970s boxes from Hawaii marked Orchids at my local florist shop covered with meter stamps in very high denominations. And, of course The USPOD experimented with a special stamp for this purpose (#C46). But the special label and usage on this item are most unusual. 

Nothing on the reverse. But there is a Nov 18 Portland receiving mark that shows this was a fast service. 

Obviously Special Delivery was 13 cents, but it is a bit of a mystery as to what rate was charged for airmail. Since it was mailed at the APO, it could be ten times the 6c airmail rate. But Clipper from Hawaii was 15c per half ounce at the time and four times 15 also comes to 60 cents. Personally, I think it is ten times APO rate. That would be about five ounces, which would be right for a corsage or something of that nature. 

Please see my other auctions! 

4220

Seller Information

Seller

OddityMan (3110)

Registered Since

12/16/2008

Feedback

100%

Store

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• Sales

Item Location

Pennsylvania, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

14 days. Email first, please.