Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I came across this cover today at the Northern Philatelic Library. I thought you'd be interested and could maybe help me to understand some of the postal history behind it. The cover seems to be from a censored letter sent from India during WWII. I didn't know that India as a country played an active role in WWII.
Love to hear your thoughts.
Regards ... Tim
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British India officially declared war on Nazi Germany in September 1939. India, as a part of the Allied Nations, sent over two and a half million soldiers to fight under British command against the Axis powers. India served as a key logistical base for Allied operations in Asia.
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Thanks Harry.
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I am pretty sure the addressee is better known as "Belle Mode", french for "Beautiful Fashion". My guess is that this is a letter from an upwardly mobile citizen of Karachi looking to acquire the lastest New York fashions. It looks like there is a partial business name in the bottom left corner of the envelope, so it is likely the owner or relative of the business making the request.
Nice censor tape and marking as well.
It looks like the letter was sent in 1944, after Pakistan already declared independence (in 1940). In a few short years (1947) Pakistan would gain that independence and become Islamized. I wonder what use such New York or French fashions had at that point.
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I think you might be surprised. Before the Salafi variety of islam became Saudi Arabia's main export product after oil, fashion was not considered heretic decadence in most of the islamic world and people dressed far more colourful and "modern".
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I knew Iran was far more liberal while they still had a shaw.
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in addition to the large number of troops employed, that Harry mentions, India was the staging area for resupply of Chinese forces fighting Japan. Allied Transport Command sent over something like 450,000 flights over the Burma (Himalayas) hump.
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My Uncle flew in bombers (RCAF) over Burma and ??? towards the end of WWII. Once shot down, and another time crashed (I wish I knew more details about how and where) and survived both times.
There were letters to and from him in both Karachi and Calcutta. I believe Calcutta was where he was hospitalized to recover from the crash, and Karachi was where his squadron was stationed.
Previous to India, his squadron operated throughout North Africa.
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Look up the Azad Hind movement under Subhas Chandra Bose. Basically, they detested the oppressive British rule so much that they thought the Nazis were a better option!
Mel Bohannon donated a set of these stamps to The Holocaust Stamps project.
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This is a little strange. I came across a second cover from Karachi, India to Bell Modes in New York. It was in my bag that I take to stamp club meetings, so this second cover came to me from a completely different source. But the interesting thing is that it included the original letter, which I have posted below.
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Hi Everyone,
I came across this cover today at the Northern Philatelic Library. I thought you'd be interested and could maybe help me to understand some of the postal history behind it. The cover seems to be from a censored letter sent from India during WWII. I didn't know that India as a country played an active role in WWII.
Love to hear your thoughts.
Regards ... Tim
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Login to Like.
re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
British India officially declared war on Nazi Germany in September 1939. India, as a part of the Allied Nations, sent over two and a half million soldiers to fight under British command against the Axis powers. India served as a key logistical base for Allied operations in Asia.
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re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
Thanks Harry.
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re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
I am pretty sure the addressee is better known as "Belle Mode", french for "Beautiful Fashion". My guess is that this is a letter from an upwardly mobile citizen of Karachi looking to acquire the lastest New York fashions. It looks like there is a partial business name in the bottom left corner of the envelope, so it is likely the owner or relative of the business making the request.
Nice censor tape and marking as well.
It looks like the letter was sent in 1944, after Pakistan already declared independence (in 1940). In a few short years (1947) Pakistan would gain that independence and become Islamized. I wonder what use such New York or French fashions had at that point.
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re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
I think you might be surprised. Before the Salafi variety of islam became Saudi Arabia's main export product after oil, fashion was not considered heretic decadence in most of the islamic world and people dressed far more colourful and "modern".
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re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
I knew Iran was far more liberal while they still had a shaw.
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re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
in addition to the large number of troops employed, that Harry mentions, India was the staging area for resupply of Chinese forces fighting Japan. Allied Transport Command sent over something like 450,000 flights over the Burma (Himalayas) hump.
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10:53:39pm
re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
My Uncle flew in bombers (RCAF) over Burma and ??? towards the end of WWII. Once shot down, and another time crashed (I wish I knew more details about how and where) and survived both times.
There were letters to and from him in both Karachi and Calcutta. I believe Calcutta was where he was hospitalized to recover from the crash, and Karachi was where his squadron was stationed.
Previous to India, his squadron operated throughout North Africa.
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06:24:38am
re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
Look up the Azad Hind movement under Subhas Chandra Bose. Basically, they detested the oppressive British rule so much that they thought the Nazis were a better option!
Mel Bohannon donated a set of these stamps to The Holocaust Stamps project.
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re: I came across this interesting cover at the Northern Philatelic Library today
This is a little strange. I came across a second cover from Karachi, India to Bell Modes in New York. It was in my bag that I take to stamp club meetings, so this second cover came to me from a completely different source. But the interesting thing is that it included the original letter, which I have posted below.
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