Several factors conspired to leave both colonies in a precarious situation; not only were their defenses

German Prisoner from the Cameroon campaign.

weak, but they were surrounded on all sides by colonies of Germany’s enemies – the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium.

Kamerun, in particular, was defended by only 1,000 German soldiers, bolstered by a few thousand native Schutztruppe. Though an initial British attack from Nigeria was repelled, a combined Belgian/French incursion from the Congo in the south was more successful, eventually leading to the fall of the capital, Douala, in September 1914. A defeat of the garrison in Garoua followed in June 1915, while the last significant holdout, the city of Yaounde, was conquered shortly thereafter, when the remaining German troops retreated into neutral Spanish Guinea.

Brigadier-General F.J. Moberly recounts these events in his Military Operations: Togoland and the Cameroons. He writes:

“On the 17th of February, at the request of the Govenor-General of Fernando Po, General Dobell forwarded a telegraphic message from Ebermaier to the German Government, reporting that lack of munitions had obliged him to abandon the Cameroons and take refuse in the Spanish territory with the entire German force, including all his sick and wounded…the German numbers which passed the frontier…totaled about 945 Germans, of whom some 400 were non-combatants, and 14,000 natives.”

These troops were interred by the Spanish, and were moved throughout the following years

Price: $250

to prisoner camps in Spain. The card offered here is from just such a soldier.

An attractive picture postcard depicting the Entrance to the Audience Chamer inZARAGOZA, to OSNABRUCH from a German Prisoner of War from the Cameroons shipped to Spain, showing SPAINISH RED CROSS “croix rouge espagnole/correspondance des/prisonniers de guerre/franc de port” and “oficinas de la cruz roja/paseo del ebro, 85/zaragoza” hands tamps in red, as well as “Internation

ales Friedensbureau” handstamp in violet. Also bears French oval censor cachet and clear Berne transit cds.

A scarce card, ex-”Wilkin”

Price: $250

Pan Am’s service, however, was not immune to the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour as the cover shown here exemplifies.

Rated $1.50 and tied by PENANG 2.DE.41 cds, this cover was to be sent by airmail to Montreal, Canada (as per typed notation at the left). It was not posted early enough to be carried on the Pan-Am Clipper flight of November 29, and no further flight took place before service was suspended on December 7, 1941. It appears the alternative route was to send the letter trans-pacific by sea, as it has a SAN FRANCISCO RESEALING TAPE at left over the brown MAYALA censorship tape (and violet CENSOR 6 handstamp). From San Francisco it traveled to its destination, where it received three MONTREAL STATION H arrival backstamps.

A clean, sound, and scarce cover. Available on eBay here.

I had the privilege of viewing this collection when it was exhibited at the London 2010 Festival of Stamps. Anyone who has had the opportunity to browse through its pages at any of the number of occasions at which it won International awards can attest to the pleasure of seeing such superb material.

That Mr. Cantor was able to assemble such a memorable and important collection is a credit to him and his diligent efforts over several decades. His accomplishment will be a challenging act for other Canadian collectors to follow.

The Spahis were light cavalry regiments of the French army, composed principally of native Algerians. They were active in the French rule of Algeria, the early days during which this cover was sent.  Guillaume Stanislas Marey-Monge (1796-1863) – the likely “Monsieur Marey” to whom this letter is addressed – was a significant figure in the French conquest of Algeria. A senior military commander during the 1830s, he was named Officier de la Legion d’Honneur in 1835, and was appointed to the rank of Colonel in 1837. Though he returned to France shortly thereafter, he found himself once again in Algeria in 1841 to take command of the 2e Regiment de Chasseurs d’Afrique in the Second Algerian Campaign. A nice clean cover to an influential figure in French colonial history.

Price: SOLD

Stampless folded letter, without contents, rated with 11 script notation. Postmarked with CHANTILLY cds, addressed to MONSIEUR MAREY the COLONEL OF THE SPAHIS REGULARS (Colonel des Spahis Reguliers) in ALGER, with clear ALGER / POST / F AFR cds arrival backstamp.

SOLD

There have been exceptional realizations at the latest sale of Sparks Auctions – the Canada & BNA results alone saw 39 items exceed the Unitrade catalue value. There’s still one day left to bid – lots & collections begin tomorrow at 1pm EST. Visit www.sparks-auctions.com to submit your bids, or do so live during the sale via the Stamp Auction Network.

Good luck with your bids!

Both auctions end in just under six hours – it’s not too late to bid!

View both these covers here and here.

Bid early and bid often!

Next – ROYAL 2011 in Dorval, Quebec, from May 13-15. BNAPEX 2011 will follow in North Bay, from September 2-4. Visit their website here. Happy collecting!

Just one of our latest eBay listings...

Over 100 new auctions are now live on eBay!  From Canadian militia camps to unusual WWI Prisoner of War mail, illustrated Australian letter cards to German colonial real photos, you’re sure to find something of interest.

Browse all of our eBay Listings here. Happy collecting!

Price: SOLD

One type is recorded having been used in Durban: it is a two-lined boxed marking “Stopped by Censor, Return to Sender.” A second, recorded as used later in the War (1901), is a rubber “Communication Suspended” handstamp with an accompanying “Undeliverable at” marking, followed by “a manuscript word, as well as the returned letter-postmarks of Bloemfontein and Natal.” (Rich, Philately of the Anglo-Boer War).

Shown here is the most well-known of the handstamps, though nevertheless an uncommon strike.

The cover is franked with a 1p QV definitive, cancelled with a DURBAN 30 OC 99 cds, addressed to HEIDELBERG, Transvaal. It bears the violet boxed MAIL SERVICE SUSPENDED handstamp, with a RETURNED LETTER OFFICE 16/11/99 cds. There is a small adhesion at left, but it is otherwise sound.

An attractive and scarce Boer War item.

PRICE: SOLD

Over 200 items are now available, with nearly another 100 added weekly.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us with your interests – we’re constantly on the lookout for new pieces for our clients worldwide. Happy collecting!