Page 8 - Jamaica, Censorship - Paul Farrimond

JAMAICA POSTAL CENSORSHIP

Terminal Censorship: Handstamps

Handstamps for individual Examiners were not introduced until April 1940; however a 4-line marking
to "pass" items of mail is known used from October 1939. A total of seven such handstamps were

eventually introduced, numbered 1 to 7, but initially only the handstamp N°.1 was used.

1939 (6th October)
Airmail Cover from Kingston to Caracas, Venezuela

Mailed on 6th October 1939 in Kingston, and franked to a total of 11%d to pay the airmail rate to
Venezuela, this letter passed through the hands of the Jamaican Censorship Service, and may or

may not have been opened- the envelope is trimmed at the right side.

~

BY AIR MAIL

Sefi.or „ berto Re:ma,
Apa.rtado 287,
Caracas,
VENEZffG'J.,.I\.

lf undelivered please return to
IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED,

P.O. Box No. 2,
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, B.W.I.

Ex. Sutcliffe collect1on

The front bears a clear strike of the newly-introduced censor handstamp (Type JCH1) in blue ink,
this being the earliest recorded example.

lt is likely that this handstamp was used by the Chief Postal Censor or another senior member of
staff in the service, as the wording suggests that it was intended to "pass" mail that did not require

censorship.

The reverse of the cover bears an indistinct Venezuelan machine cancellation of 9th October.