Sale 42 continues today with Worldwide Postal History.
Lot 1448 China 1942 Cover to Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong, despatched from Shanghai, 29 Sept? 1942. Franked with two vertical pairs of China 1940 8c olive green Sun Yat-sen, Dah Teng printing, type III, secret mark, p14, Dah in button, no wmk (Scott 383, SG 492), mailed to Leon Weill, Camp “S” (Shamshuipo Camp). Japanese Ken’etsuzumi (censored) handstamp in carmine with small Hasegawa seal. Indistinguishable pencil marks at left. Circled “48” in pencil possibly prisoner or barrack number. Hong Kong occupation arrival c.d.s. on reverse “17-10-22” (17th year of Hirohito, October 22, 1942), believed applied at Kowloon postal station. Some minor creases plus a light stain on front, otherwise very fine and scarce, a new find therefore first time on the market. Estimate C$300.
Leon Weill, a French national, was born in Hong Kong. Prior to the war he worked as a stock broker. He served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and was thus sent as a POW to Shamshuipo Camp (French nationals were not otherwise interred). He died in the camp, 27 April 1944.