ID: 33698330
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Japan 1950 Airmail Cover to APL Ship Captain in San Francisco, Scott C11x2 & 477
$32.50
Seller:
abctoo (12)
1950 Airmail Cover from Otama, Japan to San Francisco to Captain of American President Line's Steamship "President Pierce," then forwarded. The cover is franked with Japanese Stamps (Scott #s 477 & C11 (x2)) totaling 144 Yen Postage. Scarce 1950 Airmail ... Read More
Item Specifics
- Country
- Japan
- Catalog Number
- C11x2
- Stamp Type
- Air Mail
- Condition
- Cover (Postal History)
- Stamp Format
- Multiple
- Year of Issue
- 1950
Item Description
1950 Airmail Cover from Otama, Japan to San Francisco to Captain of American President Line's Steamship "President Pierce," then forwarded. The cover is franked with Japanese Stamps (Scott #s 477 & C11 (x2)) totaling 144 Yen Postage.Scarce 1950 Airmail Cover from Japan to Ship Captain in San Francisco. The Yuasa Company (TYC) of Otaru, Japan addressed the front of its pre-printed airmail envelope to Capt. F.P. Willarts, c/o American President Lines, San Francisco, California; stamped in black “AIR MAIL / PAR AVION” in a rectangular box; and affixed 144 Yen airmail postage (a 1949 24.00 Yen UPU 75th Anniversary commemorative stamp (Scott 477) and two 59.00 Yen airmail stamps (Scott #C11)). Additional processing and forwarding discussed below.
On the back of the envelope, Yuasa rubber-stamped its company seal [“YUASA LUMBER INDUSTRIES CO. LTD. / TYC (in a rhombus) / OTARU, JAPAN”], along with an internal mailing date of “JUN -8 1950.” On mailing in Japan, the cover was canceled twice with “Otaru 小樽 / 25 6 8” (Otaru / Showa 25 (1950) 6 (June) 8 (8) or June 8, 1950).
The cover was received by the American President Lines in San Francisco and back-stamped: “MAIL ROOM / A.P.L. REC / 1950 JUN 17 AM / TO / MR ________ / DEPT. __ .” S/S “Pres. Pierce” was written in black ink on the envelope and the cover was internally delivered by APL to its S/S "President Pierce" in Port in San Francisco. At the S/S “President Pierce,” an officer or crew member wrote in black ink on the cover: “On vacation” and the Richmond, California address where Capt. Willarts would be found. [You may note that while the “ship name” and the “on vacation” information are both written in black ink, they were written by different persons, the most obvious differences in handwriting can be seen by comparing the “e” ending the word “PiercE” with the two “e's” ending the words “BurlingamE” and “AvE.”] The envelope would then be returned by internal processes to APL's mail room, which then crossed out the original address to avoid any confusion and stamped the cover three time in red: “FORWARD TO:” to point to the Richmond address for postal delivery. Then the cover was placed back in the mail stream, with the Post Office acknowledging receipt by canceling it on the back with “SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. 2 / JUN 23 / 2 PM / 1950” as part of its slogan cancel: “HIRE THE HANDICAPPED / IT'S GOOD BUSINESS.”
The Ship was built by Western Pipe & Steel in San Francisco, California and delivered post-war on September 18, 1945, originally as a C3-S-A2 design cargo ship and named the “Sea Jumper,” but modified to the A4 standard for the demands of the American President Lines which purchased it in 1947 and named the cargo liner the “President Pierce.” Western Pipe built five others of these A4 design cargo ships in San Francisco, the President Taft, President Grant, President Madison, President McKinley, and President Jefferson. We have provided a scan of the A4 design cargo ships.
On February 14, 1953, the Commander Naval Forces, Far East, released a photograph (see scan) and caption: “Navy Battles to Save U.S. Merchantman The American President Line freighter President Pierce lists precariously in Yokohama Harbor, Japan, after Navy firemen had pumped tons of water into her burning holds. Alongside the President Pierce are commercial and Navy tugs and in the background other Navy ships stand by for possible need.” While en route to Japan with military cargo, S/S “President Pierce” caught fire when acetylene tanks exploded in one of her holds. Note fire damage to her midships superstructure. Forwardmost ship alongside President Pierce's starboard side is the U.S. Army tug LT-356. A U.S. Navy harbor tug and several small craft are also present. A Japanese Maritime Safety Agency patrol vessel is in the right distance. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the All Hands collection at the Naval History and Heritage Command. The S/S "President Pierce" was in active service until 1973 when she was scrapped as APL moved on into container cargo ships.
Seller Information
- Seller
- abctoo (12)
- Registered Since
- 02/25/2020
- Feedback
- 100%
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Sales History
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- Item Location
- California, United States
- Ships To
- Worldwide
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- 0 Lbs 6 oz
- Shipping Instructions
- We ship by U.S. Postal Service with tracking and can consolidate multiple purchases into the same package to save on shipping costs. NOTE: Since insurance only covers the costs of the goods but not the shipping, once we have proof of delivery of the package to the post office, that if it is lost in the mails and not delivered or is damaged in shipping that any refund does not include the costs of shipping and is limited to only the purchase price and any sales tax (if applicable) paid. For international buyers, we label our customs tags as "merchandise" and you are responsible for all customs, duties or other import fees into your country.
- Returns Accepted
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