Posted : Sep 5, 1941 at Beira

Route : BOAC Horseshoe route from Mozambique to Singapore; the cover missed the Clipper that week from Singapore; it was sent on to Hong Kong probably by surface; FAM 14 California Clipper departed Hong Kong Oct 4, arriving at San Francisco Oct 10; USA domestic airlines to Chicago.

Notes : Uncommon trans-pacific airmail from Mozambique Company, with nice commercial use of the 20 Escudo issue, the highest face value stamp issued by Mozambique Company. At first, it was quite puzzling, why this cover went through both Hong Kong and Singapore. But after a bit of analysis, the answer became clear. In May of 1941, Pan Am extended the terminus of the FAM 14 route to Singapore. However, from May 3 to Oct 1 of 1941, the terminus alternated on a weekly basis between Hong Kong and Singapore. One week the Clipper would terminate in Hong Kong, and the next week it would terminate in Singapore, before returning to the USA. Thus, mail intended to connect with the Pacific Clipper service, could be sent to either Hong Kong or Singapore, depending on where the Clipper was scheduled to arrive that particular week. In this case, the cover was sent to Singapore first, but had missed the Clipper that week. At this point, I believe a conscientious mail clerk, knowing that it would be 2 full weeks before another Clipper arrived at Singapore, sent the cover to Hong Kong, to catch the Clipper the following week. We know the cover was sent to Singapore first, because there is a Hong Kong transit date of Oct 1, and the California Clipper arrived in Hong Kong on Oct 3. There would have been no reason to send the cover to Singapore from Hong Kong. A very interesting cover!

Rate : 33.75 escudos - 1.75 esc base rate + 16.00 esc trans-pacific air surcharge x2