Posted : Aug 28, 1940 at Batavia

Probable Route : BOAC to Bangkok then to Hong Kong; FAM 14 to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to Lisbon; by European airlines or by rail to Switzerland.

Notes : Two-ocean airmail cover with typed docketing By TRANSPACIFIC AIRROUTE VIA HONG KONG TO U.S.A., BY P.A.A. to EUROPE. Censored at Batavia in the Dutch Indies.

Rate : 3.15 Gld - 13gr weight = .15 base rate + 1.00 x3 air surcharge = 3.15gld. This rate paid for BOAC service to Hong Kong, and then Pan Am to the USA and Europe.

Posted : Nov 11, 1940 at Soerabaja

Probable Route : KNILM "Charter" Flight service" from Soerabaja to Manila; FAM 14 from Manila to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to New York. Censored at Soerabaja.

Notes : Large commercial cover with very high 7 color franking includes several high value Queen Wilhelmina issues. In 1941 the Dutch Guilder was $.53. This cover has the equivalent of $9.73 US in franking.

Rate : 18.35 Gld - 27 times the airmail rate = $9.73 US

Posted : Dec 29, 1940 at Tarakan

Route : Tarakan to Manila by KNILM "Charter" Flight 14 on Jan 7; FAM 14 California Clipper departed Manila on Jan 9, arriving Honolulu Jan 13 and San Francisco Jan 15. USA domestic airlines to New York; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to Lisbon; BOAC to England; Backstamped Honolulu Jan 13, New York Jan 18, London Feb 1, Newbury Brakes Feb 3.

Notes : Long commercial two-ocean cover with one of the highest frankings I have ever seen from the Dutch Indies. In 1941 the Dutch Guilder was $.53. This cover has 45.75 Gld, the equivalent of $24.25 US in franking. Although this cover is endorsed "By KNILM /Trans Tasman/P.A.A.", which would indicate service to Australia, to connect with Pan Am's FAM 19 service from Auckland, the cover did not go this route. The Honolulu transit of Jan 13 confirms that this cover was carried on the FAM 14 California Clipper flight which left Manila on Jan 9. We know there was a KNILM "Charter Flight" which went from Batavia, through Tarakan to Manila, arriving on Jan 7. This cover was most likely on that flight.

Rate : 45.75 Gld = 260gr rate = 52 times the airmail rate - base rate (.15 1st 20gr + .10 each addl 20gr x12) + registration fee .20 + air surcharge (.85 per 5gr x52) = exactly 45.75 gld = the equivalent of $24.25 US

Posted : Feb 15, 1941 at Sourebaja

Route : KNILM from Sourebaja to Batavia; Batavia to Manila by KNILM Special Flight arriving Feb 19; FAM 14 China Clipper departed Manila on Feb 21, arriving in San Francisco Feb 26; USA domestic airlines to Miami; FAM 6-10 to Buenos Aires. Backstamped Buenos Aires March 5, 1941.

Notes : Arrival marking of March 5, 1941 at Buenos Aires confirms this cover went by transpacific air service to South America in an amazing 18 days .

Rate : 1.15 Gld - presumably the single rate to South America.

Posted : Nov 10, 1941 at Soerabaja

Route : KNILM from Soerabaja to Sydney, Australia; TEAL from Sydney to Auckland, NZ; FAM 19 CALIFORNIA Clipper departed Auckland, NZ on Nov 24, arriving in Hawaii on Nov 27, and after a 2 day delay departed for San Francisco on Nov 30, arriving at San Francisco on Dec 1.

Notes : On Nov 17, 1941 the CALIFORNIA Clipper departed San Francisco on what would be it's Last Pre-War Flight. It arrived in Auckland on Nov 24, and returned to San Francisco on Dec 1. Due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II, this was the Last Flight of the CALIFORNIA Clipper. This registered cover is back stamped Honolulu Nov 27, and San Francisco Dec 1, verifying that it was on the last inbound flight of CALIFORNIA Clipper.

Rate : 1.65 Gld = Base rate .15 + Registration Fee .20 + Airmail surcharge .65 x2.