Posted : Sep 18, 1941 at Khartoum

Probable Route : Khartoum to Sydney, Australia by BOAC Horseshoe route service; TEAL from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand; Pan Am FAM 19 transpacific service to San Francisco; USA domestic airlines to Miami; FAM 6-10 from Mami to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Notes : Spectacular franking of 302 Piastres on this Registered bank cover from Khartoum, Sudan. There is an October 2, 1941 Honolulu transit marking on reverse, confirming that this cover was flown on Pan American Airways FAM 19 HONOLULU Clipper, which departed Auckland on Sep 29, and arrived in Hawaii Oct 1. After an overnight stay, the clipper departed Oct 2, and arrived in San Francisco Oct 3. Argentina is a very unusual destination for a cover from Sudan. The franking includes 14 copies of the 20 Piastre stamp, the 2nd highest face value stamp issued by Sudan, during this period. The franking of 302 piastres is the highest franking I have ever seen from Sudan, and is quite possibly the highest franking known from this country up to and during the World War II period. The cover is endorsed BY Air Mail Throughout upper left, and has a double circle marking on reverse from Argentina. There is also a straight line hand stamp dated October 9, 1941. This is, no doubt, a private business receiver, applied to the cover at the Bank in Buenos Aires. The total transit time was only 22 days, which is rather amazing considering the route and distance this cover traveled.

Rate : 302 Piastres