Posted : July 22, 1940 at Davos,Horlauben

Route : By rail from Switzerland to Rome; by air from Rome to Barcelona via Ala Littoria; by air to Lisbon via Iberia, Ala Littoria, or DLH; then by FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to New York; by USA domestic airlines to San Francisco; the FAM 14 Philippine Clipper departed San Francisco Aug 6, arriving in Hong Kong Aug 15; Hong Kong to Batavia by BOAC / KNILM.

Notes : Two-ocean airmail cover posted at Horlauben near Davos, Switzerland, addressed to Batavia, Dutch East Indies. The rate of 1.80 swfr and the Hong Kong transit of Aug 15, confirms the two-ocean route by Philippine Clipper, which arrived in Hong Kong on that date. Censored in Hong Kong and the Dutch Indies.

Rate : 1.80 Swiss francs - .30 base rate + 1.50 airmail surcharge for 5 grams.

Posted : Zurich Aug 13, 1940

Probable Route : Zurich to Lisbon, by European transport; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to New York; USA domestic airlines to San Francisco; FAM 14 from San Francisco to Manila. Auckland to Sydney; Australia National Airlines - ANA to Melbourne.

Notes : Two-ocean airmail cover.

Rate : 2.10 Swfr = .30 base rate + .40 Registration Fee + 1.40 air surcharge

Posted : March 6, 1941 at Ascona

Probable Route : Domestic transport to Geneve; Geneva to Rome by rail; Rome to Barcelona by Ala Littoria; to Lisbon by Iberia; From Lisbon by FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper via Bolama, Belem, Trinidad, and San Juan to New York; USA domestic airlines from New York to San Francisco; FAM 19 Clipper from San Francisco to Auckland; TEAL from Auckland to Sydney; Australia National Airlines - ANA to Melbourne.

Notes : Two-ocean airmail cover from Switzerland carried on a route that covered five continents. In February of 1941, Pan Am initiated a southern route from Lisbon across the Atlantic to take advantage of better weather conditions and westerly tail winds. This route went from Lisbon south to Bolama, Guinee on the coast of West Africa; from Bolama, across the Atlantic ocean to Belem, Brazil; then north through Trinidad and San Juan, to New York. From New York, the route was the standard two-ocean service to the Philippines. Because of this adjusted "winter route", this cover was carried on five continents - Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and Asia. This route was only used from February to April of 1941. There is a PC 90 Censor tape from Examiner 5717 underneath the Australian censor tape. This Examiner is listed as being located in Jamaica, and confirms the 5 continents route, as normal transatlantic mail was censored in Bermuda.

Rate : 2.00 Swfr = .30 base rate + 1.70 airmail surcharge. According to the Boyle book, the 1.70 Swfr air surcharge paid for service from Geneve to Rome by rail, to Barcelona via Ala Litoria, to Lisbon by IBERIA, and then Pan Ams two-ocean service.

Posted : May 2, 1941 at Basle

Route : By rail from Basle through Geneva to Lisbon; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to New York; USA domestic airlines to San Francisco; FAM 14 California/Pacific Clipper departed San Francisco May 21, 1941 arriving in Singapore May 28; BOAC or KLM from Singapore to Palestine, either Lydda or Tiberias; probably by surface transport from Palestine to Aden.

Notes : Registered cover posted at Basle, Switzerland, addressed to Aden, Arabia that dramatically exhibits the two-ocean air route from Europe to the Middle East. The cover is backstamped Lisbon May 10, then censored in Bermuda - Examiner 6093, then backstamped New York May 16, San Francisco May 19, Honolulu May 22, Singapore May 28, then censored in Palestine (PC 22 tape) and finally backstamped Aden June 24. As an added note of importance, this cover was carried on the 1st Flight of Pan Am's new Boeing B-314A clipper - NC 18609. This plane was originally given the name CALIFORNIA Clipper, to replace the old CALIFORNIA Clipper, which was being transferred to the Atlantic fleet. Later, when the original CALIFORNIA Clipper returned to Pacific service, this plane - NC 18609, was permanently named PACIFIC Clipper. This flight was also Pan Am's 1st Revenue Passenger Flight to Singapore. The franking of 11.30 swfr is a very high franking for the period, and the 10fr green stamp is the highest face value stamp issued by Switzerland during this period.

Rate : 11.30 Swiss francs - .40 base rate + .40 Reg Fee + 2.10 Air surcharge x 5.

Posted : July 11, 1941 at La Chaux-De-Fonds

Route : By rail from La Chaux-De-Fonds through Geneva to Lisbon; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to New York; USA domestic airlines to San Francisco; FAM 14 Clipper from San Francisco to Singapore; BOAC Horseshoe Route Service from Singapore to Durban; South Africa domestic tranport to Capetown.

Notes : Amazing airmail cover from Switzerland to South Africa, that traveled approximately 25,000 miles to arrive at its destination. The cover is endorsed via GENEVA, TRANSATLANTIC CLIPPER from Lisbon (via USA) indicating Pan American's two-ocean airmail service. The normal flying distance between Geneva and Capetown is approximately 5500 miles. Because of the route changes caused by World War II, this cover traveled 19,000 extra miles. This cover traveled more miles one way, (without being Forwarded or Returned To Sender), than any cover I have ever seen!

Rate : 4.50 Swiss francs - .30 base rate + 2.10 Air surcharge x 2.

Posted : August 18, 1941 at La Chaux-De-Fonds

Route : By rail from La Chaux-De-Fonds through Geneva to Lisbon; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to New York; USA domestic airlines to San Francisco; FAM 14 Clipper from San Francisco to Hong Kong or Singapore; BOAC Horseshoe Route Service to Durban.

Notes : Amazing airmail cover from Switzerland to South Africa, that traveled approximately 25,000 miles to arrive at its destination. The cover has a Bermuda P.C. 90 Censor tape from Examiner 906, confirming the two-ocean air route via Atlantic and Pacific Clipper service. The normal flying distance between Geneva and Durban is approximately 5200 miles. Because of the route changes caused by World War II, this cover traveled 19,500 extra miles. This cover traveled one of the longest all airmail routes in History!

Rate : 2.40 Swiss francs - .30 base rate + 2.10 Air surcharge

Posted : Geneva Sep 13, 1941

Probable Route : Geneva to Rome by rail; Rome to Barcelona by Ala Littoria; to Lisbon by Iberia; FAM 18 Atlantic Clipper to New York via Bermuda; USA domestic airlines to San Francisco; FAM 14 from San Francisco to Manila; Manila to Japan, probably by ship.

Notes : Japan is a rare destination for a two-ocean airmail cover from Switzerland. The two-ocean route is confirmed by the P.C. 90 Censor tape from Examiner 4033 stationed at Bermuda. According to the Peter Flynn book, Intercepted In Bermuda, there was previously only 1 known cover with a P.C. 90 censor tape going to Japan.

Rate : 1.80 Swfr