Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
These are just a few of my collection, I have more if there is any interest in seeing them.
Here is a link that explains what V-Mail is.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/v ...
Here is an example of the envelope that was used for V-Mail.
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Nice collection, Vinland. The pre-designed, pre-printed V-Mail letters haven’t had as much interest for me as those transmitting personal, hand-written or typed letters. I have several from an American soldier who was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, a.k.a. The Battle of the Ardennes Forest, and another that his parents sent to his commanding officer but was returned in a special V-Mail envelope more from his parents.
The one most important to me was mailed by my dad’s younger brother, Phil, from the South Pacific where was in command of a small detachment of radio repairmen who flew from island to islands keeping the communications network in good repair. My short web page, "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham", discusses the history and usage of V-Mail.
Bob
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03:37:08pm
Something else that I'd never heard about until one of you sent me an example as a gift with some stamps I bought - very interesting stuff!!
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I've done a little sorting of my father's letters home during WW II and have come up with a very unscientific time line of the V-mail that was used during that time. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Rgt, 9th Infantry Div.
These are 3 letters written from 8 June - 8 September 1943.
The top letter sent to my grandfather from the area around Bizerte, Tunisia was written 8 June and postmarked 10 June from APO 9. The fighting in Tunisia had ended 13 May and the units were resting and refitting.
V Mail number 1 is similar to what we know as an aero-gram but not pre-printed like the SeeBee V Mails Vinman has shared. They are letter sheet sized (8.5 X 11 inches) and when folded for mailing are 4 3/8 X 5 5/8". It was presented to the censor sealed, the censor opened and cleared it, then resealed it and stamped the outside.
The second V Mail is what I believe is the final version. The full sized letter sheet was cleared by the censor and stamped to the left of the addressee block. The image was photographed (I assume) and reduce to 4 1/4 X 5 1/4, then folded and put in the window envelope for mailing. This V Mail was sent from Sicily, written on 14 August a few days before the official end of that campaign. It was cancelled on 8 September in New York.
This the last V Mail he sent, written 4 November 1944 while the 47th was in the Hurtgen Forest. My father was wounded on 22 November 1944 in the vicinity of Schmidt, Germany during the ramp up of the Battle of the Bulge.
The use of V Mail reduced the size of GI mails to home freeing up volume and weight for other items. The cancelling in New York freed up man hours and material resources in the areas of operation overseas. The letters my father sent home from England while preparing for the invasion of France were regular letter with Free franking. While in hospital in England after his injuries he had to pay the 6 cent Air Mail rate.
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Bob,
I have maybe a dozen V-Mail letters but they contain notes that they are doing well and thanks for the letters or package. Due to the censoring not much of interest for the postal historian. I enjoyed your your "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham". It has personal meaning for you. My fater enlisted in WW2 September 1944 and only served state side so no V-Mail from him.
Like you I have an interest in hand written or typed letters from WW2. I have a growing collection of Return to sender, "KIA or MIA". I do a little research into to deceased soldier and circumstances about their demise. Fairly simple today with the internet although WW1 information is a little sparce. I feel like I am doing a service for their sacrifice. Since their letters have hit the market place there might not be anyone to tell their story or remember them. It is really interesting reading the debriefing of flight crews that seen an airplane go down or from the crew members after they are released from POW camps.
Vince
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Thank you for sharing.
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Good stuff Vince!
Don
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09:50:43am
I don't collect them but they are very interesting! I have one in my collection as an example.
I have always been interested in military history and can really understand the interest in V-mail - great stuff!!!
A friend has two letters dating back to military action in India during the mid 1800's in the original stampless military covers. The regiment still exists in Britain and I got in touch with them to see if they were interested in either the letters or scans, TWICE with no reply. Her family has no interest either, which I find really odd since this is a great great grandfather. I get a feeling we might be the last generation with an interest in History, sad!!!
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Here are some more additions to my V Mail collection. A few are duplicates but different senders.
I believe this is a hand drawn V Mail not a stock image.
This is a home made letter with news clippings. The first I have seen.
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I have vmail examples (to my aunt) but none with decorative embellishment.
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More V Mail from my collection.
On the first letter the words in the greeting form a 'V" for Victory.
The second has a woman dressed as the Easter Bunny but instead of eggs she is holding a box of powder eggs.
Two different Christmas greetings.
"With the eclipse of the rising sun"
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What an awesome collection. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Here are few more V-Mail and one British Airgraph.
Here is a caracture that was drawn by a sailor on ship. I can imagine he had a nice business doing these for his shipmates.
This last image is an British Airgraph, they are the predecessor to V-Mail.
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vinman:
What a great presentation.
I have a few of the ordinary V-Mails in my collection of the mail sent home by my Dad during WW2, but none of these pictorial holiday or event type letters were included.
I had seen these pictorial V-Mail letters but had not realized the wide variety. It looks like many of these were designed and printed at the various headquarters locations for different units rather than all coming from a central office.
Is there a publication that documents the history behind these pictorial V-Mail designs?
In the process of looking for such a publication, Google found the following exhibit on the Collector's Club of Chicago website, which gives a marvelous overview the the general process, which I am posting here as others might also find it fascinating.
https://www.collectorsclubchicago.org/wp ...
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I have the V-Mail that my parents wrote during WW2
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Mike L,
That is a great exhibit you posted.
"It looks like many of these were designed and printed at the various headquarters locations for different units rather than all coming from a central office."
I don't know where of if there is information on the various designs and were they printed at various locations but I think they were.
I am reading a book "Victory Mail of World War ll V-Mail, The Funny Mail", By Captain James W Hudson, 0-375983. I'm about halfway through it. I'll report back here if I find any information about these pictoral V-Mail.
Here are three new ones that arrived today. The first two I enhanced the image with Image Sluth because they were pretty light.
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I too collect V-Mails. The best one was from my Uncle Philip Ingraham, sent to my grandparents from "CAIN'T TELL WHERE".
Phil's V-Mail was one of the "plain" varieties, just text. I don't actually have any of the illustrated ones, which seem to me to be little more than propaganda to make the folks back home feel like things are going "OK," whereas in any war that requires something like V-Mail things rarely go well.
Here's Phil's V-Mail:
And a transcript:
There's nothing wrong with trying to assure the folks back home that you're OK. In fact it's right thing to do. My mother, according to my wife, was "frantic with worry" when I was in South Vietnam with the Marines. We didn't have V-Mail, of course; my letters home were just chatty, with notes about "interesting" things I'd seen but little about the American and Vietnamese blood that was being let on a daily basis.
Bob
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Mike L,
I finished "Victory Mail of World War ll V-Mail, The Funny Mail", By Captain James W Hudson, 0-375983 and it doesn’t cover the varieties produced at various locations abroad.
So far I haven’t come across any varieties that were produced in quantity in The US although I have seen ones personalized by the sender.
Here are some new additions to my collection.
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I found this on eBay. An advertisement for Beer and V-Mail. Another one of my collecting interests is Advertising for Fire Insurance, Radios, Phonographs and Radio Personalities. This V-Mail advert fits in with my V-Mail collection.
The Generals' realized moral was just as important as supplies and weapons.
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I received some V-Mail ephemera in the mail today.
This is a small ad for The Hotel Mayfair with the "Keep Up Moral" slogan and send a V-Mail today.
Here is a photograph of The WACS posing in front of the V-Mail station. I'm not sure if is state side or not but I assume it would be state side.
I also received a couple of large V-Mail ads from Life Magazine, too large for my scanner. I'll try to capture them with my phone and post them.
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I have been adding to my V-Mail or Victory Mail collection and want to share some of it here. Beside letters the soldiers of WW2 could send different greetings home by V-Mail. I have been focusing on Christmas greetings but there are many other types that could be sent. Most were preprinted but some are hand drawn by the soldiers. The ones I am showing today are the preprinted type.
These are just a few of my collection, I have more if there is any interest in seeing them.
Here is a link that explains what V-Mail is.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/v ...
Here is an example of the envelope that was used for V-Mail.
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re: V-Mail
Nice collection, Vinland. The pre-designed, pre-printed V-Mail letters haven’t had as much interest for me as those transmitting personal, hand-written or typed letters. I have several from an American soldier who was captured in the Battle of the Bulge, a.k.a. The Battle of the Ardennes Forest, and another that his parents sent to his commanding officer but was returned in a special V-Mail envelope more from his parents.
The one most important to me was mailed by my dad’s younger brother, Phil, from the South Pacific where was in command of a small detachment of radio repairmen who flew from island to islands keeping the communications network in good repair. My short web page, "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham", discusses the history and usage of V-Mail.
Bob
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
24 Mar 2023
03:37:08pm
re: V-Mail
Something else that I'd never heard about until one of you sent me an example as a gift with some stamps I bought - very interesting stuff!!
Login to Like
this post
re: V-Mail
I've done a little sorting of my father's letters home during WW II and have come up with a very unscientific time line of the V-mail that was used during that time. He was assigned to Headquarters Company, 47th Infantry Rgt, 9th Infantry Div.
These are 3 letters written from 8 June - 8 September 1943.
The top letter sent to my grandfather from the area around Bizerte, Tunisia was written 8 June and postmarked 10 June from APO 9. The fighting in Tunisia had ended 13 May and the units were resting and refitting.
V Mail number 1 is similar to what we know as an aero-gram but not pre-printed like the SeeBee V Mails Vinman has shared. They are letter sheet sized (8.5 X 11 inches) and when folded for mailing are 4 3/8 X 5 5/8". It was presented to the censor sealed, the censor opened and cleared it, then resealed it and stamped the outside.
The second V Mail is what I believe is the final version. The full sized letter sheet was cleared by the censor and stamped to the left of the addressee block. The image was photographed (I assume) and reduce to 4 1/4 X 5 1/4, then folded and put in the window envelope for mailing. This V Mail was sent from Sicily, written on 14 August a few days before the official end of that campaign. It was cancelled on 8 September in New York.
This the last V Mail he sent, written 4 November 1944 while the 47th was in the Hurtgen Forest. My father was wounded on 22 November 1944 in the vicinity of Schmidt, Germany during the ramp up of the Battle of the Bulge.
The use of V Mail reduced the size of GI mails to home freeing up volume and weight for other items. The cancelling in New York freed up man hours and material resources in the areas of operation overseas. The letters my father sent home from England while preparing for the invasion of France were regular letter with Free franking. While in hospital in England after his injuries he had to pay the 6 cent Air Mail rate.
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re: V-Mail
Bob,
I have maybe a dozen V-Mail letters but they contain notes that they are doing well and thanks for the letters or package. Due to the censoring not much of interest for the postal historian. I enjoyed your your "V-Mail from MSgt. Philip Ingraham". It has personal meaning for you. My fater enlisted in WW2 September 1944 and only served state side so no V-Mail from him.
Like you I have an interest in hand written or typed letters from WW2. I have a growing collection of Return to sender, "KIA or MIA". I do a little research into to deceased soldier and circumstances about their demise. Fairly simple today with the internet although WW1 information is a little sparce. I feel like I am doing a service for their sacrifice. Since their letters have hit the market place there might not be anyone to tell their story or remember them. It is really interesting reading the debriefing of flight crews that seen an airplane go down or from the crew members after they are released from POW camps.
Vince
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re: V-Mail
Good stuff Vince!
Don
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
04 Nov 2023
09:50:43am
re: V-Mail
I don't collect them but they are very interesting! I have one in my collection as an example.
I have always been interested in military history and can really understand the interest in V-mail - great stuff!!!
A friend has two letters dating back to military action in India during the mid 1800's in the original stampless military covers. The regiment still exists in Britain and I got in touch with them to see if they were interested in either the letters or scans, TWICE with no reply. Her family has no interest either, which I find really odd since this is a great great grandfather. I get a feeling we might be the last generation with an interest in History, sad!!!
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re: V-Mail
Here are some more additions to my V Mail collection. A few are duplicates but different senders.
I believe this is a hand drawn V Mail not a stock image.
This is a home made letter with news clippings. The first I have seen.
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: V-Mail
I have vmail examples (to my aunt) but none with decorative embellishment.
Login to Like
this post
re: V-Mail
More V Mail from my collection.
On the first letter the words in the greeting form a 'V" for Victory.
The second has a woman dressed as the Easter Bunny but instead of eggs she is holding a box of powder eggs.
Two different Christmas greetings.
"With the eclipse of the rising sun"
6 Members
like this post.
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re: V-Mail
What an awesome collection. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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re: V-Mail
Here are few more V-Mail and one British Airgraph.
Here is a caracture that was drawn by a sailor on ship. I can imagine he had a nice business doing these for his shipmates.
This last image is an British Airgraph, they are the predecessor to V-Mail.
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: V-Mail
vinman:
What a great presentation.
I have a few of the ordinary V-Mails in my collection of the mail sent home by my Dad during WW2, but none of these pictorial holiday or event type letters were included.
I had seen these pictorial V-Mail letters but had not realized the wide variety. It looks like many of these were designed and printed at the various headquarters locations for different units rather than all coming from a central office.
Is there a publication that documents the history behind these pictorial V-Mail designs?
In the process of looking for such a publication, Google found the following exhibit on the Collector's Club of Chicago website, which gives a marvelous overview the the general process, which I am posting here as others might also find it fascinating.
https://www.collectorsclubchicago.org/wp ...
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re: V-Mail
I have the V-Mail that my parents wrote during WW2
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re: V-Mail
Mike L,
That is a great exhibit you posted.
"It looks like many of these were designed and printed at the various headquarters locations for different units rather than all coming from a central office."
I don't know where of if there is information on the various designs and were they printed at various locations but I think they were.
I am reading a book "Victory Mail of World War ll V-Mail, The Funny Mail", By Captain James W Hudson, 0-375983. I'm about halfway through it. I'll report back here if I find any information about these pictoral V-Mail.
Here are three new ones that arrived today. The first two I enhanced the image with Image Sluth because they were pretty light.
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re: V-Mail
I too collect V-Mails. The best one was from my Uncle Philip Ingraham, sent to my grandparents from "CAIN'T TELL WHERE".
Phil's V-Mail was one of the "plain" varieties, just text. I don't actually have any of the illustrated ones, which seem to me to be little more than propaganda to make the folks back home feel like things are going "OK," whereas in any war that requires something like V-Mail things rarely go well.
Here's Phil's V-Mail:
And a transcript:
There's nothing wrong with trying to assure the folks back home that you're OK. In fact it's right thing to do. My mother, according to my wife, was "frantic with worry" when I was in South Vietnam with the Marines. We didn't have V-Mail, of course; my letters home were just chatty, with notes about "interesting" things I'd seen but little about the American and Vietnamese blood that was being let on a daily basis.
Bob
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re: V-Mail
Mike L,
I finished "Victory Mail of World War ll V-Mail, The Funny Mail", By Captain James W Hudson, 0-375983 and it doesn’t cover the varieties produced at various locations abroad.
So far I haven’t come across any varieties that were produced in quantity in The US although I have seen ones personalized by the sender.
Here are some new additions to my collection.
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: V-Mail
I found this on eBay. An advertisement for Beer and V-Mail. Another one of my collecting interests is Advertising for Fire Insurance, Radios, Phonographs and Radio Personalities. This V-Mail advert fits in with my V-Mail collection.
The Generals' realized moral was just as important as supplies and weapons.
6 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: V-Mail
I received some V-Mail ephemera in the mail today.
This is a small ad for The Hotel Mayfair with the "Keep Up Moral" slogan and send a V-Mail today.
Here is a photograph of The WACS posing in front of the V-Mail station. I'm not sure if is state side or not but I assume it would be state side.
I also received a couple of large V-Mail ads from Life Magazine, too large for my scanner. I'll try to capture them with my phone and post them.
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