auldstampguy

Tim
Collector, Webmaster
22 Sep 2025
05:24:27pm

Hi Everyone,

Here are two US Ship Covers being sent from the same sailor from the same place to the same person (probably his mother). Can anyone tell me why the extra 6 cent postal due was added?








Regards ... Tim

 
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roy

re: A question of postage applied between to covers???

I can only guess, based on the crease along the top, that it contained thicker contents, multiple sheets of paper and was overweight.

6 cents per half ounce

During World War II, US military personnel stationed overseas, including at Pacific Fleet Post Offices (FPOs), could send letters to the United States at a concessionary airmail rate of 6 cents per half ounce. This rate, established by a law signed on December 13, 1941, applied to personal correspondence from active-duty service members and remained in effect through September 30, 1946.

While the domestic airmail rate for civilians increased from 6 cents to 8 cents per half ounce on March 26, 1944, the military concession rate stayed at 6 cents as a special provision for armed forces personnel. This applied uniformly across theaters, including the Pacific, with no changes specific to FPOs in December 1944 or January 1945. Letters were typically franked with the 6¢ Transport airmail stamp (Scott #C25).

A 1/2 ounce (14 grams) is a pretty light letter. A second sheet of paper, definitely a third, could put it over.

Roy

 
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