Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian Mcqueen Jun 2026

: Postal workers would apply a "Jusqu'à" handstamp or use parallel bars to "cancel" the airmail instruction for the remainder of the trip. The Translation : A mark might effectively say, "Airmail

"Jusqu’à" Airmail Markings: A Study of Postal Transitions Based on the research of Ian McQueen The French term "Jusqu’à"

When a postal clerk stamped a cover with a jusqu'à marking, they typically wrote or stamped a specific city name immediately following the word "Jusqu'à" (e.g., "Jusqu'à Karachi" or "Jusqu'à Singapore").

| Type | Format | Example | Period | |------|--------|---------|--------| | I | Handstamp, single line | Jusqu’à Marseille | 1928–1932 | | II | Handstamp, two lines | Jusqu’à / Brindisi | 1930–1935 | | III | Violet boxed | JUSQU’À ATHÈNES (all caps) | 1933–1939 | | IV | Label (gummed) | Jusqu’à Beyrouth | 1935–1940 | | V | Cachet with route code | Jusqu’à HK (Hong Kong) | 1937–1941 | Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian McQueen

When searching, use the full title: “Jusqu’à Airmail Markings – A Study by Ian McQueen” along with the keywords “France Aéropostale” or “Postal History.” Check the France & Colonies Philatelic Society (FCPS) journal index; McQueen often published updates there after the main study.

This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. Jusqu'a Airmail Markings. (A Study) by MCQUEEN Ian

Only two years after the original study appeared, McQueen published a Supplement that was, remarkably, longer than the main book. The supplement runs to iii + 163 pages, compared to the original’s iii + 109 pages. According to one specialist bookseller, the supplement contained “such a wealth of new information that it actually has more pages than the original study”. The supplement is comb‑bound like the main volume, and some copies show “a few amendments pasted to pages”, suggesting that McQueen continued to update his findings even after publication. Together, the two volumes represent the most comprehensive reference work on Jusqu’à markings ever compiled. : Postal workers would apply a "Jusqu'à" handstamp

Often, if a route changed mid-transit or additional postage was paid, the original Jusqu'à marking would be crossed out or barred. McQueen heavily documented these "cancelled instructions," which are highly prized by collectors today. The Lasting Legacy of McQueen's Work

During World War I, the use of airpower for military and logistical purposes became increasingly important. As a result, postal services began to utilize aircraft to transport mail, particularly in areas where traditional land-based routes were disrupted or non-existent. To indicate that mail had been transported by air, postal authorities introduced jusqu'a markings, which were applied to covers (envelopes or packages) to show that they had been carried by air until a certain point.

McQueen recorded the colour of each marking (often purple, but also red, black, blue or violet). He also noted whether the marking was a boxed handstamp, a straight line, a set of parallel bars, or a roller cancel. This public link is valid for 7 days

Used when air routes simply didn't exist for the final leg of a trip. Common Types of Markings

Ian McQueen’s study did more than just list stamp varieties; it preserved a forgotten era of global logistics. Today, as commercial air travel is taken for granted, Jusqu'à markings remind us of a time when the flight of a single letter required international treaties, meticulous bookkeeping, and hand-stamped instructions at every refueling stop.

McQueen’s broader achievement, however, lies in . Before his study, these markings were often ignored or dismissed as unimportant. McQueen showed that they are a legitimate and fascinating branch of aerophilately, worthy of the same detailed study as stamps, cancellations or flight covers. His work has inspired a new generation of collectors to look beyond the stamp and to appreciate the full journey of a letter through the international postal system.

Value is determined by the rarity of the handstamp, the specific transit point named, and the complexity of the postal rate. A clean, clearly struck jusqu'à handstamp on a cover that successfully navigated a complex, multi-modal international journey represents the pinnacle of postal history storytelling.