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

Ian McQueen

McQueen cataloged hundreds of unique handstamps, manuscript markings, and labels used by international postal administrations.

The listings are organised , making it easy for a collector to look up the markings from a particular location. West African countries such as the Cameroons, Dahomey, French Equatorial Africa, Gambia, Senegal and Sierra Leone are among those represented. McQueen also gave extensive coverage to the simple parallel bars that were often stamped across an airmail etiquette to indicate that the letter would not be carried further by air because the rate paid only covered part of the route. These mute, purple bars are perhaps the most familiar form of Jusqu’à marking, and McQueen’s classification system helped differentiate between the many varieties used in different exchange offices.

Markings were often enclosed in rectangular frames, though straight-line handstamps were common in smaller hubs. Manuscript Additions: Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian McQueen

McQueen provides an exhaustive listing of known "Jusqu’à" markings from across the globe, categorizing them by country, city, and specific physical characteristics. Historical Context: Beyond a mere list, the study explains the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

During WWII, shifting front lines and grounded civilian fleets led to a surge in "Jusqu’à" markings as air routes were truncated or diverted. 4. Philatelic Significance

Decades after its publication, Jusqu’a Airmail Markings remains the standard reference for identifying, dating and understanding these handstamps. Auction houses, postal history dealers and serious collectors still cite McQueen’s listing numbers when describing covers. Ian McQueen McQueen cataloged hundreds of unique handstamps,

McQueen’s book is organized by country of origin, enabling collectors to look up a specific mark, identify its scarcity, and understand exactly why it was applied. Common Types of Jusqu'à Postal Markings

In smaller post offices or during wartime disruptions, official stamps were unavailable. Clerks wrote instructions by hand directly onto the envelope. McQueen’s book meticulously documents verified handwriting styles and ink types from specific transit hubs to help collectors authenticate these easily faked manuscript markings. Why the McQueen Study Matters to Modern Collectors

The letter traveled the remaining distance via train, steamship, or truck. McQueen also gave extensive coverage to the simple

He linked specific markings to historical air routes and postal agreements.

McQueen divided handstamps into logical categories, such as bar cancels, cross cancels, and specific text-based instructions.

McQueen’s Jusqu’a Airmail Markings is now a specialist item, but copies can sometimes be found through . The supplement is even scarcer. At the time of writing, one leading specialist dealer described a copy of the main book and supplement as “out of stock”, with an asking price of £25.00 when available. The 2003 Airmail Directional Handstamps is also occasionally offered at auction; for example, a lot comprising both the 1993 and 1995 Jusqu’à volumes plus the 2003 directional handstamps and its 2007 supplement was sold by a major auction house.