Franchise Mail 1939 France To America

Is anyone familiar with Hospital Free Mail. The year is 1939 as the company of Potter and Johnston was not started til after 1839. The FM I believe is free mail and I am fairly sure the language is French. Looks like 22 Nov so the war would have started in Europe. I can't tell any more about the envelop hoping someone else can. - and with that I will be back tomorrow, I am off to the land of Nod -Thanks Jeff

According to the website below, FM on French mail indicates Military post.





http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_identfh.html

I am guessing then that the Hopital Complementaire gave it free franking, because there was no stamp. Still very curious?

It is possible that the letter was sent from a soldier or military nurse on active duty or O.A.S. (On Active Service) and if so, were entitled to free postage.

are there any particular markings on the back of the cover or a return address??

Chimo

Bujutsu

I will make a scan when I get home from work, but there were no postal markings on the back, just two words (in French IIRC) that seemed innocuous. Thanks - Jeff

here is the reverse side of that envelope (well that part that has anything on it) - jeff

In philately a franchise stamp or frank stamp is a stamp given to an individual or organisation to enable them to send mail without charge. Typical recipients include charities, refugees and soldiers on active service (military franchise stamps).

France overprinted a 90c stamp with an olive branch design for refugees from the Spanish Civil War (Scott No. S1) and Brazil issued a franchise stamp between 1865 and 1870 for use by soldiers during the war with Paraguay. In Portugal franchise stamps were issued to members of the military commission in charge of prisoners of war and to a number of other organisations, including the Red Cross Society, civilian rifle clubs and the Geographical Society of Lisbon.

Franchise stamps have also been issued by Switzerland and Spain.

and also Vietnam I believe.

"hopital complementaire" looks like special medical
centres, training surgeons and hospital staff
especially for the armed services.

So I am getting that we are of the consesus that it is Franchise Mail, the back of envelope has his name and something army, it came from a hospital around Contrexville, France and delivered to Pawtucket, RI???

That's it :)
It may assist you to search and Google "potter and Johnson"
to see what machines (medical?) they may have produced.

Yea, did that,they made shaper and lathes and did not start business until 1893 (that is how I knew that the envelope was 1939 not 1839. So I think that it was more of acquaintance than business. (just guessing)