A.e.f. Ww I Item

I was at the local coin shop getting some supplies, so thought I would look through some of their post cards.

For the price of $1.00 I found this little gem (to me) of postal history.....


Image 1: Front of card...


Image 2: Rear of card (you seeing it yet?)...




Image 3: Close up of cancellation...




So, in case you haven't understood what you are seeing, it is a American Expeditionary Forces Censored - A.3488 cancel. This was a free post by one of our, United States, soldiers on March 5th, 1919. The AEF (under Gerneral Pershing command)was fighting with the British and French against Germany. From the text, he is getting a 3 day pass in Neuwied Germany (about 30 miles south-southeast of Bonn) The AEF had been engaged in the fighting in Europe for about a year when this soldier got some R&R.

As a postmark collector, this is a GREAT find for my Feldpost and War camp postmark collection. I would have paid a bunch more, but $1.00 seemed do-able without haggeling!

I am a happy camper with this find!Hope you all enjoy it as well.

That is a nice find! Here lately I have really developed an interest in WWI and watch/read anything I can about it. I would love to come across items such as that postcard. Thanks for sharing it.

Rather unusual that it does not have the APO in the return address. Nice clear censor strike.

Therein lies the joy of philately,
you browse
you meander
you suddenly recognise a pertinent article
and for a $1 there is rejoicing.
Collecting is full of those moments.

Do you have any idea why they were still censoring mail in 1919? The war had been over for several months.

rohumpy, the war was indeed over but peace treaties still to be agreed, signed. For example Hungary signed the Treaty of Trianon in 04.06.1920. Germany signed the Treaty of Wersailles in 28.06.1919.

Rohumpy... No I have no idea. Remember it was the military, and the military does things that make no sense (at times).One would need a WWI historian for that answer.
From what I can find on the internet, the 822nd was infrantry division.
The return address mentions "hdqs" 822 F.A. The unit was deactivated in June of 1919, so it looks like they were still active duty for a few months more from the March date on the card. This is all bits and peices, will look into it further.. Maybe someone out there knows more on this?
There is a lot of data on the internet about this group, so I will have to do my homework on it to get any further answers.

You got a great bargain for just a buck.

A nice piece of postal history alright.

Chimo

Bujutsu