"Removed" GB Marking

I have this British postcard with the word "REMOVED" on it.

Can any member shed any light about how and why this marking was used?

Thanks a lot

Chimo

Bujutsu

Just a guess

If that is an out of date cancel[ the stamp is from 1929 ], during WW2 the Britts used Blackout cancels, so that if mail was intercepted by the Germans, they would not know where the Main P.O.s were, and harbors.

Thanks bobggg

The cancellation is also 1929, between the 2 World Wars though. The "REMOVED' suggests to me that 'something was removed from the card as opposed to 're-moved' meaning to a new location. Also a guess on my part <G>. Thanks for the suggestion.

Chimo

Bujutsu

No, no, no. "Removed" is British for "moved," which is why you see another address penciled in.

Another new thing learned on SCF today!



I don't collect covers, but that's both interesting and useful to know.

k

Thinking about this a little more -- why would the British post office be stamping "REMOVED" on the postcard? If the postcard could not be delivered as addressed, I would have thought the US post office would be hand-stamping it and then looking for an updated address. I don't see a return address, so it doesn't appear that the postcard could have been sent back to GB. What don't I understand here?

Bujutsu, could I trouble you to change the title of this thread. Maybe something like: "REMOVED" handstamp on British postcard? It would facilitate future searches. Thank you in advance!

Didn't realize it was a British term for a new relocation. Thanks for letting me know. Something new for me again.

I don't know why I didn't clue in to the address being marked out and another in place of it. I was thinking more on the lines of improper postage or a stamp was 'removed'.

So, after learning this, I guess I can call this marking an 'instructional' one (?)

Chimo

Bujutsu

Forgive my stupidity here but I cannot remember how to change a title of a thread. I did it once before but it was some time ago. I did it with the "Paquebot" cancellations thread.

I am willing to change this thread to REMOVED Marking.

Sorry to be a problem

Chimo

Bujutsu

Edit your first post- in the box where it says 'title' change it to 'GB REMOVED marking on 1929 postcard' or whatever title you want.

Looks like someone needs some . . . er . . what are these called?

khj
I'm with you. Don't see how this mark is anything to do with the postal service from Great Britain. The card was originally addressed to Brooklyn, then crossed through and re-addressed to a different New York location. Doesn't look like anything is missing from the card, so what 'REMOVED' means in this case is a mystery to me. I can't find any reference to such a mark being used by our Post Office, but I stand to be corrected. As for 'REMOVED' meaning moved (to a new location) in Britain, never heard that!
DavidR

Those aren't staple holes above the D in POST CARD, are they?

(The theory I'm chasing is that someone illegally attached something to a card that was only paying the postcard rate.)

From Google:



So the new address is 'at a remove' or has been removed from the former location to it's new location. The verb removed is referring to the actual business or people at that location while also referring to the actual address as an entity, so both have been remobved and relocated to a new location or destination, postally speaking.

A slightly oilder, formal term.

I am inclined to agree with the explanation provided by Doug and Puzzler.

The post card is postmarked in Hythe in Kent.

I agree the "Removed" handstamp will have been applied in the US. "Removed" used to be a common word here in the UK for "moved house" and I guess it was used to some extent in the US also at one time.

Puzzler, "remove" was an intransitive verb in this sense so "we removed to Kent" not "we were removed to Kent".

I've heard the word used in this sense here occasionally in recent years but not often and it sounds old-fashioned to me when I do hear it. However, the words "removers" and "removals" are still used regularly in the UK by firms that transport your household furniture and belongings when you move house.