Hey Guatemala Experts

Does this cover, Guatemala to Canal Zone look like it was censored mail ???

A little bit bigger, bobggggg? Seems like a nice cover...

Bob, all mail from Guatemala to the US or any US possession or territory or the Canal Zone in Panama was censored. The reason is that during WW II Guatemala did not declare war on Germany (and probably other reasons as well). Nor did Guatemala support the war effort. Interesting trivia of the era is the story of a newly purchase German built locomotive that was not yet delivered by the war's start. Later, the US Navy was searching for the German merchant ship carrying the locomotive in order to sink it. The ship was not found by the US Navy because it was redirected to a South American nation where the locomotive was unloaded and stored until the war's end. Also, many Germans immigrated to Guatemala beginning in the early 1900s which may have dampened Guatemala's interest in taking sides against Germany in WW II.

Marty

Right on Marty, according to El Quetzal in the 19th century Guatemala offered huge grants of land to Germans to create coffee plantations...People from many countries including the U.S. and Germany were involved in building the Occidental and Orientale railroads..prior to that mail was delivered accross Guatemala by mule!

sure looks like censor tape ! mailed from buzon or mail drop 68 !

That is a lovely cover, interesting to both Guatamalan, Canal Zone (me)
and Lions Club Thematic collectors.

Nice cover! Mail from Central America to the Canal Zone is difficult to get.

David

Good eye Rod ! I did not see the Lions until you mentioned it !!

That's quite an early Lions club reference Philb, the first appearing 1933 IIRC