1944 Overseas Royal Canadian Air Force Franking Stamp Cover

Found this is a pile of GB covers I set aside for an article on British War Economy Label covers for my local stamp club which is why I picked it up in the first place.

It has a very interesting Overseas H.G.R,C,A,F. Franking stamp that I have never seen before, not surprising although I collect Canada stamps, I specialize in GB.

I cant seem find a lot of other examples or any information on this. It is certainly interesting and I plan to add it to my collection, but is it rare etc......

I think the H is actually an M, though I stil don't know what it stands for. It is also sligtly curious that the economy label is covering the back seal and there is no adress on the front. Perhaps the envelopes first use was private for just keeping something clean and safe rather than a postal use. Otherwise perhaps the clerk who used the envelope was new and didn't know what the war economy label was for, and nobody ever reads instructions.

Rather than the H being an M, I would expect the G being a Q, making it Overseas Headquarters Royal Canadian Air Force, i.e., 'OVERSEAS HQ RCAF.'

Examining it closer with a magnifying glass I think it is HQRCAF. I searched for that but still no luck finding other examples or information on it.

I think you will be lucky to find any information about this online except for the fact that there are two different proofs known which are NOT identical to the one used. One prrof is fairly similar to yours and the other has a large K S in the design.

I really hope you do find some info though !! as I have three or four of the markings or whatever you want to call them and have never been able to find much information about them.

The proofs show the text is clearly OVERSEAS H.Q.R.C.A.F.

In short I do not think anyone knows what they are or even if they were originally intended for use on postal items.

The ones I have are all on reuse labels and dated early 1944. The proof for these has a note 1942 next to it. I will try and find the original article for this. I have a scan of it but no reference as to where it came from. Mine are in green as well a purple.

I have seen it suggested that they were some sort of authorising stamp to show the item was officially used but in that case I would have thought they were would be many more of them and they seemed very elaborate for that use. Also why would you need something like that.

Another thought is that they were used in a similar way to the OAT handstamps on airmails. that were normally only applied to the top item in a bundle but that is no help in knowing why.

If you are thinking of selling this please send me an email.

AQ

Regardless if its intended use, it essentially provides a return address to this letter.