Paquebot Cover

Don't know if this post should correctly be a World Covers or U.S. Covers post, so I'll start here.

My question is whether Paquebot covers especially collectible? I never heard of it before until I recently came across a rather basic cover from 1936 with a Great Britain stamp bearing a New York, NY cancel imprinted "Paquebot".

Since a U.S. cancel on a Great Britain stamp is unusual, I looked it up and realized it was from mail sent from merchant ships or cruise ships, so it seemed as though it would be a interesting field to collect.

Yes, they are collectable and there are numerous types of Paquebot postmarks. They can also be found on covers from a variety of countries too.
Enjoy!

That's a very nice cover wt1,
I don't recall ever seeing "paquebot" as part of a duplex
killer before.The cover is nice and crisp and clear, a keeper.

Correction : machine cancel.

Thanks. I agree the cover is a "keeper". From what I've read, the machine cancel may not be rare, but is unusual, as many of such covers seem to have "Paquebot" affixed by either a handstamp or handwriting.

I love paquebot covers, especially when they have KGV on them.

Here's two I recently picked up. Sent on a Mediterranean cruise to the same recipient. The first was posted on board after departure from Southampton on 6 Feb 1928. The second has a quite lovely Torino (Turin) paquebot postmark dated 14 Feb 1928.

I haven't scanned the backs, but they carry the following imprint "Frank Tourist Co, Mediterranean Cruise", with a Cunard flag and logo underneath.

Cost me about a buck fifty each

This Paquebot cover uses South Africa Stamp, cancelled at Southampton and sent to Rhodesia, was it possible to use the Africa stamp for postage in UK. a bit confusing??

Here's the only paquebot cover in my collection. Has a pair of U.S. Scott 632s; entered the mail stream in Le Havre, France; destination Detroit, Michigan.

Regards, Robert

Edit: Replaced image for one without watermark.

I love Paquebot covers and am always looking for them. They are highly collectible and a great source for information on the various types is here http://www.tpo-seapost.org.uk/

Just a few of mine.

I always wondered if "Paquebot" had any significant meaning.

I actually have two letters to Grandma with one complaining about the "fierce vibration" from the Maiden Voyage.

I also was able to spend my Honeymoon night on board the ship while docked in Long Beach. Very nice brunch, as I remember. (I woke up a little late that day, for some reason ...)

It took some searching, but I found another Paquebot cover in
my Hong Kong section. I love the underlying picture. Kind of odd
that we have Hong Kong stamps, a Canada cancel, and delivered to
New Jersey (no further cancels on front or back.)

Does someone know how they determine which country's stamps to use? I would assume that the cancellation happens at whatever port where the mailbag arrives. Correct?

Karen

Nice topic, fascinating area or collecting - and not so common. Here is a postcard, postmarked Colombo from my KGV collection.

kehess had asked "Does someone know how they determine which country's stamps to use?".. so I shall give an answer.

While at sea the vessel is considered to be part of the country where the vessel is registered so uses the stamps of that country. The mail is taken ashore at the next port and given a "paquebot" mark to show they were posted at sea.

This explains, for instance, the Hong Kong stamps used on board a Hong Kong registered vessel... taken ashore at British Columbia... to be delivered to the USA.

The Universal Postal Union regulations dealt with ship mail. See this article:

http://greatbritainphilately.blogsp...ip-mail.html

Thank you, scotzm and lorddenning!
I had forgotten that I had asked the question but I'm glad to have the answer. Interesting topic!

How is paquetbot pronounced or what does it sound like. I have enough trouble with English.