Lot# 9007

bearing a single 4 fen basic currency stamp, tied by Canton cds “49.6.4” and arriving Taipei on June 5. The cover pays only the 4 fen basic postage without any airmail surcharge; however, under the regulations at the time, airmail fees for military personnel’s family letters could be exempted provided other required postage was fully paid, and this letter was therefore transmitted by air. The franking correctly conforms to the 4 fen domestic letter rate in effect from 1949 April 29 to July 31, representing a special postal concession for military mail with exempted airmail fee. It illustrates the preferential military communication policy and the operation of airmail services in the early Silver Yuan period, a scarce commercial example of a military family letter carried by air, of significant postal history and exhibition importance.