Description
Original WWII U.S. patriotic soldier’s free mail cover from Harlingen Army Air Field, Texas, neatly machine-canceled HARLINGEN, TEXAS / JAN 24 / 1945 with the – ARMY GUNNERY SCHOOL – postal station. The illustrated cachet proclaims “A FREE FRANCE, FOR THE FREE FRENCH! ‘Marseillaise’ – Thanks to the Yanks, and British too!”-a scarcer liberation-theme design that is documented in period image libraries. Corner card reads “2124 AAF BU, Sec B, HAAF, Harlingen, Texas.” Addressed to Wm. Jarrett, Sharpsville, Indiana and correctly endorsed “Free” at upper right for military postage privilege.
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Striking Free French patriotic cachet (identical design recorded, ca. 1944)
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Harlingen AAF origin, a major WWII Flexible Gunnery School
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Clear machine cancel with ARMY GUNNERY SCHOOL designation
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Genuine soldier’s free mail usage, no postage as permitted during WWII
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Desirable crossover item: patriotic, AAF training bases, Texas postmarks, liberation themes
Condition: clean and sound example with typical light age toning/handling and a crisp cancel; manuscript “Free” as mailed. Please view all the photos for the best evaluation. We offer combined shipping on covers to save you money.
#128
