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Dutch Radio Letter from Singapore to Saigon (Cambodia)
In this case a Radio Letter is a written confirmation of a radiotelegraphic message posted on board a ship.
The letter was handled by the postagent of the post office on board the ship on January 10, 1933. The cover bears two strikes of his double circle handstamp POSTAGENT AMSTERDAM - BATAVIA. Postagent on board was mostly a member of the crew with the rank of officer.
According to an agreement between members of the Universal Post Union postage at inland rate with stamps of the state of origin of the vessel was allowed for this category. In this case a Dutch stamp of 6 cents is used, the Dutch inland letter rate at that time.
On arrival in the harbor of Singapore the post agent handed over the letter to the postmaster of a post office on land.
The letter is backstamped with two postmarks: one of the day of departure at Singapore on January 10 and one of the day at arrival at Saigon 10 days later.
Some notes about Radio Letters:
- Radio Letters in opposite direction (from the mainland to ship) can't occur.
- These letters may not be confused with telegrams (which are telegraphically sent over the whole route)
- Radio Letters are rather rare and till now not much is published about them in the philatelic press.
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