Lot 20361 – 1943 The finest of only two items recorded with the « Deutsche-Militärverwaltung/Rodi » hs

1943 (Nov 22) Rhodes 30c stationery postcard, additionally franked for the airmail rate with Aegean 50c, tied by « Rodi Egeo » cds and superb « Deutsche-Militärverwaltung/Rodi » postmark. The finest of only two items recorded with this German handstamp, which was used in this early and precarious period to connect back the Dodecanese with Italy; a major rarity of the Dodecanese.

Note: After the Armistice (8 September), in November 1943 the postal relationships between the Dodecanese and Italy were retaken with limited flight connections occurring occasionally; as a consequence, the capacity of loading was reduced and only postcards -not envelopes- were accepted to be transported. These postcards exhibit the German « Deutsche-Militärverwaltung/Rodi » handstamp, which function is not clear, but it was presumably applied to validate the usage and as a censorship. This item is illustrated on page 136 in « Storia Postale del Dodecaneso », vol. I, by Carloni and Cercenà (AICPM).