LOST IN TRANSIT

Today (25.12.2021) I started to put together the Lost in Transit- exhibition collection - “One of the World’s most difficult subject!”

Years ago I found an interesting letter from Canada, but unfortunately one stamp had come off and it was therefore not collectable ... except that it had an interesting hand stamp like I had never seen before: "Timbre Détaché". It fired my interest and I started researching it.

The U.P.U Congress of 1897 recommended that the recognition of stamps lost in the post should be recognized by a hand stamp either when sorted in transit or on receipt. The recommendation was not a mandate but suggested that for foreign mail wording of the hand stamp should also include a French description since it was the Universal language of the U.P.U.

The French Post used "TIMBRE TOMBÈ" (Stamps fallen off) and EGARÈ (Lost). Other countries have also used TIMBRE DÈTACHÈ, TIMBRE MANQUE (Lacking) and TRACE DE TIMBRES (Eveidence of stamps). The Americans used english descriptions only.

Compiling this exhibition has been, and still is, one of the most difficult task ever, as 99.99% of envelopes that have lost their stamps during delivery have been thrown away as non-collectibles.

And that 0.01% hasn’t ended up selling because these letters have been deemed worthless. These Lost in transit-letters are indeed one of the rarest items in the Postal History, even taking into account their approximately 70-year use, and their "hunting" has required time and patience, as well as good luck.

My intention is to build a special collection of 2-3 frames on this difficult but quite interesting topic. I have never seen a collection on this subject, let alone an exhibition collection.

I will gladly take all available assistance in building this collection, so if you or your friends have letters or information on this subject, please get in touch.

On first appearance as a single frame collection, It received Silver Medal (9.9.2022)