POST OFFICE INFORMATION SLIPS (2)

REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Ai Li-Shan

Reference issue #154 for the first article in this series of “Slips”. We hope that you take an active part in reporting usage information from your collection. In many cases only one example is reported. Only with your active participation in this project can we establish the dates and place of usage by the post office.

Form #3 was used on a letter from Soochow to Shanghai, March 8, 1947. The form was affixed at Shanghai.

Slip white paper with red ink.

Thickness - .0030 inches

Size: 52 x 98 mm

Translated: (keep in mind that the cancel obscures part of the form). WHY DID THIS LETTER REACH YOU SO FAST? - Because it was transported via the train mobile postoffice!

The train post office is connected to the night train between Nanking – Shanghai Railways. The trains run to the opposite city every night separately from Nanking and Shanghai and the postal works work in the Train Post Office all night so that all mail can be handled to the opposite post office as the train arrives.

For the convenience of the public, we have set five special pillar boxes at the following spots: Chang-Jen East Road and Tibet Middle Road.; Lin-Shang Middle Road and Chang=Saw Road; Jine-An Temple and Yu-Yen Road.; Chang-Jen North 1 road and Nanking West Road.: )covered by postmark) and Nanking East Road.; Also a postal kiosk is set in the train station. The mail posted to the five special pillar boxes before 21:30 at night or to the postal kiosk at the train station before 10:45 can all catch the Train Post Office at the same night and reach (Nanking) ready to be delivered the next morning.

The following series of information slips has basically the same translation as slip #3, except the top which reads FAST!!! FAST !! FAST !.

Slip #4a

Slip very light yellow paper, black ink.

Thickness: .0025 inches

Size: 69 x 118 mm, frame 58 mm wide

Used: Shanghai April 28, 1947

Slip #4b

Slip very light blue paper, black ink

Thickness: .0023 inches

Size 60 x 110 mm, frame 54 mm wide

Used: Shanghai June 14s, 1947

Slip #4c

Slip very light pink paper, black ink.

Thickness: .0022 inches

Size: 69 x 106 mm, frame 58 mm

Used: Shanghai May 30, 1947

Slip #5

Slip very light blue paper, black ink.

Thickness: .0021 inches

Size: 68 x 110 mm, frame 59 mm

Used: Shanghai April 19, 1947

Please note the alignment of the first two vertical columns on the left

Slip #6a

Slip dark blue paper, black ink.

Thickness: .0032 inches

Size: 69 x 112 mm, frame 58mm

Used: Shanghai Sep 12, 1947

Please note the upper left character in the text to separate Slip 5 from 6. The characters have been rearranged, but the two vertical columns on the right are even.

Slip #6b

Slip very light yellow paper, black ink.

Thickness: .0024 inches

Size: 69 x 108 mm, frame 58 mm

Used: Shanghai Sep 7, 1947

Please take an active part in establishing the dates of usage for the various slips, please advise the editor of dates you may have in your collection.