RELEASED AUSTRALIAN P.O.W. - LETTER REF. RE-OPENING OF LABUA...

Hammer

£180

RELEASED AUSTRALIAN P.O.W. - LETTER REF. RE-OPENING OF LABUAN P.O. WITH N. BORNEO "BMA" FRANKING; 18/20 Dec. 1945 env. to Sydney with "BMA" o.p. N. Borneo set to 12c (1c+2c+3c+4c+6c+8c+10c+12c) on the front tied by fine "VICTORIA/LABUAN" celebratory bar cancels with uncancelled 1c+8c on reverse; with original letter ((Australian YMCA imprint) from "Cpl A.R. Staples...R.A.E. - A.I.F." incl. "The Civil Post Office opened here yesterday [17 Dec.], for the first time since the Jap Occupation of 1941...this letter will go by sea to Singapore and thence by Air to Australia...". Plus c.1920/54 PPC/photo of (earlier) Australian Hospital Ships 'Manunda' & 'Wanganella'. (3 items)Cross Reference: LABUAN, NORTH BORNEO/SABAH, AUSTRALIA