Wecker, 6 Jun 1919, to Trier, Germany
The postal history of Luxembourg during and shortly after World
War I is still poorly understood by many collectors, largely because it has been inadequately documented. It could easily be the subject of an award-winning tome. Here is an illustrative example.
This is a front from a 10,000-franc money letter posted from Wecker to Germany in June of 1919. It was returned with a rectangular ‘Retour/Zurück’ handstamp and ‘non-admis’ in purple manscript. Why?
Nicely franked with the 5c, 40c, 1F, and 2½F definitives, the rate presumably is 30c for a 20-250g letter to Germany, 25c registry fee, and 10c/300F money letter fee (10,000F/300F = 34 x 10c = 3.40 F), totaling 3.95 F. (The Basien-Hoffkamp rate book shows the 5c/300F fee still in effect; either the ratebook is wrong or the Wecker postal clerk mis-rated this money letter.)
Duchscher & Company in Wecker has provided us with many well-franked commercial covers. Some of the early Duchscher air mail covers are truly spectacular. But this 1919 money letter front needs further explanation before it can take an honored place in my WWI postal history collection. Can you help?
