Registered corner cover airmailed open from Corfu, Greece via Athens, Castelrosso/Egeo and Tripoli/Lebanon to Damascus/Syria on the France-Indochina Air France ‘Eastern Service’ route (Marseilles-Saigon). Bears a perforated white on bright blue airmail label (44x16mm), issued by the ‘Hellenic Air Communications Company’ (Helliniki Eteria Enaerion Syngynonion; EEES) and texted in Greek/French: “ΑΕΡΟΠΟΡΙΚΩΣ / PAR AVION”.
A white perforated printed registration etiquette numbered “52” reads “R GRÈCE KERKYRA.
Franked with pair of 80lepta ‘Corinth Canal’ (Landscapes I issue, 1927) + 8dr. ‘Athens Stadium’ (1934) plus 1dr. ‘Map of Greece’ + 5dr. ‘Jungers airplane flying over Acropolis of Athens’ (airpost Government issue, 1933) adhesives cancelled ‘ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑ 18.IV.35 ΣΥΣΤΗΜΕΝΑ’ [Corfu 18.4.1935, Registered].
Total franking: 15.60 drachmae, overrated instead of 15 Dr. for the dispatch to Syria, required as follows: 3dr. for domestic surface mail (in effect from 5 April 1933 to 27 April 1941) + 6dr. for registry fee (in effect from 1 May 1933 to 31 December 1935) plus 6dr. for the airmail tax (in effect from 22 March 1933 to 7 July 1936).
The item was flown by the 1st airmail flight from Corfu and Athens to Tripoli Lebanon and Damascus, when the itinerary of Air France changed and the flying boat landed hence after to Tripoli instead of Beirut.
[Due to a military rising in Greece during March/May 1935, the Greek air service was suspended and only Air France was flying to/from Corfu and Athens. 17 covers are recorded flown from Corfu and 73 from Athens respectively.]
Backstamped on arrival ‘DAMAS 20.4.35’; As the addressee could not be located, ‘Damas’ was crossed out and relevant ms endorsement plus a couple of boxed ‘UNCONNU/Unknown’ [in Arabic] countersigned markings were applied on front side.
Postmarked ‘DAMAS 23.4.35’ (front) for the return to sender, while it received on reverse date-stamps of ‘ALEP 24.4.35’ (Syria), and ‘ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ 29.IV.35 ΣΥΣΤΗΜΕΝΑ’ [Thessaloniki 29.4.1935, Registered] (Greece). Stamped also on arrival in final destination with the ‘ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑ –1.ΜΑΙ.35 (ΑΦΙΞΙΣ)’ [Corfu 1.5.1935, Arrival] post office handstamp.
Very rare. Condition: Fine; see scans.