Cover from Italian-held Cephalonia Island, Ionian Sea to Athens, deposited open for inspection; ms endorsed ‘Δια Κερκύρας’ [via Kerkyra (Corfu)] in Greek.
Franked with 50c. (King Victor Emmanuel III) Italian adhesive (1929 regular issue) overprinted “ISOLE JONIE’ in red (1941), cancelled on departure with ΑΡΓΟΣΤΟΛΙΟΝ 19 ΙΑΝ. 43 [Argostolion 19 January 1943] date-stamp.
Examined by the Italians at Corfu in transit; stamped with small single-circle “2” reader censor marking in violet. Backstamped with ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑ (ΑΦΙΞΙΣ) 7 ΦΕΒ. 43 [Kerkyra/Corfu, Arrival 7 February 1943] date-stamp.
[The Ionian Islands were part of Greece. During WW2, they were occupied in April/May 1941 by Italian troops, who remained in the area until 12 September 1943, when the islands passed under German domination following Italy's armistice of 8 September 1943.]
Backstamped upon arrival in Athens with the ‘ΑΘΗΝΑΙ ΑΦΙΞΙΣ 18?.IΙ.43’ [Athens Arrival, 18? February 1943] extremely indiscernible dated cancelling-machine postal marking, added with 4-line imprinted patriotism promotion slogan of the time (1943) in Greek, reading “ΕΓΓΡΑΦΕΙΤΕ ΕΙΣ ΤΑ ΕΝΤΟΚΑ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΤΡΑΠΕΖΩΝ / ΩΦΕΛΕΙΤΕ ΤΟΝ ΕΑΥΤΟΝ ΣΑΣ ΕΝΙΣΧΥΕΤΕ ΤΗΝ ΔΡΑΧΜΗΝ” [Register for the interest-bearing Bank bonds / You benefit yourselves, you reinforce the drachma (the Greek currency)].
Condition: Very good (still remained open); see scans.
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