Unfranked cover to “Poste Restante” counter at Athens G.P.O., Greece from a provisioner sergeant with the 1st Infantry Regiment (2nd Hellenic Division) guarding the railway line from Tourbali to Balatzik in Turkey (within the Smyrna greater area in the country’s Aegean region under Greek administration, 1921-22). Sender’s details (in Greek) on flap: ‘‘Παν. Πυρπυρής Λοχίας Σιτιστής 5ου Λόχου, 1ο Πεζ. Σύνταγμα, ΤΤ 907.
Cover bears sender’s signature on reverse for self-censure certification.
Addressee is Miss Georgia Despotopoulou [under “Γ. Δ.” Greek initials], known along with her two sisters Nefeli and Ioanna for having kept correspondence with Greek enlisted men in all fronts from 1912 (Balkan Wars) to 1923 (shortly after the expedition to Turkey).
Postmarked for despatch with “ΤΑΧ. ΤΟΜ. 907 / 8 ΙΟΥΛ. 19” [(Greek) Army Post Office 907, 8 July 1919] military date-stamp, allotted to II Division.
[The large “17” handwritten number on cover’s front side indicates addressee’s recorded incoming serial number, placed in arithmetical progression on each new letter received and filed for reference as each letter was always answered later.]
Passed by Greek censor after it was opened and inspected on arrival in Athens; resealed with tape printed ‘ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΛΟΓΟΚΡΙΣΙΑ / CENSURE HELLENIQUE’ in frame, tied with two-line h/s reading in Greek/French ’ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΛΟΓΟΚΡΙΣΙΑ / CENSURE HELLENIQUE / 28’ in black. It also bears a single circled ‘440’ examiner’s handstamp on front side.
Backstamped with 10-line wavy mc ΑΘΗΝΑΙ 3.ΑΥΓ.19 ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΟΝ [Athens civil Central PO, 3 August 1919] postal marking upon arrival at destination.
Last, it had been postmarked with same day s.l. ΑΘΗΝΑΙ 3 ΑΥΓ.19 (ΑΦΙΞΙΣ) [Athens Civil Central PO, 14 April 1922] on arrival at final destination, presumably ending at its “Poste Restante” counter.
All dates in Julian calendar.
Item condition: Very good; albight opened roughly; see scans.