Pre-Cruzeiro industrial mail, mixed franking, Correio Aereo backstamp
OVERVIEW
Offered is an original 1941 Brazil commercial airmail cover sent from the Engineering Department of Byington Cia in Rio de Janeiro to Mr. H. B. Redcay in Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
The cover bears a high-value mixed franking totaling 10,000 réis and is clearly marked “VIA AÉREA,” making it a strong example of Brazil-to-United States industrial correspondence during the WWII era and immediately before Brazil’s 1942 conversion from réis to cruzeiro.
FRANKING & POSTAL HISTORY
The cover is franked with four Brazilian adhesive stamps totaling 10,000 réis: one 1,000r issue, two 2,000r issues, and one 5,000r issue.
The stamps appear to be from the late réis-period Brazilian definitive series, with exact Scott varieties not verified from the available images.
The stamps are tied by Rio de Janeiro circular datestamps dated 8 March 1941.
The cover also shows the printed Byington Cia / Depto. de Engenharia / Caixa Postal 723 Rio de Janeiro corner card, the “VIA AÉREA” routing instruction, a Portuguese return instruction, Modelo 89 marking, and a reverse “Correio Aéreo D. Federal Brasil” backstamp confirming airmail handling within the Brazilian postal system.
CONTEXT & COLLECTOR APPEAL
This cover has stronger appeal than a routine Brazil airmail item because it combines a corporate engineering sender, a U.S. industrial recipient, high-value pre-Cruzeiro réis franking, and documented transcontinental airmail routing.
Byington Cia was part of Brazil’s electrical and engineering business environment, and correspondence from its Engineering Department likely reflects technical, procurement, or industrial communication with U.S. contacts.
The named recipient, H. B. Redcay of Reading, Pennsylvania, adds a specific U.S. destination anchor and makes the cover more researchable than an anonymous commercial mailing.
ITEM SPECIFICS
Year: 1941
Country: Brazil
Type: Commercial Airmail Cover
Origin: Rio de Janeiro, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Destination: Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Sender: Byington Cia, Department of Engineering
Addressee: Mr. H. B. Redcay
Franking Type: Mixed Adhesive Stamp Franking
Total Franking: 10,000 Reis
Denominations: 1,000r, 2,000r x2, 5,000r
Currency: Brazilian Reis, pre-Cruzeiro
Color:Multi-color
Route / Service: Via Aerea
Backstamp: Correio Aereo D. Federal Brasil
Cancellation Type: Circular Datestamp
Theme: Industrial Business Airmail
Subject: Byington Engineering Correspondence
Era: WWII Era / Pre-Cruzeiro Brazil
Quality: Used
Grade: Ungraded
Certification: Uncertified
Topic: Brazil Industrial WWII Airmail Commercial Cover
SKU: BRAZIL-1941-BYINGTON-REIS-AERO
CONDITION
Original commercially used 1941 airmail cover in sound collectible condition.
The envelope shows expected handling wear, vertical file folds, creasing, light toning, and normal edge wear consistent with business correspondence and international postal handling.
The stamps remain affixed and tied, the typed address is legible, the Byington Engineering corner card is clear, and the airmail markings remain visible.
Please review all high-resolution photographs carefully for exact condition, folds, edge wear, postmark clarity, stamp condition, backstamp, and overall appearance.