SWITZERLAND 1942 WW2 ILLUSTRATED HERMES TYPEWRITERS WW2 CENSORED COVER YVERDON TO LIMA PERU
1942 (Sep. 28), commercial illustrated airmail cover from Yverdon to Lima, Peru, routed via Geneva during World War II. The envelope is franked with a 1Fr green Airmail definitive (Staubbach Falls) and an 80c grey-black definitive, cleanly tied by two strikes of a black circular date stamp inscribed "YVERDON" ['28.IX.42-13']. The face exhibits a blue trilingual airmail label, a purple printed rate indicator reading "Fr.1.30 par 5 g.", a typed routing line reading "Lignes 432/450 Genève 1 9h.35", a purple circular censor handstamp "13", and an illustrated blue sender advertising layout for Paillard & Cie S.A. featuring three distinct models of Hermes typewriters (Machines à écrire Hermes). It is addressed to the Sociedad Comercial Suizo-Peruana S.A. in Lima, Peru. The cover was intercepted by British authorities, displaying a cream "OPENED BY / EXAMINER 5665" sealing tape along the left edge. The cover features a vertical crease through the center, otherwise remaining in intact commercial condition.
This wartime commercial cover captures the complex logistical paths required to maintain corporate trade lines between neutral Switzerland and South America during the height of World War II. Sent by the famous precision manufacturing firm Paillard & Cie—creators of the iconic Hermes typewriter lines—the letter was targeted for specific transport via Geneva's specialized air corridors. Because transatlantic shipping and aviation routes were tightly policed by Allied intelligence blocks, the packet was routed through British imperial censor stations, where it was opened, examined, and resealed with standard examiner tape. The striking industrial graphic of the typewriter models on the face, coupled with the precise flight corridor annotations, makes this a clear diagnostic record of corporate communication navigating a global conflict.
Please examine lot scan carefully and please send any questions at least 48 hours before the auction closes. Please note that cover condition usually includes normal wear and tear to cover edges, opening tears and some creases and wrinkles. Only exceptional or extreme condition issues will be mentioned.
Legend:
PS - Postal Stationery
FL - Folded Letter
SFL - Stampless Folded Letter
RPO - Railway Post Office
CDS - Circular Date Stamp
DPO - Dead Post Office
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