The Fifteen-cent Prexie
European airmail usage
The rate for airmail letters to Europe was fifteen cents from November 1, 1946 through April 30, 1967.
A commercial airmail letter sent from New York to Sweden on the first day of the new uniform foreign airmail rates.
A Christmas Card sent to Turkey in 1950. As it was sealed and mailed in the middle of December, the sender chose to pay the full airmail rate.
By November 1, 1946, foreign airmail rates from territories and possesions were the same as from the mainland. This letter was sent from Canton Island to England in 1953 for fifteen cents. It appears that the sender meant to register the letter, but they did not pay the registry fee. There is one backstamp that could have been the beginning of a registry series, but no others.
Military personnel outside the United States could mail letters "abroad" using the same rates as if they were located in the continental US. This was sent to France from China for fifteen cents.
This letter was sent to Belgium by a member of the Belgian UN Battalion attached to the US First Infantry during the Korean War. Since it was sent through an APO the postage was at the European airmail rate.
APO mail sent by a foreign national, a Lieutenant of the Swiss Team of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. The NNSC was originally created to inspect for and ensure armistice compliance at locations outside of the DMZ between North and South Korea.
As post cards did not get their own airmail rates until June 1, 1954, the fifteen-cent European rate applied to them as well. This one was sent home to the Netherlands by a tourist to Mesa Verde in 1951.
