Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian Mcqueen Exclusive [ 2026 Update ]

The postal authorities used handstamps or manuscript notations—often bearing the word "Jusqu'à" followed by a city name—to inform handlers exactly where the expensive airmail service ended and the standard surface service began. This ensured proper routing and prevented the incorrect charging of postal rates.

The Jusqu’à marking is one of the most intriguing and often misunderstood features of early international airmail. Derived from the French "Jusqu’à" meaning "as far as" or "up to," these handstamps or labels indicated the point up to which surface postage had been prepaid, after which airmail surcharges applied.

: Common marks include purple parallel bars (mute bars) used to strike through airmail instructions.

Tells the transit office exactly when to put the letter on a train or ship. Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian McQueen

To appreciate the significance of McQueen’s study, one must first understand the terminology. The phrase Jusqu'à translates from French as "as far as" or "up to."

His work is characterised by meticulous, self‑published research. McQueen’s scholarship was primarily aimed at fellow collectors, offering them the tools to identify and catalogue markings that had long been overlooked. He wrote extensively in philatelic journals, including articles on the London airmail service from 1929 to 1946, and later produced a comprehensive two‑volume follow‑up, (2003), which further expanded on the foundational work laid down in his study of jusqu’à markings.

Given that the original Ian McQueen study is rare (typically selling at auction for $150-$400 depending on condition), how does the modern collector access it? Derived from the French "Jusqu’à" meaning "as far

If you own a copy of Ian McQueen’s study or possess a cover bearing a "Jusqu’a" marking, philatelic libraries encourage you to submit scans to the Aerophilately Research Group to help update and preserve this vital area of postal history.

How did a postal clerk in London inform his counterpart in Egypt that the airmail service for this letter should stop at a specific transit point? They used . The clerk would handstamp or write "Jusqu’a Paris" or "Jusqu’a Marseille" on the cover, coupled with the precise airmail fee paid.

The French postal system was the most prolific user of the literal "Jusqu'à" handstamp. McQueen details how French exchange offices processed mail originating from Great Britain and the Americas destined for the French colonies in Africa and Asia. To appreciate the significance of McQueen’s study, one

McQueen's research into Jusqu'a Airmail Markings has yielded several key findings and insights. One of the most significant is the discovery that Jusqu'a markings were used more extensively than previously thought, with examples found on mail sent from a wide range of countries and routes. McQueen has also identified several distinct types of Jusqu'a markings, each with its own unique characteristics and design features. These findings have significant implications for collectors and researchers, providing a new understanding of the use and significance of Jusqu'a markings.

(The British and American equivalent).

To understand why Ian McQueen’s study is essential, one must first understand the problem facing postal clerks in the 1920s and 1930s.