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WORLD WAR TWO V-MAIL STATIONARY PACKET – FULL
UNUSED PACKET IN EXCELLENT CONDITION: One of
the many innovations introduced to aid the overall war
effort during World War Two, “V-MAIL” was a process that
became very familiar to both the service people overseas
and the folks on the home front.
V-Mail was based on a process developed in the 1930’s by
the Eastman Kodak Company in conjunction with the
Imperial Airways (now British Airways) and Pan American
Airways intended to reduce the weight, and therefore the
cost, of overseas airmail. Known as “Airgraphs”, this
method of handling mail between the troops overseas and
the homeland was adopted by the British Armed Forces in
1940, and with the entry into World War Two by the
United States, our armed forces implemented this system,
and so far as the United States Armed Forces were
concerned, “V-Mail” was embraced by serviceman and
civilian alike.
As is shown in the photograph below of a completed
specimen, the form was completed by the sender, cleared
through the censors, and then photographed in a
thumbnail size on rolls of negative microfilm. Once
transported, either to the United States from the
various theaters of the war, or to those same theaters
from the families and friends at home, the negatives
were printed at 60% of its original size, and the
printed letter was delivered to the addressee.
This method dramatically reduced the weight and the bulk
of the amount of mail being carried to and from the
servicemen and their families, with some estimates
claiming that the weight of 1600 standard letters could
be reduced from 50 pounds to 5 ounces, and likewise the
space required to ship those letters was reduced to that
required for a reel of film. This system was quite
successful and remained in use throughout the war.
This original packet of V-Mail forms has survived in
excellent condition. The external folio retains its
vibrant color, is full form with all the flaps and tabs
present and intact, and all of the original 36 unused
forms are present. All of the forms are likewise in
excellent condition and in full form.
Its easy to imagine that this packet was purchased by
someone here at home, intending to write to their loved
one overseas, and for any number of reasons the forms
were never used. That the packet survived at all is
remarkable, and it was only due to being tucked away in
a steamer trunk or high on a closet shelf that it
presents in this condition.
This is great piece to add to your World War Two
collection. (0831) $100 for the full packet
NOTE: I
have a few extra single V-Mail forms which are in
excellent condition and that I will sell individually.
(0829) $5 each
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