Description
Rare incoming 'Samples' mail + Austrian Anschluss postage: 6 April 1938 postmarked registered surface mail on 'Samples' imprinted vertical carton-cover postal stationary, endorsed "Muster Ohne Wert" (Sample of no Value), sent from business in VIENNA to Hausmann Transport company in HAIFA, franked 60 pfennig (German) using mixed German & Austrian franking (50pf + 15gr) & tied by multiple strikes of the WIEN-8 postmark; backstamped 14 April REGISTERED HAIFA arrival; folded shut but unsealed, for inspection.
Rare postal history on two levels: 1) 'samples' mail is an exceedingly rare type of postal item; 2) this postal item was sent during a critical phase of the German incorporation of Austria ('Anschluss' of 12 March 1938, ending postally on 31 Oct.) when from 4 April basic postage rates began to be calculated in German currency but both German and Austrian postage stamps could be used on mail (at a rate of 1.50 Austrian groschen = 1 German pfennig).
Here the postage rate paid was 47pf for the overseas registry fee (domestic was 27pf) and another 13pf for surface mailed 'samples' mail composed of 3pf left over from the German franks (2x 25pf) and the 10pf pfennig value of the 15gr in Austrian franking - a rare postage rate not documented in the standard specialized literature (25pf / 38gr was the period overseas letter 20g weight surface mail postage rate); as per a pencil notation "20gr" on the front here too this was the base weight for samples mail. From 1 Nov. 1938 Austrian postage stamps were invalid for use on mail. The addressed Hausmann transport company was a Jewish (not Templar) business and continued operating at least into the early 1950s.
