{"product_id":"original-wwii-german-censored-cover-from-brazil-to-basel-switzerland-wehrmacht-high-command-geoffnet-censor-seal","title":"Original WWII German Censored Cover from Brazil to Basel, Switzerland-Wehrmacht High Command “Geoffnet” Censor Seal","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal World War II international postal cover sent from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrazil to Basel, Switzerland\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which passed through German wartime censorship and retains an impressive assortment of postal markings, censor seals, stamps, and inspection tape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe envelope is addressed to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMrs. Mitzi Langer, Stachelaine 12, Basel, Switzerland\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and bears two original Brazilian postage stamps, including a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e500 Réis Marshal Floriano Peixoto\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e issue and a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2,000 Réis “Instrução”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e issue. Period postal cancellations and transit markings remain visible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOf particular historical interest is the prominent German censorship label reading \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Geöffnet”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (“Opened”) together with the Third Reich eagle and swastika and the inscription:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Oberkommando der Wehrmacht”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis identifies the cover as having been \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eopened and inspected by the German Armed Forces High Command postal censorship apparatus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e during World War II. German authorities systematically examined international correspondence passing through or near German-controlled postal routes in an effort to detect military intelligence, coded communications, prohibited information, and other material considered important to wartime security.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse carries additional postal and censorship markings, including a clearly visible \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBasel Briefausgabe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e arrival\/backstamp. The combination of Brazilian origin, Swiss destination and German military censorship makes this a particularly interesting example of the complicated international postal system that continued operating during the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cover appears to have been opened and resealed during its travels and retains multiple period paper strips, tape sections, handwritten routing numbers and inspection markings. The various layers and markings provide excellent visual character and make this a strong display piece for a WWII postal-history collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Good original wartime condition with substantial handling wear consistent with international postal use and censorship. There are creases, tears, edge wear, staining, old tape and paper repairs, and areas where the envelope was opened and resealed. Both Brazilian postage stamps remain attached. The German \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOberkommando der Wehrmacht “Geöffnet”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e censorship marking is especially clear and displays extremely well. Please examine photographs carefully for complete condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Whiskey Rebellion Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43369550807117,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0610\/9229\/8829\/files\/EEA3C4F4-9A81-4A0F-8D59-2D8F0B30080B.jpg?v=1786042412","url":"https:\/\/whiskeyrebellionantiques.com\/products\/original-wwii-german-censored-cover-from-brazil-to-basel-switzerland-wehrmacht-high-command-geoffnet-censor-seal","provider":"Whiskey Rebellion Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}