This book is primarily aimed at:
In the context of postal history, a Jusqu'à marking indicates the specific point to which a letter was carried by airmail. During the early and mid-20th century, airmail routes were often fragmented. A letter might travel by air from London to Karachi, but then continue by surface transport (ship or rail) to its final destination.
A clerk stamped or wrote a directive on the envelope indicating where the air transit must stop.
: An 109-page illustrated guide published by W.A. Page . Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian McQueen
Beyond his work on Jusqu’a Airmail Markings , McQueen is also known for his articles in the philatelic press. For example, his piece “Air cancels: the sequel to jusqu’a markings, part one” appeared in the May 1993 issue of Gibbons Stamp Monthly , the same year his main study was published. He also wrote on South African air cancels (June 1994) and contributed regularly to the The Kiwi journal, where he explored the use of routing handstamps from New Zealand.
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.
Based on McQueen's study, potential areas for future research include: This book is primarily aimed at: In the
Common bilingual or French-language stamps included phrases like "Par avion jusqu'à [City Name]" (By air until...) or "Jusqu'à [City Name] seulement" (...only). The Legacy of Ian McQueen's Study
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Ian McQueen's work remains a cornerstone for postal historians because it answers—and often raises—critical questions about international mail routes and regional postal operations. By the mid-1950s, as global air travel became standard, the need for "jusqu'à" markings faded, leaving behind a finite and fascinating era of markings that McQueen has perfectly preserved for future study. A clerk stamped or wrote a directive on
If you are fortunate enough to locate a copy of Jusqu’à Airmail Markings – A Study (original print runs were likely under 500 copies), or if you find a digital scan in a philatelic society library, here is how to use it:
McQueen identifies two common forgery types:
McQueen’s work on Jusqu’à markings was not an isolated project. In 2003, he published a two‑volume study entitled Airmail Directional Handstamps (A Study) . This set comprised 233 and 140 pages (sequentially numbered, totalling 371 pages), comb‑bound, A4 size, and privately published by the author from his address in Bournemouth. A supplement to this work followed in 2007.
The world of philately, or stamp collecting, is a fascinating one, with a rich history and a vast array of unique and intriguing specimens to study and collect. One area of particular interest to collectors and researchers is the study of airmail markings, which provide a window into the development of air transportation and communication systems around the world. In this article, we will explore the work of Ian McQueen, a renowned philatelist and expert in the field of airmail markings, with a particular focus on his research into Jusqu'a Airmail Markings.
McQueen consciously restricted his scope to the “true Jusqu’a and Jusqu’a type handstamps, together with the air mail cancel handstamps which were used to mark the end of the flown mail service”. Among the items he described and illustrated are: