Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian Mcqueen ^hot^

The publication of a supplement only two years after the main volume demonstrates both the rapid pace of new discoveries in this field and McQueen’s dedication to keeping his work current. The supplement, even longer than the original book, incorporated amendments and additions pasted onto pages—a testament to the hands‑on, evolving nature of the research.

Perhaps the most valuable contribution of McQueen’s work is his analysis of the “unspoken contract” between postal administrations. He argues that the Jusqu’à marking was a risk-management tool. If an airmail consignment was forced to offload at an intermediate point due to weather or mechanical failure, the marking protected the postal authority from claims of non-delivery by air. By clearly stating the intended limit, the marking transferred the risk of delay to the sender. McQueen cites a fascinating 1933 memo from the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain, which attempted to standardize such markings, only to see the effort fail due to national pride and competing airline interests. This episode, meticulously reconstructed from archival correspondence, is a highlight of the study. Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian McQueen

The study received positive attention from philatelic societies and journals. A book review in the ’s publication in November 1993 noted the work’s importance for students of international airmail. Similarly, the Canadian Aerophilatelist carried a review by Kendall C. Sanford, who concluded: “The book should stimulate interest in Jusqu’a Airmail markings, and I recommend it to all aerophilatelists”. Sanford also pointed out a minor weakness—the bibliography listed periodicals without volume or issue numbers, making it difficult to locate specific articles—but this did not detract from the study’s overall value. The publication of a supplement only two years

His study broke down Jusqu’à indicators into three primary visual categories: He argues that the Jusqu’à marking was a

World War II radically altered global flight paths. The occupation of Europe and the dangers of Mediterranean airspace meant that traditional air routes were severed overnight. McQueen’s study details how until-airmail markings were used adaptively during the war to guide mail through circuitous alternative paths, such as the famous "Horseshoe Route" via Africa and India. The Legacy of McQueen's Monograph