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.
5/5 stars
Ian McQueen’s Jusqu’à" Airmail Markings: A Study is widely considered the definitive reference for postal historians and airmail collectors specializing in the "Jusqu’à" (meaning "until" or "as far as") markings of the 20th century. The Definitive Guide to "Jusqu'à" Markings
Given the keyword search, many readers are actively hunting for the Ian McQueen study. Here is the current market reality:
The book is noted for its high-quality images, which serve as an essential tool for collectors trying to identify and authenticate their own covers. The Evolution of the Study
Prior to McQueen’s work, references to Jusqu’à markings were scattered. Collectors relied on vague mentions in The French Airmail Catalogues of the 1960s. McQueen’s genius was to recognize that these markings were not errors or anomalies, but a worthy of systematic classification.
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.
5/5 stars
Ian McQueen’s Jusqu’à" Airmail Markings: A Study is widely considered the definitive reference for postal historians and airmail collectors specializing in the "Jusqu’à" (meaning "until" or "as far as") markings of the 20th century. The Definitive Guide to "Jusqu'à" Markings
Given the keyword search, many readers are actively hunting for the Ian McQueen study. Here is the current market reality:
The book is noted for its high-quality images, which serve as an essential tool for collectors trying to identify and authenticate their own covers. The Evolution of the Study
Prior to McQueen’s work, references to Jusqu’à markings were scattered. Collectors relied on vague mentions in The French Airmail Catalogues of the 1960s. McQueen’s genius was to recognize that these markings were not errors or anomalies, but a worthy of systematic classification.