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Auction: 20112 - Stamps and Covers of the World e-Auction
Lot: 2141

Japan
Japanese Occupation of the Pacific
Military Mail
North Mariana Islands
Tinian: c.1943 illustrated (Girl in Bali) military card from "U21" to Chosen-Gun in Japan, showing censor handstamp in rose-red with Ozeki seal; central folding crease. "U21" was for Tinian Island

Note: Tinian was not garrisoned by the Japanese military until the latter stages of World War II, when the Japanese realized its strategic importance as a possible base foe American B-29 Superfortress bombers. The island was seized by the Allies during the Battle of Tinian from 24 July to 1 August 1944. Of the 8,500 man Japanese garrison, only 313 survived the battle. At the time, there were an estimated 15,700 Japanese civilians (including 2700 ethnic Koreans) on the island. Many hundreds were also killed in the crossfire, took their own lives, or were executed by the Japanese military to avoid capture by the Americans.

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Estimate

Starting price
£60