In the early to mid-20th century, commercial aviation was constrained by limited flight networks, varying international agreements, and high operational costs. A sender might pay an airmail fee, but air routes did not span the entire globe seamlessly.
The UPU mandated clear indicators on mail to prevent postal fraud and ensure routing efficiency. While standard airmail labels ("Par Avion / By Air Mail") were universal, Jusqu’à markings were highly localized and took many forms. Ian McQueen’s Pioneering Work
McQueen provides an exhaustive listing of known "Jusqu’à" markings from across the globe, categorizing them by country, city, and specific physical characteristics. Historical Context: Beyond a mere list, the study explains the Universal Postal Union (UPU)
Because the 1995 supplement contains more pages than the original study, a serious researcher should consult both volumes. Many markings that were unrecorded in 1993 appear only in the supplement. Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian McQueen
The most common type identified by McQueen features parallel, thick purple or black bars struck directly over the original airmail etiquette or "Par Avion" inscription. These marks are considered "mute" because they do not specify where the air transit stops; they simply invalidate the airmail instruction for the remaining journey. 2. Explicit Text and Boxed Handstamps
McQueen’s work (published circa 1970s–80s, often in the Airpost Journal or as a private monograph) relies heavily on European auction catalogs and a few major collections. It underrepresents markings from South America (e.g., Argentina used Hasta equivalents) and Asia. Later scholars, such as Jean-Pierre Mangin and the Société d’Études Aéropostales , have expanded McQueen’s listings, but his core typology remains intact.
: At 163 pages, the supplement is larger than the original book. It added a wealth of new data discovered after the first publication. In the early to mid-20th century, commercial aviation
Ian McQueen is a British aerophilatelist and researcher whose contributions have fundamentally shaped the study of airmail markings. He emerged from a philatelic community that had long concentrated on recording flight routes and collecting “first flight” covers. By the 1980s, a new generation of collectors began to focus on the commercial aspects of airmail—the everyday letters sent by ordinary people, and the postal markings that guided them on their complex journeys. McQueen was at the forefront of this shift, driven by a desire to understand how letters were actually processed through the emerging global airmail network.
McQueen divided handstamps into logical categories, such as bar cancels, cross cancels, and specific text-based instructions.
Are you looking for a specific Jusqu’à marking identified by Ian McQueen? Do you have a cover you believe is referenced in his study? Contact your local philatelic society or post a scan in the Airmail Collectors’ Club forum for authentication assistance. While standard airmail labels ("Par Avion / By
For the serious collector, McQueen’s book is an essential "roadmap." When analyzing a cover, look for these three elements:
McQueen divided Jusqu’à markings into four operational zones: