Does the franking (the total value of stamps applied) match the tariff for partial air transit to the specified "Jusqu'à" point? A discrepancy can indicate a forged marking.
The term "Jusqu’à" is French for "Until" or "As far as." In the context of early 20th-century mail, it served as a critical instruction to postal clerks. Because airmail was an expensive, premium service, these markings ensured that a letter only traveled by air for the specific portion of the journey the sender had paid for. The Significance of Ian McQueen’s Work
McQueen’s study was explicitly designed to be a starting point, not a final word. He invited readers to advise him of errors and omissions, and the supplement was a direct result of this collaborative spirit. Today, as collectors continue to find unrecorded jusqu’à markings on covers from around the world, McQueen’s framework still provides the foundation upon which new discoveries are built. Jusqu-a Airmail Markings- A Study Ian McQueen
For modern postal historians, McQueen’s study serves as an indispensable field guide. Collecting these covers requires a mix of detective work and historical knowledge. When evaluating a potential Jusqu'à cover, specialists look for key indicators outlined in McQueen's research:
Tells the transit office exactly when to put the letter on a train or ship. Does the franking (the total value of stamps
(up to) London," meaning from London onwards, the letter would travel by train or ship. Historical Significance
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 Because airmail was an expensive, premium service, these
In the early to mid-20th century, airmail networks were inconsistent and expensive. A sender might pay the airmail surcharge for a trans-oceanic flight but not for the subsequent rail or sea transport in the destination continent. The Directive:
Before Ian McQueen published his study, references to these markings were scattered across various regional articles and auction catalogs. McQueen gathered these disparate threads into a cohesive, scientific study. He meticulously categorized the markings, analyzed their postal rates, and mapped the specific air routes that triggered their use.
The term translates from French as “as far as” or “up to.” In postal practice, a Jusqu’à marking indicated that the postal authorities should carry the letter by air only to a specific airport or city. Beyond that point, the letter was to revert to surface mail (sea or rail).
McQueen identifies France as the primary user, with markings for: