Auction #45

BESIEGED SETTLEMENTS: Besieged Gush Etzion to Besieged Jerusalem -  Flown cv from Gush Etzion by Haganah plane return address: "Miriam Eichenberg, Gush Etzion, POB 2693 Tel Aviv" many settlements maintained POBs in TLV, (Miriam Eichenberg was taken as POW by the Arab Legion & released on June 6 when the women were returned) the Gush settlements were under siege as of Jan 48, the air strip was in service as of Feb 7, the Gush surrendered to the Jordanian Legion on 13 May 1948. The cv is franked 10m valid Mandate stps (SG 2 each #90 & 91) tied by Mandate pmks struck upon arrival in TEL AVIV 21 AP 48, cv eventually reached Jerusalem by British Post or after the siege was lifted in June; minor cv faults, f-vf & Very Rare, see NRNS p. 201, certif Muentz