Post by daniel on Jan 17, 2021 17:38:21 GMT
Diplomatic Mail is used for the conveyance of mail and other items between a diplomatic mission abroad and the home government or other diplomatic entities. In the UK they are carried in the care of Queen's Messengers (Courrier Diplomatique) who have special passports. Royal Messengers date back to the 12th Century. They are employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Mail is carried in Diplomatic Bags but larger items, including spies, can be transported in crates!
These mail items (sadly, I don't have any spies) from 1977 were sent from British Embassies in Ventiane, Laos and Hanoi, Vietnam were sent to Ministry of Overseas Development (abbreviated as ODM to distinguish it from the Ministry of Defence) in London. Each bears an Embassy mark on the front and receiving marks on the reverse.
At this time, there were 5 levels of secrecy, in ascending order: Protect, Restricted, Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Otherwise Unclassified or Not Protectively Marked would be used. The 2 items shown fall into the Confidential and Restricted categories. Since they are not very old, for reasons of privacy (or, indeed, secrecy) I've covered up any names. I purchased these off ebay!! Likewise in the next post.
Scan_20210117 by Daniel, on Flickr
Scan_20210116 (2) by Daniel, on Flickr
These mail items (sadly, I don't have any spies) from 1977 were sent from British Embassies in Ventiane, Laos and Hanoi, Vietnam were sent to Ministry of Overseas Development (abbreviated as ODM to distinguish it from the Ministry of Defence) in London. Each bears an Embassy mark on the front and receiving marks on the reverse.
At this time, there were 5 levels of secrecy, in ascending order: Protect, Restricted, Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Otherwise Unclassified or Not Protectively Marked would be used. The 2 items shown fall into the Confidential and Restricted categories. Since they are not very old, for reasons of privacy (or, indeed, secrecy) I've covered up any names. I purchased these off ebay!! Likewise in the next post.
Scan_20210117 by Daniel, on FlickrScan_20210116 (2) by Daniel, on Flickr
