1918 WWI USA to Ceylon McLeod Hospital Colonial Censor Cover # 1235

Original World War I-era international cover mailed from Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 27, 1918, and addressed to Miss Elizabeth L. Gardner, McLeod Hospital, Chunnakam, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Franked with 2¢ and 3¢ George Washington stamps paying the 5¢ international letter rate. Features a clear Cambridge, Mass. machine cancel with American flag slogan, a bold purple “PASSED COLONIAL CENSOR” handstamp applied upon arrival in British Ceylon, and a Chunnakam backstamp dated May 28, 1918. McLeod Hospital was a well-known Presbyterian mission hospital serving northern Ceylon during the early 20th century. A desirable piece of WWI postal history combining U.S. foreign mail, British Colonial censorship, missionary history, and Ceylon destination mail. Covers to mission hospitals in Ceylon are significantly less common than ordinary domestic U.S. mail. Condition: Original mailed cover with expected age toning, light creases, edge wear, and minor handling wear consistent with age. Stamps and postal markings remain clear and attractive. Please review all photos for condition details.