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--:-'~:-==:__ IRWIN /:~I MAN~ ________ --=~ ..: Serving American Philately Since 1926 :.:

2 WEST 46th STREET £ NEW YORK 36, N.Y.

~ Telephone: JUdson 2-2393 Suite 708 I -~lllllllltllllllllllllltllllllllllllltllllllllllllltllllllllllllltllllllllllllltllllllllllllltlllllllllllllrllllllllllllltllllllllllllltllllllllllllltlllllllllllllrlNIII!IIIII!t ~

The American Air Mail Society

A Non-Profit Corporation Incorporated 1944

Organized 1923 Under the Laws of Ohio

PRESIDENT

Dr. James J. Matejka, Jr. LaSalle Hotel

Chicago, Illinois

SECRETARY

Ruth T. Smith 102 Arbor Road

Riverton, New Jersey

TREASURER

John J. Smith 102 Arbor Road

Riverton, New Jersey

VICE-PRESIDENTS Joseph L. Eisendrath

Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr. Herman Kleinert

Lester S. Manning

EDITOR - Other Publications

L. B: Gatchell

ATTORNEY

George D. Kingdom

DffiECTOR OF FOREIGN RELATIONS

Dr. Max Kronstein

AUCTION MANAGER

Samuel s. Goldsticker, Jr.

DffiECTORS

Alton J. Blank Herbert Brandner

Paul Bugg Robert E. Haring

Dr. Max Kronstein George L. Lee

Narcisse Pelletier Horace D. Westbrooks

MEMBERSHIP DUES $4.00 Per Year

Dues include subscription to THE AIRPOST JOURNAL. Ap­plicants must furnish two ref­erences, philatelic preferred. At least one must reside in Appli­cant's home town. Applicants under 21 years must be guar­anteed by Parent or Guardian. Membership may be terminated by the Society in accordance with its By-Laws.

Correspondence concerning sub­scriptions, back numbers and bound volumes, address changes and other matters and all re­mittances should be sent to the Treasurer. All general com­munications and advertising should be sent to the Editor.

NOVEMBER, 1961

Official Publication of the AMERICAN Am MAIL SOCIETY

VOL. 33 No.2 ISSUE No. 378

Contents ........ for November, 1961

Dick Merrill Qui~s Jets to Pilot a Desk 26 The New York Convention ........ 28 Convention Banquet Attracts Phila-

telists ........................................................ 30 Who Was 'I1here ........................................ 32 Aerogrammes . . . .. . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Key to the Pictures ................................ 34 Foreign Pioneer Airpost Flights,

1909-14 ········································ ............ 39 Centenary of ~he Stamp Catal:ogue ..... 54 South Africa Aerogrammes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 56 U. S. Tally 'at Curiosa, '61 .... .................. 57 Tips by Julius ............................................ 60 A Year of Air Mail .................................... 62 Official Section ............................................ · 64 APJ Ads ........................ 1Inside Back Cover

EDITOR Joseph L. Eisendrath

350 No. Deere Park Drive, Highland Park, Ill. ASSISTANT EDITORS

Robert W. Murch Ernest A. Kehr L. B. Gatchell

DEPARTMENT AND ASSOCIATE EDITORS R. Lee Black, N. Pelletier, Florence I,.. Kleinert, Dr. Max Kronstein, Richard L. Singley, William R. Ware, Julius Weiss, James Wotherspoon, John Watson, William T. Wynn, Frank Blumenthal, Samuel S. Go1dsticker, Jr., J. S. Langabeer. Published monthly at Albion, Erie Co., Pa., U.S.A. Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office

at Albion, Pa., Februarv 10, 1932, under tne Act of March 3, 1879.

The AIRPOST JOURNAL is not conducted for profit. The Editor, and all others, serve without compensation. Receipts from advertising, sub­scriptions and contributions are applied to the betterment of the magazine and the promotion of aero-pl>Jlately. The Editor and Officers of The American Air Mail Society assume no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors. Every effort is made to insure correctness of

all articles. Subscription Rates: $4.00 per year, 35c per copy. Advertising Rate Card available from the Editor

PAGE 25

Dick Merrill Quits Jets ~o Pilot a Desk

A U.P.I. dispatch of Oct. 3rd says lhat Capt. H. T. (Dick) Merrill, who used to fly mail runs in goggles and a bathing suit, stepped out of his jet cock­pit for the last time, ending a flying career that made him a living legend of commercial aviation.

"I won't like it as well behind a desk, but there comes a time when we all have to quit and I might as well accept it now," said Merrill, 66, an Eastern Air Lines pilot for 33 years.

Merrill, the first man to fly round­trip across the Atlantic, has been riding Eastern's DC-8 jets as check pilot since May, 1960, when the federal aviation agency's over-60 regulation moved him from behind the controls.

Merrill ended his flying career al­together to become an Eastern desk­riding executive.

When the New York - Miami flight landed, Merrill was greeted by a host of officials including Capt. Eddie Ricken­backer, Eastern board chairman, himself a famous pilot.

Merrill learned to fly 48 years ago, when he was 18, in a rickety. recon­structed Jenny. He wound up piloting the swiftest commercial jets of the day.

At one time or another in between, he was personal pilot to Queen Elizabeth and Dwight D. Eisenhower and to count­less celebrities, some of whom wouldn't fly unless Merrill was at the controls. His wife is Toby Wing, former movie star.

In World War I, Merrill was a navy flying instructor, and after the war he turned to barnstorming. He joined Pit­cairn Airlines {later Eastern) in 1928 and flew the mail from New York to At­lanta before Pitcairn turned to hauling passengers.

It was in those days, Merrill used to fly the old open cockpit planes in bath­ing suit, shoes, and goggles during the summer. He carried pets with him­anything from squirrels and groundhogs to a lion cub or orangutang.

He made his first rol:lnd trip over the Atlantic in 1936 with a night club singer, Harry Richman.

PAGE 26

• Richman and Merrill feared that Rich­

man's single engine plane might go down at sea and stuffed all available airspace in the wings and fuselage with 30,000 ping pong balls to keep the plane afloat. On the return trip Richman became pan­icky and 500 gallons of gasoline was dumped in the sea ,of Newfoundland. Although Merrill said he could have flown to Atlanta, the plane landed in a bog on the coast of Newfoundland.

Merrill says commercial jets have com­pleted the change from "seat-of-your­pants" flying to piloting by instruments. 'But I can still pass the same physical tests I passed 30 years ago, and my pilot ratings are just as good," he said.

Merrill wouldn't say he was out of the air for good. "If anyone needs a pilot to ferry a plane to Africa or China," he said, "I'm available."

Our cover of this issue shows Merrill in his bathing suit, ready to fly the mail. He bailed out on several occasions, and his name is shown as pilot on several listings of crash covers.

Dick Merrill Retires By Ernest A. Kehr

Capt. Henry T. "Dick" Merrill, one of the greatest of all airlines pilots and aviation pioneers, formally retired on Oct. 3, by acting as check pilot on a New York-to-Miami flight in a DC-8.

The 67-year-old veteran of the airways began his career in a fragile "Jenny," and since then has flown just about ev­ery type of aircraft that was developed. Although he is most famous as a com­mercial pilot, having been with Eastern Air Lines since it was formed in 1928, he also is associated with a number of important record flights on which covers were carried.

Of these, the most familiar is the famous "Coronation" flight which he made on May 8, 1937, with Harry Rich­man, night-club operator, from New York to London, then back again, leav­ing England on May 13. It was the first round-trip flight across the Atlantic.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

The pair had attempted a flight on Sept. 2, 1936, but their plane, "Lady Peace," was forced down in Wales by a fuel shortage.

Dick's astuteness and skill in the air was legendary. Any number of celebrities would fly only when they knew he'd be at the controls. He was fearless and al­lowed himself the thrills of riding a storm when he was soloing. When he carried passengers, however, he was a stickler in the execution of every safety regulation. At one time, for example, he was flying a charter for a presidential candidate who, himself was a veteran flier. At take-off the future president said he preferred riding without his seat belt fastened.

Dick went directly to the celebrity and watched him fasten it before he took off. Though official regulations preclude Dick from further passenger flying, it was disclosed ·that he would continue in a consulting capacity to hike the operat­ing efficiency of Eastern.

The Largest And Most Comprehensive Stock

Of

Aerogrammes In The World

-o-A NEW ISSUE SERVICE

SECOND TO NONE Ask For Details Today

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Up-To-Date Check List Free On Request

-a­WALTER R. GUTHRIE

P. 0. BOX 390 TUSCON, ARIZONA

NOVEMBER, 1961

That Red Coat of Bob Murch The symbol of air mail is fire red. The

Post Office Department issues all air mail stamps these days fire red-a unique mo­tif that was inaugurated at our Conven­tion Iast August in Arlington, Virginia with the cooperation of Frank Bruns and the Post Office Department. My wife urged me to wear my fire red coat to Ar­lington, Virginia so I could feel part of the background with the fire red stamps. The coat itself had been a present on Father's Day; I became a father shortly thereafter and the coat has a dual mean­ing to me, as my job in the past few years has been to try and sell air mail, aerophilately, and the fellowship of air mail collecting.

As recently as two weeks ago, the pre­sident of the American Air Mail Society was honored with an invitation to come to the White House to preview a stamp with President Kennedy, Postmaster Gen­eral Day and various other dignitaries. It was scheduled for high noon on Au­gust 31 and I answered the summons from the White House .

The thought occurred to me if I went in with my normal blue serge shiny suit, I would look like any or the other Secret Service men standing around and with the thought that maybe the American Air Mail Society might get a little recog­nition, I decided to wear my red jacket to meet President Kennedy.

The coat and your president were es­corted through one of the main gates, and led up into the hallowed precincts of the White House. Several of our mem­bers and friends were there for the oc­casion. I thought that I was properly dressed. As I sat down, much to my consternation, there were twelve empty chairs next to me. The Marine Band came in with their red coats and sat down right next to the president of your Society. They wore brilliant scarlet jackets. I looked like I was carrying their music. I wandered into the grill and the American Air Mail Society was destined to obscurity at the White House party. It was one miserable hour. I think I am going to get rid of the coati

(from Ex-President Murch's remarks at the annual Society banquet. )

PAGE 27

The New York Convention • It seems that when your editor starts longed to the society for 35 years, were

this annual convention report he's usu- voted into life membership. The five ally on a plane homeward bound. This men thus honored were W. R. Ware, time is no exception, except this is our .Tohn G. Kunz, John S. Davis, R. E. R. first ride on a Caravelle jet. New York Dalwick, and Albert N. Brown, whose to Chicago, in two hours and ten min- membership numbers are 151, 153, 155, utes scheduled time! (Unbelievable-but 181, and 197 respectively. Current mem­to insert a note the actual time was one berships are in the 4800s. Francis Card­hour forty-five minutes.) ina! Spellman and Basil L. Rowe were

The best part of convention going is voted honorary life memberships for meeting old friends, and making new their contributions to aerophilately. The ones. This time was no exception. We Cardinal is widely known for his phila­treasure those pleasant moments. telic activities. Basil is one of the pion-

Into Idlewild, chasing the hurricane eer F.A.M. pilots, himself a collector of Donna, and over to the Lexington, Fri- long standing and an occasional con­day night found us enjoying slnp talk tributor to this magazine. w;th early arrivals. George Kingdom, of In the line of new business, Harold Conneaut, Ohio, was on hand for only a Frankel, backed by a considerable num­few hours, as he had an important case her of proxies, made a motion to update in Washington the next day, which pre- the society constitution. The discussion vented his returning to the convention. that followed was lengthy, heated, and Needless to say, we didn't get to bed very lively. The last changes in the very early that night. constitution were made in 1949 and 1951

The business session was the first af- -and Frankel felt that a considerable fair of the convention. It was preceded going over was needed. Almost without by registration and the opening of the exception everyone present felt that it official post office convention station. To should be up-dated. President Murch our surprise and delight, special cancella- referred the matter to a special commit­tions for the three days of our conven- tee for review and recoii\mendation, this tion were provided. Authorization from committee to report back before the next Washington came through at the last convention. One of the first acts of new minute. You postmark collectors would President Matejka was to confirm do well to get a set of these three can- Murch's selection with one substitution. cellations. Secretary Ruth Smith has And on that note the convention adjourn­them for sale, along with the 5th anni- ed to a late lunch. versary helicopter cover. The package About 20 members after lunch board­is $1.00. See the ad elsewhere in the ed an air-conditioned bus bound for Journal. Idlewild Airport. The air conditioning

At the business sessions, the various offset the 92 degree heat! This was a reports were made - memberships off a most interesting trip. We visited various bit from last year - Finances pretty new air line terminals, went into the good, said Treasurer John Smith. Your beautiful new Pan-American Airways editor complained that he was always in building, where we saw an interesting need of good articles for the Journal. exhibit of historical material, embellish­Much help was offered; let's see if it ed with many early flight covers. We materializes. Herman Kleinert reported visited the American Airlines hangars, good activity in the sales department. and went through a 707 Astrojet being He, too, needs help with material and serviced. From there we visited the in­more customers. Florence Kleinert re- ternational arrival building, eleven city ported on the chapters and made a blocks in length, and saw passengers go­plea to interest juniors and younger peo- ing through customs inspection. Then pie in the hobby. up to the 11-story control tower, where

Under a program adopted two or we saw several planes take off and arrive, three years ago, members who had be- while listening to the dispatchers giving

PAGE 28 THE AIRPOST< JOURNAL

them instructions. We saw aeroplanes from airlines all over the world. The airmail facility ( A.M.F.) postoffice was given a thorough inspection by the 'tour­ists' - and all the marvels of modern mail ·handling were revealed to many who knew about them only vaguely. Finally to the American Airlines terminal--with its busy traffic. Here we had a trip to the flight kitchens to see how meals are prepared and packed. Our genial tour guide, Andy Caspers, then present­ed us with souvenirs from American, and back we went to the Lexington .

The Jamboree, a traditional Society affair, was well attended, and John Fox did a hilarious job of auctioning off do­nated aerophilatelic material, even sell­ing the same lots several times . Proceeds, which we believed neared $300, were to be used to pay convention expenses not recovered from fees. We believe there was a balance left over, which goes into the Publication fund. A strolling musi­cian, and a handy bar were in great evi­dence. About .60 to 70 people attended.

Saturday, the 50th anniversary of Ov­ington's first official air mail flight at Garden City, was a beautiful, although hot day. The bus again took us to the Garden City Hotel, where 50 people gathered with local officials to commem­orate the day. Robert Murch with his inimicable emceeing, did a splendid job. Guests, who spoke briefly, included C. Ellsworth Tobias, Mayor of Garden City, Peter C. Doyle, Jr., President, Chamber of Commerce, Abbott L. Dib­blee, Postmaster, Fred Pelham of the New York Helicopter Airways, Franklin R. Bruns, Jr., Director, Division of Phil­ately, U. S. Post Office Department, and Albert Caspers, American Airlines. Mr. Dibblee told how the mail had piled up for the special helicopter anniversary flight. One elder citizen, he said, had brought in a card mailed on Oct. 1, 1911, at Garden City. Its message was simply "I love you. Billy." The gentleman identified himself as Billy, said he had been married early in October, 1911 and h ad brought in a card for the helicopter flight in 1961-of course with the same message. Sentimen t has its place!

Andy Caspers, wearing his unique "Order of the Vest" surprised Bart Gat­chell with his induction into the order.

NOVEMBER, 1961

This is a select group of people on the air mail committee of the A.R.A. who recognize outstanding contributions to carrying air mail. It was quite an l~onor, recognizing the many years of Barts de­votion to the hobby- and cooperation with the airlines and Post Office Depart­ment. George Kingdom was to have been similarly honored, but he wasn't there. Later that evening at th e annual banquet, a "proxv" presentation "vas made for him. W ell deserved, we say!

A rush to the bus after the luncheon­and over to Roosevelt Field, 5 minutes away. We pulled up just as the New York Helicopters Airways' big 16-pas­senger helicopter was on the ground. Two large green sacks of mail, estimated variously at 15,000 to 30,000 p ieces of mail, all received the special cachet. Af­ter picture taking (our illustration shows Postmaster Dibblee passing the sack up to the pilot ) the plane taxied to a cor­ner, turned around, hovered for more pictures, and then took off to LaGuar­dia Field, where all mail was backstamp­ed and sen t onward. Then back to New York through .the tunnel under the Hud­son and back to the Lexington to pre­pare for the banquet.

PAGE 29

Convention Banquet Attracts Prominent Philatelists And Distinguished ·Guests

The 38th annual convention banquet of the American Air Mail Society at the Hotel Lexington, Saturday evening, Sep­tember 23, 1961, attracted many leading personalities as well as official guests from the United Nations and the United States Post Office Department.

Following a 6:30- 7:30p.m. reception the banquet group was called to order by President Bob Murch, acting toast­master in place of the Society's tradition­al workhorse at the rostrum, one George D. Kingdom who had been detained by legal jurisprudence in the Nation's capi­tal. The invocation and a brief message devoted to the friendship of philately was given by George W. Angers, found­er and past president.

In between fruitcup and the frozen rum ice cream cake many of bhe visiting philatelic personalities and their wives were introduced, starting off with Harry Lindquist, dean of American philatelic publishers, David Lidman, President of the American Philatelic Congress, George T. Turner and Pipe from the Smithson­ian, Herb Rosen, local entrepreneur of Manhattan stamp shows, Pete Keller, executive secretary of the ASDA, Harold Frankel, president of the Metropolitan Air Mail Cover Club, Mr. and Mrs. Georges Medawar of Nicolas Sanabria, Inc., Robert Lyon, Stuart Malkin, the avid UN Collector and raconteur, Harry "Jet" Gordon, and a score more airmail­ers from metropolitan New Yok City.

Special guests of hhe Society included Mr. and Mrs. James F . Kelleher, special assistant to the Postmaster-General, who proved to be quite at home at the speaker's platform, amusing and inform­ing those collectors present with a few thoughts on the Post Office Department and its diverse operations. Jim Kelleher was introduced by Franklin Bruns, Jr., who had just represented the Depart­ment at bhe Garden City observance of the 1911-1961 aerial mail route inaugur­ation.

As the candelabra burned low Presi­dent-elect James J. Matejka, Jr. was call­ed front and center to be formally in-

PAGE 30

• stalled, a chore the toastmaster perform­ed by presenting Jim with the badge of office, a pair of shiny stamp tongs, fol­lowed up with a binder full of blank album pages symbolic of his next two years in office when he will be too busy to even put airmail stamps into his al­bum. It is a well-known fact that all stamp politician manage to build up some fabulous shoebox collections of un­mounted stamps and covers that are al­most unrecognizable after several years of stockpiling and dead storage.

Dr. Matejka presented his 14-point program to bolster aerophilately and the AAMS for the new two years ahead-a task in which all present wished him well.

In addition to the guest of honor, the United Nations was represented at a ringside table by the affable Abe Ster­man and his wife who were on hand to be with guest speaker, the Chief of the UN Postal Administration, the Honor­able D. T. Clements, soldier and diplo­mat, now coping with stamp collectors the world over.

With the conclusion of the Clements' talk, Mr. L. B. Gatch~ll, past-president was recognized to award AAMS Special Awards of Merit to five members whose work for the Society is well known. So honored were Lester Manning, cartog-

Sam Goldsiicker receives award from Bart Gatchell

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

rapher of the AAMS catalogs, Sam Gold­sticker, Jr., loyal worker, Dr. Max Kron­stein, avid aerophilatelic writer for the Airpost Journal, William R. Ware, 30 years a writer for the APJ, and Florence Kleinert, ever faithful in AAMS duties.

In accordance with Society tradition a leading spirit and devoted member was singled out for the coveted Walter J. Conrath Memorial Award-the award be­ing presented by George Angers to the capable editor of the APJ, Joseph L. Ei­sendrath.

The most closely kept secret was last on the agenda when Grace Conrath pre­sented retiring president Bob Murch with the second Conrath Memorial Award of the evening. Then he received a handsome sterling ~ilver engraved tray presented by the past presidents in ap­preciation for 24 months at the helm of the AAMS. On this note the banquet ad­journed until the faithful followers of the hobby meet again.

The New First 1962 Ha•rris U.S. and B.N.A. Catalog

Covering U.S. Stamps, U.S. Possessions, and

British North America

The First 1962 edition of this catalog contains 160 pages and nearly 2,000 il­lustrations. It features a special "Ameri­cana" section, United Nations issues complete, and the valuable U.S. Stamp Identifier. Published by the catalog de­partment of H. E. Harris & Co., Boston 17, Mass., it is priced at 35c post-free to any point in the U. S. and Canada.

This edition contains hundreds of up­to-the-minute price changes. We :Eeel that it is one of the most accurate baro­meters of the current market, and is much sought after.

The catalog features virtually all U.S. issues-postage, airmail, special delivery, revenue, envelope, telegraph, post card, and others. United Nations issues and U.S. revenue stamp designs are copiously illustrated.

The special "Americana" section feat-

NOVEMBER, 1961

ures foreign sets which have honored the United States. There also are listings for all U.S. possessions, Confederate States, Canada, Newfoundland, and Canada's other provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Price changes in U.S. issues are num­erous, mostly up. The market for air­mails and commemoratives continues reasonably strong. This is especially true of airmail issues up to 1933 . Most of the price changes, however, are relatively moderate.

The continuing demand for airmails is illustrated by the unused 1930 Zeppelin set ( #C13-15) which shows an advance from $152.00 to $170.00, and the unused 1918 6c orange ( #C1) which has climb­ed from $3.95 to $4.50.

Plate blocks, including airmails, show many upward changes, especially in is­sues prior to 1934. The 1918 6c airmail ( #C1) was raised from $35.00 to $49.75.

Rir Post Stamps Are Frequently Offered

In Our General Sales

For example, an attractive Air Post Collection will be included in our

auction of

NOVEMBER 13-16

Request the Catalogue -·-And when you come to sell, write for our booklet, "Modern Methods of Philatelic Selling", explaining clearly all the advantages of selling through

H. R. HARMER, INC The Ca8pary Auctioneers

6 West 48th St., New York 36, N.Y.

PAGE 31

Who Was There . . . By Joe Eisendrath. who was :there

• The nicest part of convention-going is to renew old friendships and to acquire new ones. The New York convention was no exception. We're sure we have over­looked some people in the listing that follows-and to them we say we're very sorry. It wasn't just possible to keep up with everybody.

Many old timers, of course, were on board. Our dear friend, George Angers, was there, but this time he left Margaret home at Springfield, Mass. The Smiths­John and Ruth-from Riverton, N. J., were our mealtime companions, as were Robert Murch, St. Louis, and Grace Con­rath, Erie, Pa. One new friend was Stu­art Malkin, a local boy who, with Sam Goldsticker, Bloomfield, N. J., got us out of bed early one morning to hold a bull session. Stu's travelogue on the bus was something out of this world. A good guy, says we.

We enjoyed meeting captivating Jo Turner, better half of our pipe-smoking friend, George, of Washington. No won­der George always smiles! It was good to see George Lee on deck, in spite of his recent tragedy. He's a fabulous per­son.

It was also our pleasure to greet Ad­miral Jesse Johnson, whom we had seen at Chicago at the A.P.S. convention 3 weeks before. Pat Herst also attended both conventions, as did Dave Lidman and his wife, and Harry Lindquist. Mrs. L. appeared at the banquet.

George Kingdom, Conneaut, Ohio, ap­peared but briefly as he had to be at the nation's capital on Saturday. His old side-kick, Bart Gatchell, was on hand. Bart's very slim wife, Connie, joined us on Saturday.

The brass of the Post Office Depart­ment included Jim Kelleher and his charming wife, Mary, and Frank Bruns, all from Washington. We enjoyed talk­ing with Mr. Kelleher about mid-west advertising, in which we had a common interest.

Old standbys included John Henry Ogden (we like that name), up from St. Matthews, Ky., and our architect-artist friend, Lee Manning, who brought our

PAGE 32

Walter Feeney, Irvington, N. J., a per­old friend, his nice wife, from Detroit. petual conventioneer, was very busy mailing covers with the special cancels. Handsome Bill Alley commuted from Dobbs Ferry (he's the mayor there, I'm told). The three Kleinerts, Florence, Herman and Bruce, Fullerton, Pa., (and that boy Bruce is growing tall!) were en­joying their trip. Paul Bugg from Balti­more was as handsome as ever, and we can say the same thing for Dr. Southgate Leigh, who arrived late and shortly had to return to Norfolk, Va. We met Leon­ard Smith, and Mrs. Smith, from River Edge, N. J.-our new publicity director. Jim Matejka, our new president, and Ma­rie, the new first lady, took 15 hours of straight driving to make it from Chicago. (We made it in an hour and 40 minutes by plane). Other than ourself, they were the only members from the Chicagoland area, except Don Lussky from Aurora, who was there, we think, only on Satur­day.

Foreign color was brought in in the person of genial Narc Pelletier from Tor­onto. An additional international flavor came from D. T. Clements and his wife and the Abe Stermans, from the United Nations Postal Administration.

Local people were in abundance. We greeted Harry Levine and Milt Ehrlich, Louise and Mike Hoffman, genial Harry Gordon, erudite John Myer, Mr. and Mrs. Herb Rosen, Dr. Arthur Pesin, Mike Codd, Lou Fischbach. We were espe­cially pleased to meet Judy Frankel, wife of Harold. Harold really kept the con­vention on its toes! Roland Kohl and Mrs. Kohl appeared for the banquet. Charles Monroe, Charles Pincus and Jer­ri Chivoe were there, too ..

Among the dealers, we enjoyed chat­ting with Sam Bayer and his wife, Bob Lyons, the Georges Medawars, Bob Schoendorf and A. Swoboda. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Keller of the ASDA were at the banquet.

Airline people we were able to meet included G. J. Godbout, and his wife, our old friend, Bill Pluchel, and his wife, Andy Kaspar, who did such a swell job

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

leading us around Idlewild, and Fred Pelham of N. Y. Helicopter Airlines.

R. K. Keiser came on from Reading, Pa., and John Moloney made it from Brookline, Mass.

Our old friend and frequent Chicago visitor, Art Schmidt, of Plainfield, N. J., was able to avoid a business trip to be with us. Always good to 5ee him. We were delighted to speak a few moments with our prolific writer, Dr. Max Kron­stein, but were extremely disappointed that he wasn't at the banquet to receive his well-deserved award. Carl Ripley came from Dover, N. J., but was with us on Friday only.

And to end it up-William K. Hughes, a local boy, attended his first conven­tion-and said he enjoyed it. Guess that goes for everybody else, too.

Aerogrammes. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

A further overprinting of the "Greet­ing" aerogramme has appeared. Both "5c" and "REPUBLIC OF" and "RE­PUBLIEK VAN", overprinted on or above the stamp design. So far, three different overprints have been located. In the first two types the overprint is ap­plied in one operation. In the third type, the overprint is applied in two opera­tions, and in two different kinds of ink.

2lhc Maroon definitive, picturing state building and bunch of grapes. 21 x 27 mm. MALAYA

The 25c aerogramme has now appear­ed in English and Romanized Malay. The inscription at top left, reads as fol­lows in six lines: MEL UDARAIBY AIR MAIL/PAR AVION/SURAT UDARA/ AIR LETTER/ AEROGRAMME. In­structions on reverse appear in two lan­guages: Romanized Malay in four lines; English in three lines. While the SOc value has not yet appeared, I am in­formed that this value will soon be printed. NETHERLANDS

SOc Blue, on Aqua paper. As previous, but with heavy guide lines on reverse to facilitate folding of aerogramme.

NOVEMBER, 1961

CEYLON New SOc aerogramme reported but not

seen. SIERRA LEONE

3d. Local aerogramme reported but not seen. BRITISH POSTAL AGENCIES,

QATAR An announcement from the G.P.O. in

London reads as follows: "It is proposed to issue an air letter form bearing a sur­face printed 80 naye paise stamp, but its date of issue is not yet known. BASUTOLAND

The 5c overprint. This is the scarcest of all the recent aerogrammes of South Africa and Protectorates. The Postmast­er reports that not more than 500 copies were overprinted.

5c definitive. Same design as last. Watermarked "0". BECHUANALAND #5

The 5c overprint. An error of color has been noted. Brown instead of Ma­genta. CEYLON #8

Four copies have been discovered with the complete aerogramme, including the imprinted stamp, printed FRONT and BACK. This writer was fortunate enough to have been able to secure all four. NIGERIA #9

3d. green imprinted stamp, picturing "Oyo Carver". Green lettering. Inscrib­ed· at bottom: 'For Use Within Nigeria Only". NIGERIA #10

6d. red imprinted stamp, picturing "Benin Mask". Blue lettering. Blue, un­watermarked paper. REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

2lhc definitive reported but not seen. 5c blue definitive, picturing native

tree and blossom. Stamp design 2lmm. x 27mm., with simulated perfs.

A new printing of the above has been made, with the imprinted stamp com­pletely redrawn. SWAZIELAND

#19. A double impression of the 5c overprint has been reported by a London Auction House. Will be offered in one of their sales this fall.

-Walter R. Guthrie

PAGE 33

l(ey to the Pictures . Beginning on page 35, continuing

through page 38, will be found photo­graphs taken at the New York Conven­tion. Each picture is marked and the following descriptions identify the indi­vidual photos.

A. General view of the business meet­ing. a weighty subject was being dis­cussed, it would seem from the solemn faces of George Angers, George Lee and Bart Gatchell.

B. Albert Caspers presents Bart Gat­chell with his citation for the Order of the Vest.

C. Convention Post Office, center, showing back, is Narc Pelletier, John Smith and Sam Goldsticker facing cam­era.

D. Frank Bruns and Postmaster Dib­blee pictured at Garden City luncheon.

E. Brass at Garden City includes Mr. Dibblee, Bob Murch, Mayor C. E. To­bias, and Jim Matejka.

F. Kleinert family in foreground at anniversary luncheon. Admiral Johnson in center, At his left is John Henry Og­den.

G. Bob Murch and Harold Frankel before business meeting.

H. Murch and Jim Matejka. I. George Angers chats with John

Smith. J. James Kelleher at the mike.

PAGE 34

K. Pete Keller of the ASDA and Jim Kelleher at Society Jamboree.

L. Group at American Airlines shops after inspecting 707 Superjet at Idle­wild.

M. Same bunch, different angle. N. Pilot of anniversary helicopter

poses for pictures with special mail sacks.

0 . Members. aloft at Idlewild con­trol tower.

NEW ZEALAND HOLDS NATIONAL .EXHIBITION

Our good friend an associate editor, James S. Langabeer, sends us the story of the recent New Zealand National Ex­hibition held at Christchurch in Septem­ber. Jim and his wife flew down there from Auckland in a New Zealand Air Lines Viscount.

He tells us publicity was good, and the show was well attended. The New Zealand Air Mail Society held a meeting at the same time, and was addressed in a crowded hall by our associate editor. He won a gold medal and the Special Annotation Award, and had a grand time. Photo credit for our illustration of some of the exhibits goes to Douglas Walker, editor of "Air Mails of New Zealand.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

A.

B.

C.

NOVEMBER, 1961 PAGE 35

D.

E.

F.

..L -- - -· uv THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

NOVEMBER, 198~ PAGE 37

L.

M.

N.

0.

PAGE 38 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

r r

r I

Foreign Pioneer Airpost Flights 1909-19.14 B. The Air Stationery for the Pioneer Airpost of the World (1909-1914) VIII. The Stationery Issues of the FIRST U.K. AERIAL POST between

London and Windsor- September 1911

By Dr. Max Kronstein

• •

The airpost flights between London and Windsor in September, 1911 were organized as a part of the celebration of the Coronation of King George the Fifth and are therefore often referred to as the British Coronation Aerial Post.

This airmail event was organized by the same Captain Walter G. Wyndham, who had taken part in the organization of the first aerial post of Allahabad, India, in February, 1911.

In contacting the British Postmaster General, Herbert L. Samuels, to obtain his consent, it was learned that the British Post Office had no authority to charge more than Vzd for an inland postcard and 1d for an inland letter, without any provision for any kind of a special kind of service. ·

In order to make the airpost experiment possible and to cover the necessary costs of air transportation, it was necessary to issue special air stationery and to limit the aerial post to the transportation of such special stationery. ·

The cost of a card was set at 6~d, including the lhd for the postal redispatch, and the cosi: of a cover was 111 sh including the attached 1d stamp for the postal redispatch of .the latter.

Before describing these stationery issues in more detail, this is the story of the aerial postal service itself, as is found in the files of the contemporary London newspaper, The Times.

According to riews reports of Sept. 6, 1911, the service was scheduled to start on Saturday, the 9th, and was to continue as a scheduled daily service for a liniited period of time. For the first day a flight from the Hendon airport of London was scheduled to land at ·Windsor Castle at a selected spot on the Royal Golf Links. Arrangements had been made between the Postmaster General and D. Lewis Poole and Captain Wyndham as "carriers". The landing spot was selected jointly with Mr. Gates, as manager for Mr. Grahame White, who ihad entered into a contract for the conveyance of the aerial mail, and with the three airmen who were to fly the mail: E. F. Driver, C. H. Creswell and C. Hubert. Mter the Saturday flight later landings were to be made in Windsor Great Park at the Cavalry Exercising 01-ou~d near Queen Anne's Gate, where a shed was to be erected. The local Windsor ar­rangements provided that the first plane was to arrive at 4 P.M. with the Mayor of Windsor, the Windsor Postmaster and others to be present. Then the mail was· to to be taken to the Windsor Post Office to be dealt with there in the ordinary way. For the following Saturday, September 16 a return mail flight from Windsor to London was announced.

The same day the public was informed the London mail would be collected and be delivered to the airplanes in Hendon. Special mail boxes were to be set up as Public Aerial Postal Boxes and were to be emptied by the "Aerial Post Collecting Van" as follows: At Arding and Hobbs S.W., at 11:15 a.m., Harrods, Brompton Road SW at 11:35 a.m., at John Barker and Co., Highstreet, Kensington at 11:47 a.m., at Whiteleys, Westbourne Grove W. at 11:58 a.m., at Selfridge and Co., Ox­ford Street W. at 12:13 p.m., at Barnes and Co., Finchley road at 12:18 p.m., at Roper and Co., Highroad Kilburn at 12:28 p.m., at Benetfinks, 107 Cheapside, E.C. at 12:45 p.m., Gamage and Co., Holborn at 12:55 p.m., at Burton and Co., Aldwych,

NOVEMBER, 1961 PAGE 39

W.C. at 1:05 p.m., at the Army and Na\1)' Stores, Victoria Street, S.W. at 1:17 p.m., at Hyans and Co., 134 Oxford Street, W. at 1:31 p.m., at D. H. Evans and Co., 290 Oxford Street, W. at 1:38 p.m., and finally at the stands of the Hendon Aero&ome.

At the airfield the postman, soldiers and sailors in uniform were to be admitted free. All other visitors to the aerodrome who paid a fee of more than 6 d were to receive an aerial postcard souvenir with their ticket. The first trip was scheduled for 3:30p.m. on September 9.

The events of this inaugural day are reported in the Times of September 11. The "Royal Air Mail" under sanction of the Postmaster General began its service when Gustav Hamel completed a difficult flight with his mailbag in a dangerous wind. There was a large assembly of people on the field and the stamped postcards, priced at 6lh d were readily bought up. The postoffice motor van brought 13 mail bags to the field.

The flight began later than scheduled. It was 4:30 when one of the French monoplanes made a trial flight. The machine swayed considerably in the stiff breeze. Nevertheless Hamel's monoplane was rolled out 15 minutes later.

The pilot received a waybill and time sheets as an authorized bearer of His Majesty's mail. With cheers for the King, for the success of the undertaking, and for Mr. Hamel, he began his start. All hats were removed as the band played the National Anthem. The aerial mail made a circuit of the aerodrome, passing over the heads of the cheering spectators, and departed in a strong following wind. His offi­cial departure time was 4:58 p.m. At 5:15 Charles Hubert started in a Farman biplane, but the wind was so strong that he was not able to ihold the plane steady.

In Windsor the post courier was expected at the East Terrace of Windsor Castle by the Mayor of Windsor, the Surveyor of the General Post Office and the Postmaster of Windsor.

The plane arrived at 5:13p.m. and landed near Queen Victoria's tomb. Imme­diately a telegram was sent to the King: "The Honorary Organizing Committee of the Aerial Post presents their loyal duty to tihe King and have the, honor to inform his Majesty that the first dispatch of mail left Hendon at 4:58 and arrived at Wind­sor Castle at 5:13p.m.". The answer came from "Balmoral Castle, 7:58 p.m. Sec­retary, Coronation Aerial Post, Windsor: The King thanks you for informing him of the first dispatch of mail from Hendon and arrival at Windsor Castle, Signed, Stamfordham".

At 6:05 p.m. Hamel started the return flight with a bag of dispatches from Windsor. The mail, including letters to the King at Balmoral, which he had brought from London had been sent to Peddington. Hamel landed at Hendon at 6:32 as the band played "See the Conquering Hero Comes." He delivered the Windsor bag to a representative of the General Post Office. But since no flown cards and covers from Windsor on that trip are known, it can be assumed that this bag contained postal documents, such as the waybills, the delivery papers of the mail flight from London to Windsor and similar documents, which in this manner were returned to the London Head Office for the aerial post.

The second mail delivery flights were made on the 11th (Times, Sept. 12). Charles Hubert started with his Farman biplane, carrying eight mail bags, each weighing 26lh lbs (a total of 20,000 cards and letters). His plane, soon after the start, plunged to the ground and crumbled. The pilot was saved, but both his legs were broken and his condition was soon found to be very serious. At 6:20 a.m. Creswell flew a Bleriot monoplane and two bags of mail, followed at 6:25 by Driver in a Farman machine carrying 4 bags. Creswell had forgotten to carry his official waybills, but Driver took it along and gave it to him at Windsor. After the 19

PAGE 40 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

miles fligh t Creswell arrived at 7 a.m., !nd Driver five minutes later. Driver soon started back, but got lost and landed at Nazeing, Essex, with a motor defect. He did not arrive at. Hendon before 6:12 p.m. Creswell was delayed at Windsor with a defective magneto. He returned at 6:45 p.m. In the meantime Hamel left Hen­don at 6:15 with two bags of mail and arrived at ·windsor at 6:15 with 3000 specta­tors on the field. He delivered the mail, picked up petrol and let to return at 7 :05 But on the return flight he ran into fog and was forced to land amid fog and dark­ness at Colubrook. He returned to Hendon the next morning. The Postmaster General expressed in a congratulatory telegram to the committee "his earnest hope and desire that flights will not be undertaken when the weather conditions are such as to involve risk to the airmen".

On September 12 Creswell carried 2 bags from Hendon, but made an emergency landing at Chalvey. A postal bicycler collected the mail and delivered the bags to the Windsor Post Office. Driver made 2 fl ights that day, one with 4 and 3 bags respectively. Hamel made 3 starts, but vvas successful only once, bringing 2 bags of mail to Windsor.

The next day - September 13 - eleven bags of mail were waiting at the Hendon field, but gusty winds and rain prevented the flights . On Sept. 14 the weather im­proved in the late afternoon, so that in spite of a 20 m.p.h. wind, Hamel and Cres­well were both able to carry t\'vo bags of mail each in 15 minute flights to Windsor. Creswell was able to return on a 35 minute flight, but Hamel was forced to descend again that evening at 'Vindsor. On September 15 the weather was again so bad that flying was impossible and Hamel could not complete the return flight that day. This was the day of the last mail collection for the Aerial Post from Hendon. Three additional bags were collected, leaving ll bags still to be flown.

By that time 24 bags had already been delivered by air, Driver carrying 11 bags on 3 journeys, Hamel 7 in 4 trips and Creswell 6 in three flights . A delivery FROM Windsor was scheduled for the next day.

On Sept. 16 the weather did not allow any flights before 5 p .m. when Creswell made the trip to Windsor wibh 2 bags. 3000 to 4000 spectators were on the Re­viewing Ground at Windsor, hoping to see the start of the official return mail. But

NOVEMBER, 1961 PAGE 41

because of the bad weather, Creswell had to postpone the flight until Sept. 17. In the meantime Hamel also had arrived at Windsor to participate in the return mail flights. At 5:15 Grswell took up with a special mail bag containing a letter to the King and Queen. At 5:29 Hamel made his flight, with one more bag. Each pilot was given by the Deputy Mayor of Windsor a souvenir silver matchbox with an engraved view of Windsor Castle.

On September 18th Hamel made two round trips within 90 minutes carrying eaoh time two mail bags from Hendon, and bringing all the remaining mail from Windsor; but this left five bags at Hendon, since Creswell had not been able to carry out his flight, being forced to land again in the heavy wind. On Sept. 19 Hamel carried 2 bags, making two flights; but still three remained at Hendon. They were still there on Sept. 25. Hamel felt that better care should be taken with pilot C. Hubert, who had broken both legs on one of the mail flights; Hamel refused to carry the remaining mail until at least 500 Pounds Sterling were paid by the Organizing Committee of the Coronation Aerial Post to Hubert because of his acci­dent, "by which I am informed he has been crippled, probably for life". The Com­mittee claimed that the contract between Mr. Lewis Poole and Mr. Grahame W'hite provided full indemnity against all liabilities and that surplus must go to charity and not to an individual. Hamel, with the other pilots, stated that they would carry the remaining three bags free of charge, when a 500 pound check was paid to Hu­bert. With the permission of the Postmaster General the committee agreed to pay at least that amount and on September 25 Hamel carried two bags for Windsor. He was forced to an emergency landing at Langley, 4lh miles from Windsor where a motorcar picked up the two bags and delivered them to the Windsor Postoffice. Hamel returned later to Hendon and finally made the last postal flight with the remaining one bag late on the afternoon of Sept. 26. At 6:15p.m. when he returned to Hendon the Coronation service came to an end.

The Committee expressed the belief that the long delay had been caused by the instructions to operate safely and by the fact that at least 100,000 cards and covers had to be flown in the small Bleriot planes which were not built to carry any loads with the pilot.

During this period the Times reported on Sept. 20 that French and English postal authorities were negotiating with a French airman, Marx Pourpe, for a two­week experimental aerial post between Calais and Dover. ( Pourpe had made a successful flight from Boulogne to Dover, on Aug. 27 and a return flight from Folkes­tone to Boulogne on August 28). This service never took place.

So far, in this story of the Coronation aerial post, we have followed the con­temporary London reports. There are many unanswered questions, about the actnal quantities of mail and about the various types of cancellations and of the postal stationery, cards and covers used on these dispatches.

Our illustration shows one such card from London to Windsor with the special postal cancellation "First United Kingdom Aerial Post - London, Sp.9.1911" with the imprint on the reverse side giving instructions for mailing.

The many remaining details are to be found in a wonderful monograph on the "Coronation Aerial Post 1911" by our member Francis J. Field and by N. C. Baldwin. (The Aero Field Handbook No. 3). It is not possible to give all these details in this report but the collectors will easily find' them in the handbook. However, here are a few main facts which should be mentioned:

The Field handbook has used the known weights of the mailbags to calculate the actual approximate quantities of the flown mails. The tables indicate a differ­ence between the "privileged" mail of the first flight in each direction and the "pub-

PAGE 42 THE AIRPOS'.D JOURNAL

lie" mail. The difference is that the general public was not in a position to dlispatc{h mail of the privileged kind and this mail can be recognized by the fact that its sta­tionery was slightly different from the public mail. Both cards were about the same size, but the "privileged" card was made from stouter paper, printed in violet. The cover, also printed in violet, was larger for the privileged mail, since it was 178 mm x 115 mm instead of the 146 mm x 89 mm of the public mail cover. These facts apply to both the prints for the London - Windsor flights and for Windsor - Londo:n. The handbook indicates for the privileged mail London - Windsor 525 covers and 525 cards and for the privileged Windsor - London 445 covers and 662 cards. For the total public mail flown during the whole series of flights between London and Wind­sor, there were 25,435 covers and 87,345 cards. The public mail from Windsor to London totals 853 covers and 9772 cards.

The stationery for the public mail can be described as follows:

LONDON- WINDSOR: Cards printed in red-brown or dark-brown or olive green

covers printed in scarlet, purple-brown, bright green, deep green, deep brown or red-brown

WINDSOR - LONDON: Cards in olive-green Covers in olive green

On the bottom of the design at the left side of the address side the text of the London - Windsor stationery reads "For Conveyance by AEROPLANE from LON­DON to WINDSOR", and for the return flights it reads "For Conveyance by aero­plane from Windsor to London". All mail flown from London had the postal can­cellation "First United Kingdom - Aerial Post - (date) London" with the dates of September 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Sept. 10 was a Sunday and no mail was sorted that day). All mail from Windsor has the same cancellation, but with the city name "Windsor" and dated September 16. (even some "privileged" item is known with the date of Sept. 17.)

The imprint on the reverse side of the London card is illustrated here. The Windsor card differs as far as. it gives the following places "where to purchase and where to post": "Windsor Chronicle" 17 High Street, Windsor". The other infor­mation is the same as on the London card.

The Field handbook also lists various backstamps. These have the date of the actual flight, where the item has been carried, as the postal cancellation is the date of posting of the item. We find covers postmarked on September 13 and back­stamped on September 19, or postmarked on Sept. 15 and backstamped on Sept. 25.

On the reverse side of the postcard was a "space for the written or printed matter". Cards are known with advertising imprints. The Field handbook gives a listing of these various advertisers.

The field of this special stationery has widely been specialized and explored

and has developed into a very interesting field indeed.

In September 1961, the 50th Anniversary of these aerial post flights was com­

memorated in England with a helicopter with specially printed mail traversing the

same route.

(from Stamp Collecting, London Sept. 8, 1961 issue.)

-See Also Page 64 NOVEMBER, 1961 PAGE 43

! ~! t 1 J

r .._ ,· '' ~ _ ( , ,· • • 1 ·~ • _,_ •, 'r ' •

THE DEPARTMENT STORE OF PHILATELY

May We Help You? Regat·dless of whether you are buying or

selling, you will likely find The Depart­

ment Store of Philately able and willing

to help you.

Your inquiries coupled with your A.A.M.S.

membership number will be welcomed.

A large and varied stock of stamps, seals

and covers will be found as close to you as

your mailbox. A complete line of albums,

catalogs and supplements is maintained in

the Elbe, Scott, Minkus and White Ace

line. You may send your orders for

prompt attention: all orders of $2.00 or

more sent Postfree anywhere in The U.S.A.

Interesting covers are always available on

approval. As you know, you can't buy

covers from a price list! You'll find un­

usual and even unique covers in Long's

stock, available to you on approval on

request. Write today!

IELMIER Ro ILO~G

PAGE 44 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

Action in Auctions For more than a quarter of a century we

have held monthly Mail Auction Sales

whereby fine and unusual philatelic ma­

terial is sold by mail to collectors and

dealers in all parts of the world. If you

receive our catalogs, he sure to send your

hid sheet in the current auction. If you

do not receive these catalogs monthly, ask

for the current one!

These auctions contain almost anything

philatelic, ranging from rarities to entire

collections and accumulations. Every sale features a special section on COVERS,

usually running into several hundred sep­

arate lots. This may he a grand oppor­

tunity for you, whether you are buying or selling!

There is always plenty of action in a Long

Sale! All bidding is done via mail and if

you're interested, we will he glad to hear

from you!

22 ~ORTDD 2~1D> S'lfo, IHIA\RRHSBlUR<G, JIDA\o

Life Member:

NOVEMBER, 1961

AAMS APS SPA

PAGE 45

SALE OF ...

~~NUMBER ONE" AIRMAIL UOVERS AT QUOTED PRICES By

Collectors• Items, Inc. P. 0. Box311 Ridgefield Park, N. j.

In May 1917 the first adhesive airmail stamp was designed and put in use by l.taly. Since then many countries have issued special airJTI1Lil stamps. Some countries - notably Great Britain - have chosen to do with­out them, while others - particularly those with a high degree of illiter­acy which obviates letterwriting of any kind • have been printing them with great frequency, not by necessity, but mainly for the purpose of ex­tracting easy dollars from gullible collectors with the promotional help and the propaganda drums of special agencies.

The airmail collector with a sense of values can easily avoid these pseudo-philatelic pr·oducts of the \high ·pressure mer­chants by getting off their new-issue-treadmill and find real plea -ure and al o.o permanent value in collecting just the first airmail stamp or first airmail set of all countries, either in mint condition or ·preferably on cover. These covers with their ca­chets, dates and postmarks are telling a vivid and interesting story of airmail history-something the ,finest mint copy can never do.

Furthermore there is much logic in such a collection in­a~much as it has a historic beginning and a ·conclusive end of purpose.

After 45 years of airmail there exist ·only a limited num­ber o.f hard to get rarities of the first issue. The majority of "Number Ones" and first sets are still available at reasonable prices, but covers are getting scarcer and scarcer and are con­stantly increasing in value. Ten years from today you will say to yourself: "What a dope I was not to buy these bargains!"

CONDITIONS OF SALE

1. There is no "bidding" in this sale. You know what you are getting at the price quoted.

2. Every item is guaranteed genuine and as described. Price reflects condi­tion.

3. Payment with order. 4. Returns--for any reason whatsoever-must be made immediately to ob­

tain full refund. No arguments and no questions asked. 5. AU sales become final thirty days after receipt of purchased items. 6. All offers are subject to prior sale and represent single items, not quan­

tities. Early orders are therefore essential. 7. Sorry, no dealer discounts.

COLLECTORS' ITEMS, INC. (A. Swoboda, Pres.) Box 3ll Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, U.S.A.

A.A.S. SALE November, 1961

Please send me from this advertised sale the following items for which I am enclosing my remittance, plus postage, in the amount of

$ ............................... .

I have read the terms of the sale and agree to same.

NAME ........................................................................................................... .

ADDRESS ................................................................................................... .

POSTAGE: A charge of 35c will be made for postage and insurance d'or each mailing within the United States. Outside ·the U.S.A. actual postage for registered mail will apply.

-----------

No. Price . I No. Price

I No. Price

I, I.

/I

. I I

I I

I I

I I.

rl

! I I

' (Caialogues referred to are Scott 1961 and Sanabria 1959-60)

AFGHANISTAN 1. C 1 + others on reg. cover to Austria, stamps on back ........................................ $ 1.715 2. C 1-2-3 + others on reg. fl. cover, Kabul to London ................................................ 6.75 3. San. C 1 a-3 imped. with sheet margins on reg, fl. cover Kabul to N.Y. (San.

off cover 75.00) ........................................................................................................................ 49.50 4. the same set, but on three fl. reg. bkst. covers to N. Y. ........................................ 41.50 5. C 1 & C 2 on large size commercial cover to Austria ............................................ 2.00 6. San. 1 a to 3 a, imperf. pairs with sheet m:1rgin, extremely fine copies, o.g.,

(Cat. 75.00) ................................................................................................................................ 39.00 7. San. 1 b to 3 b, imperf. vertically, 3 mint pairs, n.h. (Cat. 120.00) .................... 45 CO

ARGENTINE 8. C 1 single & Bl. of four + others on flown cover to Montevideo 3-7-1928,

backstamped 3-8-1928 ............................................................................................................ 3.85 9. C 1 (3), C 2 + others on fl. reg. cover to Montevideo ............................................ 3.45

10. C 1, C 2(2) + others on fl. reg. cover to Montevideo ............................................ 3.45• 11. C1, C4, C5, C10, C7 + others on 4 fl. reg. m"lximum cards including two first

flights to Paraguay .................................................................................................................. 6.35 12. C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, ClO + others on 4 fl. reg. maximum cards ................................ 6 85 13. C1, C4, C5, C10 +16 other stamps on .. fl. reg. m01x. cards .................................... 6.85

AUSTRALIA 14. C 1 + others, f. fl. Perth - Adelaide, 6-4-29 thence to Toronto, v .f. on reg.

cover ......................................................................................................................................... 1.10 15. C 1 + others on legal size cover 1st England - Australia official Airmail,

Imperial Airways 1931, (folded) .................................................................................... .75 AUSTRIA

16. C 1-2-3 on grey paper, on fl. cover Krakow to Vienna ................................................ 4.50 17. same on fl. cover Lemberg to Vienna ................................................................................ 4.50 18. C 1, 2c, 3 (Kr. 2.50 perf. 111/2 x 12V2l fl. cover Krakow - Vienna .................... 14.50

BELGIUM 19. C to C 4 on flown Antwerp to Paris 13-VIII-1930 .................................................... 3.50 20. 21. 22.

23. 24.

25.

26.

27.

28. 29.

30. 31.

32.

33.

34. 35.

Five various f. fl. covers, all with special cachets & C 1 + others, v.f ............ . San. 501-2-3-4-5 Five special flight cards v .f. . .......................................................... . Gordon Bennett Balloon Race June 20, 1937, flown in Balloon "Belgica",

with all cachets ....................................................................................................... : ................. . BOLIVIA

San. No. 1, August 5, 1925, f. fl. Cochabamba - Sucre, 59 exist ........................ . San. No. -, to be listed in new catalogue. First return flight August 7, 1925, Sucre to Cochabamba, franked with two pairs, bearing besides regular can-

cellation a special overprint "Correo Aereo, Cochabamba 7.Vlll.1925." V. rare ................................................................................................................................................. .

San. No. 3 Aug. 14.25, f. fl. Cochabamba to La Paz, 134 covers exist, stamp v.f., cover folded. A rare item ....................................................................................... .

same stamp and cover v.f ........................................................................................................ .

BRAZIL C 1 (pair) & C 5 (pair) + others on flown cover Rio to Sao Paulo, special

cancellation C.G.A. 4-7-28 ............................................................................................... . San. C 1 - C 7, Condor Issue, F. Fl. Brazil - Bolivia, 8-28-30 ............................... . San. C 1 - C 8, Condor Issue, F. Fl. Natal - Rio, legal size cover ....................... .

BULGARIA C 1 - C 4 + others, reg. fl. cover Sofia to Budapest ............................................... . San. 1 a. Inverted surcharge on C 1. A magnificent block of four on a

flown cover from Rousse to Sofia, 11-11-27, fully documented. A great rarity and probably unique as a block of four on cover ............................... .

C 15-18, 31-36, 41-53, 54 (pair), 56-57 CB1 on six v.f. flown registered covers

CANADA If you are specializing in Canada airmails, we have hundreds of covers and

rare sets; just ask for our special price list. For the regular Number One collector we offer a choice of v .f. covers with beautiful cachets, each ....... .

CANAL ZONE C 1 Tyype I (San. 2) 3 on f. fl. F.A.M. 9 to Chile, 7-16-29 ................................... . same, a pair on F. Fl. F.A.M. 9 to Peru, 5-17,.29 ....................................................... .

10.QO 15.00

5.75

60.00

55.00

45.00 50.00

2.75 3.25 9.75

4.75

575.00 6.85

.25

2.50 2.50

PAGE 48 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

CAPE VERDE 36. C 1 - C 9 on legal size, reg., fl. envelop to N.Y. ........................................................ 4.00

' CHILE 37. San. No. 1 + others on fl. bkstd. cover Santiago to Chuquicamata via Val-

paraiso, v.f. .................................................................................................................................. 15.00 38. same on fl. reg. bkst. cover to Paris, v.f. ........................................................................ 11}.00

CHINA 39. C 1 - C 5 + others on legal size envelop, reg. & bkst. ............................................ 15.50

COSTA RICA 40. C 1 (2), 2 (8), C 5 (2) on fl. reg. cover to Austria. All stamps affixed to re-

verse of envelop ........................................................................................................................ 10.85 CURACAO

41. C 1 First Day (July 6, 1929) cover, fl. Willemstad to Panama, bkstpd, rare on cover ..................................................................................... ...................................................... 19.50

CUBA 42. C 1, C 2, C 3, C 31 on four flown covers ........................................................................ 2.50

CZECHO-SLOVAKIA 43. C 1 - C 3 (San. No. 4, 5, 6) on flown cover to Paris April 28, 1921. Imperf.

stamps were withdrawn 4-30-21 ........................................................................................ 47.50 DENMARK

44. C 1 and C 3 on cover to England, not bkstpd. ................................................................ 3.65 45. C 1 - C 3 on fl. cover from Aalborg to Lugano via Munich ................................ 5.00 46. C 1 - C 5 on reg. fl. cover to Zagreb, cover has a fold .......................................... 14.25

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 47. San. No. 1, F. Fl. Cuba - Haiti -Santa Domingo, Puerto Rico, 2-20-28, Plane

"Santa Maria" signed by B. L. Rowe, Pilot of the plane ................................ 6.75 48. C 1 (San. No. 2) on flown cover ... ...................................................................................... 3.85 49. C 1, C 2, C 6, C 8, C 12, San. 9, 28, on five fl. covers .................................................... 8.00

EGYPT 50. C 1 Block of four mint, n. h. ................................................................................................ 13.00 51. C 1 + other stamp on fl. cover to Baghdad ................................................................ 4.95 52. same on cover Cairo to Chicago, not bkstpd. Red stripes used with cancella-

tion indicating "airmail" ........................................................................................................ 5.50

ESTONIA 53. C 1 + others on fl. cover to Helsingfors. Stamps are cancelled March 12,

1920, one day before official use ...................................................................................... 9.75 54. C 1 + others on reg. airmail cover Rakvere 5-14-20 to Leipzig 6-1-20. Some

airmail ! ................................................................ .................................... ........ .......................... 5.85 55. C 1 (4) + B1, B2 & 35 on reg. letter to Munich 7-15-20 with censor marks 7.75 56. C 2, C 3, C 4, 5, 6 + Scott No. 36 (2) on fl. reg. cover 29-11-23 to Chiasso Via

Helsinki, v .f. and rare, on cover .................................................................................... 32 .. 00 57. C 9 - 13 + Scott 71 & 77 on reg. bkstpd. cover Voru 21-10-24 to Weimar

24-10-24 ...................................................................................................................................... 3.00

FAR EASTERN REPUBLIC 58. San. 501, 507, 509, 510 four v.f. mint copies, v. rare, all signed by Hevbert

Bloch, cat. 1959-60 $400.00 .................................................................................................... 195.00

FINLAND 59. C 1 Zeppelin flight 9-24-30 to Germany, postal card ................................................ 15.50 60. same on commercial postal card to Berlin ...................................................................... 15.50 61. same in a pair on cover to Tubingen, cover has some spots and was folded 22.50 62. C 1 well centered, mint copy, n.h ............ :............................................................................ 12.50

FRANCE 63. C 1 & C 2 + others on reg. fl. cover to Braunschweig 7-28-27 ................................ 16.00 64. C 1 & C 2 on official reg, fl. cover, 6-26-1927, day of issue ................................ 18.00 65. C 1 & C 2 on fl. reg. cover Lyon to Berlin in 1937 ................................................ 15.00

FRENCH GUIANA 66. C 1 - C B on fl. reg. censored, bkstpd cover to N. Y. 8-17-44 ............................ 6.71i

FRENCH MOROCCO 67 C1 - C 16 on three covers .......................................................................................................... 10.75

GERMANY Ask for our price list of Pioneer and special flights.

68. C 1 - C 14 on lettersheet, cancelled 3-5-23 .................................................................... 3.00

NOVEMBER, 1961 PAGE 49

GREECE 69. C 1 & C 2 + others on first fl. Syros to Galata, 6-4-1930 .................................... 1.5~

GUADELOUPE 70. C 1, c 2, C 3, C 10-12 on 3 v.f. reg., fl. covers to N.Y. .............................................. 11.75

HONDURAS 71, C 1 a v.f. unused copy (no gum) signed Herbert Bloch ........................................ 29.50 72. San. 501. Semi-official tied on cardboard tag by company cancellation, has

become very rare ..................................................................................................................... 3.50 HUNGARY

73. C 1 a Inverted surcharge, mint, n.h., Signed Gilbert, v.f. ...................................... 21.00 74. C 1 - C 5 on three flown covers, v.f. ................................................................................ 6.50 75. C (3) & C 2 + others on cover to Kiev, not bkstpd .............................................. 5.00 76. C 1 & C 2 + others on cover to Krakow ........................................................................ 4.50 77. C 1 & C 2 on fl. reg. cover to Vienna, blue cancell. 7-5-18 .................................... 5.50 78. C 1 + others on fl. cover to Vienna, 7-11-18 .................................................................... 3.50

ICELAND 79. C 1 + Scott 171,217 - 8,228 on censored cover. Reykjavik 26-VII-41 to Pitts-

burgh ......................................................................................................................................... 3.50 80. C 1 (2), C 2 on fl. reg. cover to Bisbee, Arizona ........................................................ 3.85 81. C 3 Block of four + Scott 158 on airmail cover to N.Y. ............................................ 7.00 82. San. No. 4 + Scott 0 53-62 on large size envelop, which has been folded v.f. 20.00

IRAQ 83. C 1 - C 8 in two Souvenir sheets, perf. and imperf., on two flown back-

stamped covers, album page size, v.f. and very attractive ............................ 6.00 ITALY

84. San. No. 1 on official card Turin - Rome, 5-20-1917. 200,000 stamps were is-sued but for some unknown reason they have become very scarce ........... ..

85. same on cover, Rom - Turin .................................................................................................. .. 86. San. No. 2 on fl. bkstpd. cover Rome - Naples - Palermo 28-6-17 87. North Atlantic Cruise postal card, franked with ordinary Italian stamps,

Reykjavik July 5, 1933. Comparatively few were carried on Iceland dispatch. On reverse photo of Balbo and four of his officers ...................... ..

88. C 27. A very fine, well centered copy, a.g ................................................................... .. 89. C 27 A. the seven stars variety. Friedl Cert. 7663 ...................................................... .. 90. San. 502. A v.f. mint copy and also on cover to Rome ...................................... .. 91. San 503. A v.f. mint copy n.h ............................................................. - ...... , ...................... . 92. same in block of four with corner sheet margin ...................................................... ..

JORDAN 93. C 1 - C 15 on three fl. covers ............................................................................................... .

JUGOSLAVIA

4.50 4.50 4.50

30.00 39.00

175.00 12.50 2.50

12.00

5.75

94. C 1 - C 6 on regist. fl. cover Zagreb to N.Y. .................................................................... 6.15 95. C 1 - C 4 on regist. fl. cover Zagreb to Kaunas .................................................... 1.85

P. S. We have many more later airmail covers; please ask. KOREA

96. C 1 (4) on fl. bkst. censored commercial cover to N.Y. ............................................ 3.90 97. C 1 on unaddressed cover, cane. Seoul 6-2-48 + n.h. mint copy ........................ 2.00 98. San. 2, 3, 4, 5, 12-13-14, 15-19 on six covers (philatelic) ............................................ 8.55

LATAKIA 99. C 1 - C 11 (except C 2 which was issued a year later) the entire first issue

on two regist. covers to Pa. cancelled first day of issue. V.F. and rare .... 59.00 LATVIA

100. C 1 & C 2 (perf.) on fl. reg. cover to Bern .................................................................... 2.00 LEBANON

101. C 1 - C 4 on fl. bkstpd. cover Rayak to Latakia ........................................................ 5.85 LIBERIA

102. Scott and San. 1 - 3 on fl. cover, v.f., Friedl Cert. 7856 ........................................ 146.00

LIECHTENSTEIN 103. C 1 - C 6 on fl. reg. cover Triesenberg to Mannheim, 10-6-30 ............................ 9.75 104. same on F.D. cover Vaduz - St. Gallen Fl., 8-31-30, special cane., reg. &

bkst ............................................................................................................................................ 9.75

LUXEMBURG 105. C 1 - C 4 + Belgium C 1 on F.D. reg. cover to England ........................................ 2.50 106. C 1 - C 6 on cover to Hamburg, not bkstpd. ................................................................ 2.90

PAGE 50 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

MADAGASCAR 107. C 1 - C 5, C 7 - 14 complete first set (No. 6 was issued 3 years later) on

three regist. flown covers to U.S.A. ............................................................................ 19.50 108. C 1 var. Red color on Island omitted, v.f. mint copy, unl. .................................... 7.50

MALTA 109. C 1 + other on fl. bkst., cover to Allahabad, India .................................................. ., 8.50 110. C 1 (pair) + Scott 197 on cens. cover to British Guiana ........................................ 10.75 111. C 1 Mint block of four, n.h., well centered .................................................................... 8.75

MARTINIQUE 112. C 1 & C 2 on registered flown cover to N.Y.

MEXICO We specialize in Mexican flight covers and the Tejeria - Tapachula issue

as well as all rarities on and off cover. Please let us know your wishes.

MONACO

1.95

113. C 1 + others on fl. cover to Braunschweig .................................................................... 9.75 114. San. 501 April 1914, semi-official postal card, Madrid ............................................ 4.75 115. same, postal card, Paris ............................................................................................................ 4.75

MOZAMBIQUE 116. San. No. 1 + other on flown cover .................................................................................... 15.00 117. San No. 7 on airmail cover Inhambane - Lorenco Marques 27-1-38 .................... 11.50 118. C 1 - C 5 on flown, reg. bkst. cover to N.Y. ................................................................ .85

119. 120. 121. 122. 123.

NETHERLAND INDIES C 1-5 First day f. fl. Medan - Batavia, 22-9-28 ........................................................... . C 1-5 on fl. reg. cover to Holland from Galang ........................................................... . same from Bandoeng .......... , ..................................................................................................... . same from Fort de Kock ....................................................................................................... . same from Semarang

NEW ZEALAND

9.75 8.75 8.75 8.75 8.75

124. C 1 on first flight cover Gisbome - Napier .................................................................... 3.95 125. C 1-3 on first flight Rotorua - Auckland, 12-9-31 ........................................................ 8.75 126. same, first day of issue, flown and bkst., 11-11-31 ...................................................... 9.75 127. C 1 (2) - 2-3, first day of issue 11-11-31, on special Christmas flight New

Zealand - Australia - London, authenticated by Airmail Society of New Zealand, v.f. .............................................................................................................................. 11.25

128. C 2 (2) & C 3, June 25, '34, "Faith in Australia" Trans-Tasman Rd. trip fl. New Zealand - Papua - Australia with all cachets, v.f. ................................ 7.50

129. C 5 Sixth Crossing in the "Southern Cross", 3-29-34 ................................................ 5.50 130. C 5 First Day cover 2-17-34, first official airmail between New Zealand and

Australia ...................................................................... .,......................... ................................ 6.50

PANAMA 131. C 1 + other on Lindbergh Flight cover 2-9-29 ............................................................ 1.25 132. same, overprint shifted, "Correo Aereo" has almost disappeared in upper

and lower perforations ........................................................................................................ 1.50 133. San. No. 1-3 on Panam f. Fl. Balboa - N.Y., bkst., v.f. ........................................ 2.50 134. C 1 A inverted overprint + others on fl. reg. cover ................................................ 10.75

PAPUA 135. San. No. 1, 1929, Harrison Printing, a pair on reg. fl. cover, Port Moresby -

Cairns, v. rare on cover ........................................................................................................ 41.00

PARAGUAY 136. San. No. 1, 2, 3 (2) + others on reg. fl. cover to Paris ............................................ 4.25

PERSIA-IRAN 137. C 1-9, 1927 issue on 2 fl. covers to U.S.A. ........................................................................ 4.00 138. C 22 - c 25, 26 A on fl. cover to N.Y. ................................................................................ 4.00

PERU 139. C 1-3 three very fine copies, o.g. 16.50

NOVEMBER, 1961 PAGE 51

PHILIPPINES

140. C 1 and C 6, Manila - San Jose Fl., 1-28-28, 58 carried, U. S. Army cachets and arrival Postmark .............................................................................................................. 19.50

141. San. No. 1 (2) and 6 Palawan Island to Manila, 11-8-1928 ........................................ 9.85

POLAND 142. C 1-9 First day cover, 9-11-25, Warsaw to Paris, not bkst. .................................... 9.75

PORTUGAL 143. San. 501, Special semi-official stamp issued by the Geographical Society in

Lisbon for the Transatlantic flight by Joseph Costa New York - Brazil -Lisbon a. v.f. block of four. On the lower pair the overprint has shifted to top .................... ........................ .... .................... .................... .................... ................................ 15.00

144. the same stamp on cover from N.Y., U.S. stamps cancelled August 26, 1936, autographed by Joseph Costa, v.f. ........................................................................ 20.00

REUNION 145. C 1 very fine mint copy, n.h., perfectly centered .................................................... 17.50 146. C 1 on flown cover, first day of issue, bkstd. 2-12-37 ................................................ 28.50 147. same on reg. cover to Paris, not backstamped ............................................................ 28.50 148. same stamp ni block of four (San. 300.00) on flown cover to Paris, back-

stamped 2-12-37, cover v.f ................................................................................................. 105.00

RYUKYUS 149. C 1-13 complete country on 4 first day covers, 2 bkstpd. ........................................ 15.35

SAAR 150. C 1, C 2 (2) + other on ship to shore catapult fl. Bremen to N.Y., May 10,

1931, circular cachet, rare .................................................................................................... 9.75 151. C 1, 2 (3) + other, on ship to shore catapult flight s/s Bremen, May 27, 1931'

to N.Y., three diff. cachets ................................................................................................ 9.75

ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON 152. C 1-7 on v.f. legal size reg. cover to Brooklyn, N.Y.

SPAIN

3.95

153. C 1 - C 5 First issue complete in blocks of four, o.g. ................................................ 11.50 154. C 1 A imperf. pair (200 exist), v.f., o.g. ............................................................................ 25.00 155. C 1 C inverted overprint, o.g., centered to bottom, f. - v.f. ................................ 7.50 156. C 1-li on cover Mallorca to Madrid, not backstamped ................................................ 6.85 157. same on cover Malaga to Barcelona, not backstamped ........................................ 6.85

SPANISH GUINEA 158. C 1 on fl. cover Santa Isabel, Fernanda-Po to the Canary Islands 10-9-1941,

very rare .................................... ................................................................................................ 30.00 159. C 1 A "Correo Aereo" overprint 22mm, o.g., v.f. & rare ........................................ 6.50

SPANISH WEST AFRICA 160. C 1 on flown bkstpd. cover to N.Y. .................................................................................... 1.25

SUDAN 161. C 1 (3), C 2, C 3 on reg. airmail cover to England, bkstpd. 7.25

SWITZERLAND 162. C 1 & C 2 on two covers, one flown, the other used as regular postage,

prior to withdrawal on March 1, 1923 ............................................................................ 38.00 163. San. 56, 67, 70, 503, 515 on 5 v.f. First day covers ........................................................ 10.00

SYRIA 164. C 1 & C 2 (2) on cover to Alexandrette ........................................................................ 19.75 165. C 1-3 on airmail cover to Alexandrette, part of front cut out, stamps v.f. .... 19.50

TANGIER ~66. (Spanish) San. No. 1 + others on flown reg. cover to Paris, bkstpd, v.f. ........ 15.50

TIMOR 167. C 1-9 + others on flown, legal size cover, reg. & cens. ............................................ 4.00

PAGE 52 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

TRIESTE Z. B, 163. C 1-9 on two covers, one first day, the other flown to Milan, bkstpd. ............ 4.95

TUNISIA 169. C 1 as single franking from Ben Gardane to Tunis .................................................... 1.35 170. C 1 & C 2 + others on flown, reg. commercial cover to Switzerland 12-15-

1926 ................................................................................................................................................ 1.85 1'70. C 1-6 on 3 v.f. covers, local, Vienna & England .......................................................... 4.25 171. C 3-6 on fl. reg. cover, Sfax to England .......................................................................... 2.65 172. San. 10-11-12 on flown reg. cover, Tunis to Lyon ........................................................ 3.50

TURKEY 1'73. C 1-5, 6, 7, 8 (2) on flown cens. reg. cover to N. Y. .................................................... 9.75 174. C 1-8 on two flown regist. covers to U.S.A. .................................................................... 8.85 175. C 1-4, 6-7 + others on fl. reg. cover Galata to Brighton, England .................... 6.75 176. C 1-11 on two v.f. flown reg. covers .................................................................................. 17.25 177. C 12-18 on 2 v.f. reg. covers, day of issue ........................................................................ 3.95

UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA 178. C 1 (2) & C 3 on fl. cover Durban to Capetown, then to U.S.A .. Stamps in

use only from Feb. 25 to June 15, 1925, remainder destroyed ............................ 9.50 179. C 1-4 on fl. cover East London to Capetown ................................................................ 19.50 180. same on fl. cover Durban to Capetown, bkst. 8-30-25 ................................................ 19.50

181. 182.

183. 184.

URUGUAY C 1 Blue Overprt., on reg. commercial cover to Buenos Aires ....................... . San. 5-7 + 8 (Montevideo) used on day of issue only, on very fine, back-

stamped cover ....................................................................................................................... .. San. 5-7 + 9 (Florida) v.f. on backstamped .cover ................................................... . San. 10 and 10d v.f. and rare on two flown reg. covers ....................................... .

VATICAN CITY

27.50

7.25 7.25

30.00

185. San. 1-8 on v.f. flown cover to N. Y. ................................................................................ 5.00

VIETNAM 186. C 1-3 on philatelic cover, not backstamped .................................................................... 2.00 187. C 4-7, 8, 9, 10 + aerogramme, 5 covers, v.f. .................................................................... 4.65

YEMEN 188. San. No. 1 & 2 on philatelic cover, not backstamped and not flown ................ 2.00 189. San. 48-54, 55-56, 59-60, 63-65 on 4 v.f. flown covers (one of legal size), all

backstamped ............................................................................................................................ 12.00

Please send your orders early, as these ·are single items, not quantities.

THANK YOU!

• The above offering listed mainly "Number Ones" and related items.

We ·carry always a large ass-ortment of airmail covers including Zeppe­lins and Newfoundland rarities.

We are also s-pecializing in Scott No. One of all countries, mint, used and on cover as well as the classics of the World. Since our entire stock is in a New York City vault, items can be shown only by previous appointment.

c 0 L L E c T 0 R s I I T E M s ' I N c. 92 Seventh Street, Box 311

Ridgefield Park, N. J. NOVEMBER, 1961 PAGE 53

Centenary o£ the Stamp Catalogue By L. N. and M. Williams

The month of September, 1961 wit-nessed the 100th anniversary of publica­tion of the first list of postage stamps, forerunner of the catalogue.

It was a modest 12-page list, unillus­trated and unpriced, handwritten and re­produced by lithography, yet a pioneer effort in an entirely virgin field. Those who wish to examine a copy of this gen­esis of the catalogue can do so in the Crawford Library at the British Museum in London.

The list had been prepared by one whose name ever lives in the libraries of philatelic bibliophiles, even though it is quite unknown to most stamp collect­ors-the name of Francois Georges Oscar Berger-Levrault, of Strasbourg.

He was born about 1825 into a family famous as printers and booksellers; in­deed, the name is still borne by the firm of booksellers in the Place Broglie at Strasbourg. He was certainly one of the earliest French stamp collectors, and the strength of his collection in the eighteen­sixties, when such modern refinements as pictorials, commemoratives and char­ity stamps were as yet unknown, was truly remarkable. Details of his collec­tion's growth are found in an article by Fred J. Melville in "The Postage Stamp, Vol. xv, page 46, where one can read that in September 1861 the collection contained 673 specimens, by August 1862 the number has grown to 1,142, in April1863 it was 1,553, and in July 1864 the total had risen to 1,857.

Following the appearance of his orig­inal list, which was entitled simply Tim­bres-Paste, Berger-Levrault devoted himself more and more to the study of stamps and in December 1861 produced a second edition of his list. Then, in June 1862, came the third edition, which was set up and printed from type, and there were several subsequent editions and supplements. His first substantial catalogue was entitled Beschreibung der his jetzt bekannten Briefmarken, etc., which appeared in 1864. His last work was Les Timbres-paste, and this was

PAGE 54

• published in 1867. Berger-Levrault had philatelic corres­

pondents throughout the world, and among them were Alfred Potiquet, the civil servant in Paris, who used Berger­Levrault' s original list as the basis for his own catalogue, published in December 1861. Other well-known correspondents of the Strasbourg collector were Georges Herpin, who coined the word philately, and Dr. Jacques Amable Legrand (Dr. Ma,gnus), inventor of the perforation gauge. Then in England there was W. Hughes-Hughes, of the Inner Temple, who carefully kept a record of his total expenditures on stamps for his collection and found that it amounted to £69 before he sold his stamps for £3,000; Judge F. A. Philbrick, E. L. Pemberton and Dr. C. W. Viner were others who exchanged letters with Berger-Levrault in his hey­day.

All went well until the outbreak of the' Franco-Prussian War. By that time the Berger-Levrault collection had grown in size to 10,400 stamps, of which 6,300 were unused and about 1,400 were es­says. He stated that at that stage he "was only short of fifty postage stamps known at that date, as also a certain number of Australian stamps with theil various watermarks, which I had begun to study toward 1866, with my old friends and collaborators, F. A. Philbrick and Dr. Magnus".

The coming of the war and its subse­quent siege of Strasbourg seems to have put an end to Berger-Levrault's phila­telic activities. Whether his collection was lost during the fighting, or whether he was forced to the conclusion that it was too frivolous to collect stamps while precious lives were at stake cannot now be determined.

In its issue dated January, 1871 the Stamp Collector's Magazine contained a letter from another noted early collector:

Sir:-What became of that useful friend to philately, Mons. Berger-Lev­rault, during the siege of Strasbourg?

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

Has he been able to save his stamps from the general wreck and re-estab­lish his business, which, if I mistake not, was that of a publisher and book­seller?

Clifton. FENTONIA. Answer came there none. It was many

months before his philatelic friends learned that he had indeed survived the siege and the war itself, but as far as the world of stamps was concerned, he faded almost into oblivion. Almost, but not entirely, for Melville mentions a letter containing his reminiscences which he wrote from Nancy some 20 years later.

He continued living at Nancy past the turn of the century and it was not until 24th September, 1903, that he breathed his last. He had reached the age of 78. The fate of his stamp collection remains forever a mystery, and no record of its disposal can be traced in the philatelic press.

As the centennial bell tolls for this pi­oneer philatelist, let every stamp collector remember the name of Francois Georges Oscar Berger-Levrault, whose brain gave birth to a form of publication without which philately today would be unthink­able.

( Reprinted by permission of "The Stamp Lover," Journal of the Junior Philatelic Society (London).

NOVEMBER, 1961

A FORERUNNER TO OUR MODERN ASTRONAUTS

Last summer on the left bank of Paris' River Seine, the writer found a card, is­sued in spring, 1910, depicting the upset of humanity on the approaching Hal­ley's Comet. We remember the day, when everybody had the same idea or an­other on how to greet the great moment . . . on a lookout point high on a moun­tain , or staying with friends, or ... sleeping the critical night through.

On this card there are pictured people who tried to get away from the earth before the comet would crash into it, either floating on a rubber tire or being shot up on a rocket straight to Mars. Here they go, the world's first rocket­astronauts! Bon voyage!

- Dr. Max Kronstein

IF YOU'RE GOING TO WEST GERMANY-For AAMS members traveling in West

Germany who may wish to attend an air mail meeting, we'd like to suggest a visit to Munich. Our good friend and cor­respondent, Werner P. C. Kuemmelberg, tells us the club at Munich meets the first Friday of each month at the Gast­hof und Hotel "Zum Bogner," Im Tal 72. Phone is 22 79 29. If you want to con­tact Werner, his address is 48/2 Elisa­bethstrasse.

PAGE 55

South African Aerogram1nes By I. H. C. Godfrey

REPUBLICAN ISSU·ES OF SOUTH AFRICA - 31st May. 1961. Sc "Greetings" Aerogramme -Provisional Issue

Some of the December, 1958 sixpen­ny illuminated sheets, which were sur­charged "5c" for issue on 14th Febru­ary, have now appeared additionally overprinted "REPUBLIC OF" and "RE­PUBLIEK VAN" in black serifed letters approximately 23 mm. across and spaced 15 mm. apart. This supplementary over­print is normally superimposed slightly above the "SOUTH AFRICA" and "SUID-AFRIKA" of the stamp design but at times the upper words are well a­bove the simulated top perforations.

It was reported in the May Phila­telist by the Publicity Officer that out of a total of 144,000 of the "Greetings" areogrammes sent by the P.M.G. to be surcharged "5c", 138,000 had been dis­tributed for issue on Decimalisation Day - 14th February 1961. That would leave a balance of 6,000 in the Government Printer's hands and it is reasonable to deduce that only that number received the Republican overprint. Sc Definitive Aerogramme

The basic form is iden tical to the "Decimalisation" sheet issued on 14th February, but all printing is in Royal blue instead of light blue.

The impressed stamp has the same motif as the new 5c adhesive - a Baobab tree and flower - but, being in mono­color, it presen ts a most inpleasing ef­fec t, reminiscent of some of the poorer Japanese stamp designs of past years. The Afrikaans wording at the top of the stamp is, in fact, so poorly printed that the inscription could be mistaken for Oriental heiroglyphics.

Onlv sheets with English texts first have thus far been_ seen. 2V2c Definitive Aerogramme

The new Republican form for In­land and African Postal Union use is identical to the first definitive 2lhc. Rhinoceros sheet issued on the 18th April, 1961 except for the impressed stamp ,which now depicts the portico of

PAGE 56

• Groot Constantia and a bunch of grapes. All printing is in magenta.

The aerogrammes have again been issued only with Afrikaans text first. FIRST DAY CANCELLATIONS ON REPUBLICAN AEROGRAMMES

Principal post offices in South Africa were open for only two hours on Re­public Day - 31st May, 1961 - to pro­vide stamp collectors with first day cov­ers. Although stocks of the new aero­grammes are stated to have been sent to those post offices, it seems that staffs were generally too busy to issue and postmark any postal stationery that day. Very few aerogrammes are likely there­fore to bear a Day of Issue cancellation, although a commemorative postmark was employed at the Philatelic Bureau in Pretoria for that one day.

HARRIS U. S. A.

CATALOG ..................... HUNDREDS OF

L---- · PRICE CHANGES! 160 PAGES • NEARLY 2000 ILLUSTRATIONS

Brand new edition of America 's most widely used U. S. & B.N.A. catalog - containing hundreds of important price changes - published by world's largest stamp firm. Complete illustrated listing of all major U. S. issues, U. S. Posses­sions and British North America. Also specialties, Confederate States, United Nations, "Ameri­cana" PLUS U. S. Stamp Identifier - compre­hensive illustrated booklet. Tells you how to di stinguish between rare and common "look-a like" stamps. All this and more in our BIG interesting catalog.

· H. E. HARRIS & CO. Catalog Dept., Boston 17, Mass.

THE AIRPOS'I' JOURNAL

U.S. TALLY AT CURIOSA, '61-

An Award of Honors: Five Golds, Nine Silver-Gilts, Three Silvers, Four Bronze

By John C. W. Field

"Curiosa" is the generic name for an annual exhibition of antiques which this year ( in The Hague) concentrated on aeronautical matters. The Dutch aero­philatelic group, De Vliegende Holland­er, took the opportunity to organize a large international aerophilatelic exhibi­tion in co-operation with Curiosa, under the patronage of F.I.S.A. (International Federation of Aerophilatelic Societies) which also held its first annual general meeting and Congress in The Hague at the same time.

The Exhibition, from August 4th to 13th, contained over 800 frames of aero­philatelic and polar postal history ma­terial as well as a special section for lit­erature. The Exhibition was truly inter­national, especially so far as the Jury was concerned as this was under the Presi­dency of Herbert Bloch (U.S.A.); with Henry M. Goodkind (U.S.A.), and other members from Europe and from Eng­land. (The English representative was H. E. J. Evans, of the Polar Postal His­tory Society, whose special responsibility was the judging of the polar sections).

The Jury reported that the exhibition had produced entries of a very high standard whose quality was reflected in the apportionment of the 58 awards among the 89 exhibits. The following American participants received awards:

AIR MAIL Second Award of Honor

Dr. J. J. Matejka (Newfoundland 1919-1943).

Gold Philip Silver (Specialized collection of

U.S. airmails). Thomas A. Matthews (U.S. air mail

stamps, errors, etc.; Aerogrammes; Rocket mails; 1870 Siege of Paris 'Pellicules').

Sam Rodvien (Airmails of the World). J. J. Britt ( Specialized collection of

world-wide airmail essays, proofs, color trials, etc).

B. Fink (Covers flown by the Zep­pelin LZ 127, 1928-1935).

NOVEMBER, 1961

• Silver-Gilt F. E. Adams (Australian pioneer and

first flights). S. L. Bayer (Various air mails). A. P. Cohen (India 1911 airmail: Al,

lahabad-Naini). M. Gold ( Graf Zeppelin 1930 Round

Flight items). H. A. Holman (Austria - the first ail

issue). . S. R. Rice (Airmail rarities on cover) . Dr. R. H. Shrady (French and Ger­

man semi-officials) . J. L. Wacht (Specialized collection of

Papua airmails). Silver

E. P. Bender (Early U.S. and Uruguay stamps and covers).

J. R. Dilworth (Specialized collection of Indian rocket mails).

H. A. Feist (Specialized collection of Brazil).

Bronze J. Bart (Airmail stamps, covers, etc.,

with F. D. Roosevelt motifs). F. 0. Brown (Specialized collection of

IZ 127 covers). W. Fritzsche ('Catapult Mail items).

POLAR Silver-Gilt

Ceo. A. Hall (Arctic and Antarctic). Bronze

F. L. Baldwin (covers and commem­orative items relating to Admiral Richard E. Byrd).

H. M. Queen Juliana of the Nether­lands had granted the Exhibition her per­sonal A ward of Honor which, as Grand Prix, was won by Dmitri Tziracopoulo (Egypt) for his display of pioneer and first flight items of the world. Two Prizes of Honor were also given: the first to M. J. Gravelat (France) for his collection of London - Windsor 1911 covers and documents; the second to Dr. Matejka as stated in the list above.

Dr. Matejka's was one of 19 American displays especially collated and taken to Holland by Mr. Goodkind, and it was good for those of us in Europe to be able to examine what must be the best in

PAGE 57

American aerophilately in this way. It was also good to see that a number of American collectors had entered inde­pendently also. Their trouble in prepar­ing and financing this participation was well repaid by their being frequently featured in the Awards List.

From the collector's point-of-view, the main interest of the First F.I.S.A. Con­gress would have been the Study and Discussion Groups. In the Study Groups, Messrs. Tocila and Viehoff (both of Hol­land) dealt with the various aspects of the K.L.M. route to and within the Dutch East Indies; Mr. C. J. v.d. Zijden (Holland) gave a lecture on "Postal Curiosities of Spitzbergen"; and Mr. E. E. J. Evans talked about Polar Mails.

The Discussion Groups covered "Imi­tation and Private Cancels" by Dr. Raab (Germany); "Aims and Activities of F.I. S.A." by M. M. ]. Kaptein (Secretary­General of the Association), and "Eval­uation and Awards" by myself on behalf of the British Air Mail Society. The re­sults of the discussions were submitted to the A.G.M. on the following day, at which American interests were repre­sented principally by Mr. Goodkind.

There were two events to close the different aspects of the Exhibition: the Congress Dinner at the Restaurant Lens­velt Nicola in The Hague, which was well attended and at which the Awards were announced and presented; and an informal supper to mark the closing of the Exhibition at a hostelry called De Paardeburg at Ouderkerk a.d. Amstel. This hostelry (once a 'half-way house' for coaches) is dear to the hearts of avia­tion-minded Dutchmen because it was a favorite meeting-place for Dr. Albert Plesman (founder of K.L.M. Airlines) and his fellow-workers.

To close this report, Americans think­ing of visiting Holland may like to know that this same river Amstel gives its name to a Dutch beer that, in the opin­ion of your reporter, is well worth tast­ing!

CRASH COVERS Transoceanic Record Flight

AAM No. 1182-$10 Beautiful commemoratives of this tragic flight, designed by 3 artists LITHUANIA C 79-84 at $1 per set

singles, pairs or blocks of any number C. MATAZUS

107-33 117th St. Richmond Hill 19, NY

PAGE 58

CANAL ZONE 15-CENT AIR MAIL POSTAGE STAMP

A 15-cent airmail postage stamp will be placed on sale at Fort Gulick, Canal Zone, on November 21, 1961. The stamp will be 0.84 by 1.44 inches in dimension, arranged horizontally, issued in sheets of 50. The stamp will be blue, red, and white, having as its main feature the crest of the U.S. Army Caribbean School.

Stamp collectors desiring first-day can­cellations of the stamps may send ad­dressed envelopes to the Philatelic Ag­ency, Balboa Heights, Canal Zone, with money order remittance to cover the cost of the stamps to he affixed. Postage stamps and personal checks will not be accepted in payment. Envelopes sub­mitted should be of ordinary letter size and each be properly addressed. An en­closure of medium weight should be plac­ed in each envelop and the flap either turned in or sealed. An outside envelope must not be sent for return of first-day covers. Each cover should be pencil marked in the upper right corner to show the number and denomination of stamps to be affixed, therefore, no letter of instructions need be sent. The en­velope to the Philatelic Agency, Balboa Heights, Canal Zone, should be endorsed FIRST-DAY COVERS. Request for un­usual arrangements and plate numbers cannot be granted. Request for mint stamps must not be included with orders for first-day covers, but sent separately to the Philatelic Agency, Balboa Heights, Canal Zone. To insure prompt shipment orders should NOT include other de­nominations.

WELL-KNOWN DEALER, LAVA, EXPANDS

Artur E. Lewandowski, well-known to

members of the Society, whom we had

the pleasure of meeting personally after years of letter-writing, has moved. He

tells us that this move is necessary to better serve his growing clientele. You can reach him by writing to Lava, Box 1, Fort George Station, New York 40, N. Y.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

The '62 Scott Vol. I Shows 22,250 Price Changes

More than 22,250 prices have been changed or added in the 1962 edition of Vol I of Scott's Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue published in October by Scott Publications, Inc.

This 1,000-page annual compendium listing and pricing the stamps of the United States, British Commonwealth of Nations, Latin America and the United Nations sells for $6. It is part of the 118th edition of the world's oldest gen­eral stamp catalogue. (Volume II was described in the October Journal.)

The 1962 Vol. I price changes exceed those of the 1961 edition by 5,520. The breakdown follows: U. S. proper (ex­cluding Admiinstration listings for Canal Zone, etc.), 1,464. British Common­wealth, 10,886 (Australia 308, Canada and Newfoundland 817, New Zealand 462). Latin America, 6,544 (Brazil 513, Venezuela 653).

Of interest .to aerophilatelists, U. S. C3a (the 24c invert) was jumped $3,000 for a record high at $10,000. The Black Honduras did even better, listing now at $30,000, an increase of $12,500. A new listing is U.S. airmail envelope ( UC 20a­unpriced) 6c on 6c error of the 1951 re­valued envelope. Under Chile, we note that 1950-55 non-commemorative air­mails have been extensively regrouped to simplify the listings, causing 95 stamps to be renumbered.

The second and rare type of Mexico No. C198, the 20p airmail of 1952, has been described and listed.

A year's accumulation of new stamps­a total of 1,303 stamps, compared with 900 for the previous year--'has been add­ed to the new Vol. I.

Your dealer has both Volume I and II for sale.

NOVEMBER, 1961

AIR MAIL ENTIRES envelopes

postal cards letter5heets

Finest Stock In the World

THE NEW ISSUE SERVICE PLUS the outstanding specials that

characterize this service

ATTRACTIVE PAGES FOR MOUNTING

THE AIRMAIL ENTIRE TRUTH newsletter. Send as many 8c stamped & addressed. No. 10 en­velopes for as many copies as you

wish to receive. AUTHORIZED AGENT FOR THE

GODINAS CATALOGUE

LAVA The Distributor of the Barbados Error

Box 1, Fort George Station New York 40, N. Y.

1961 ·Convention Covers

Set of 4 covers: AAMS Convention Statton Cancel - one on each day September 22-23-24 . . . plus . . . Helicopter Flight covers commemorating 50th Anniversary of Ovington's Garden City flight - ·cacheted and back­stamped . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. ... $1.00

Less Than 150· Sets Order Promptly

Helicopter Cover Alone ............ 25c (5 for $1.00)

Souvenir Folder: Commemorating Earle OvingtO'IJ.'s First Air Mail Flight in 1911 from Garden City, N. Y. with Heli­copter .cover •cacfueted and back-stamped .. .. . .. .. .. .. ......... .... $·1.00 Order !from:

Mrs. Ruth T. Smith 102 Arbor Road

Riverton, New Jersey

PAGE 59

TIPS BY JULIUS By JULIUS WEISS

502 E. 185ih Si., Cleveland 19, Ohio

As this is being written the philatelic world has a new set of gems in the form of some 75 adhesives issued by the terri­tories of Bechuanaland, Basutoland and Swaziland, which have adopted the deci­mal system of South Mrica and have proceeded to surcharge the existing Queen Elizabeth adhesives with new "cents and rand" values.

A number of printings resulted in va­rieties of type, watermarks, and position of type. Perhaps, to the airmail collector, the adhesives, other than on flight cov­ers, are of little significance.

However the airletter sheets from this area are worth having. We have seen: Basutoland 5c on 6D, Bechuanaland 5C on 6D, and Swaziland 5C on 6D. In­formants have told us that only 500 were printed for Basutoland and of these, there were two different watermarks and some unwatermarked.

Bechuanaland has appeared with two distinct watermarks and the Swaziland sheet does not have a watermark.

Governmental officials have told us that as of June 26 there was enough stock on sale in Swaziland and "it is an­ticipated it will remain available for a considerable period of time."

It is understood that the airletter sheets are already sold out at ALL these countries. One double overprint was re­ported from Swaziland.

At the same time South Africa over­printed a 3D sheet with 2lhC face while the 6D sheet is overprinted 5C. We do not know whether these contain many printings.

Readers know our opinion on present day short-run rocket flights which carry mail. There was a series of flights in Austria at LUPOSTA on May 23, 1961 and here are the facts as received.

The organizers of the exhibition had the idea for a rocket flight. In order for the flight to take place the group needed ~fficial sanction from the GPO, the po­hce, Army, and other officials.

On May 23, 1961, 10:30 a.m., at As­pern Airport, 100 meters was closed off

PAGE 60

• to the public. The maximum length of the flight permitted was 1.8 KM. 12 rockets took off with 10,550 letters and all but one rocket arrived safely. The mail carried in Rocket number 9 was damaged. Special lightweight envelopes were imprinted "In memory of 30 years of rocket mail in Austria," to recognize the first private trial of the rocket con­structor, Ing. Schmied!. Also, a picture of one of the early rockets was shown. Imprinted were the words, "1st official rocket mail." The arrival postmark is "Raasdorf". Neither registration nor in­surance was allowed for these letters.

Although this is a short run flight we concur with the collectors in Austria that this IS the first official rocket mail in that it not only received top postal sanc­tion but it took mail from anyone, that is, anyone who wished to take the risk.

Ryukyuan new airmail issues having a face of 9c, 14c, 19c, 27c and 35c were issued on September 21. The stamps show the flying Goddess and the God of the Wind; pringting was 300,000 with the exception of the 9c value which was 2 million. ·

Readers may order direct from Gov­ernment of Ryukyu Islands, Public Ser­vices, Philatelic Department, Naha, Ryu­kyu Islands.

Some of the overprints shown in Au­gust "Airs of the Month" are still in stock at the Agency and may be obtain­ed for face value plus return postage.

Rumania has issued a set of unusual airmails. Early in August a 1.75 and 1.60 Lei airmail set was issued. The set shows a phase of a recent total solar eclipse over that country. One stamp shows the eclipse as it appeared over a palace in Rumania and the other shows the total solar eclipse over Scinteia House.

Surinam carne through with a fine sheet to honor "Man In Space". Each sheet contains 12 stamps. The 15c shows the vehicle used by Soviet Major Yuri Gagarin while the 20c issue shows a pic­ture of Commander Alan Shepard of the USA. The stamps are colorful. On the

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

full sheet is shown on the borders man's progress with aircraft. The sketches in yellow on the 20c sheet and green on the 15c sheets show a panorama of aircraft which would fit into a frame at any ex­hibit whether philatelic or scientific as it is clear and to the point. All sheets are numbered.

Alitalia has conducted a number of flights in 1961. The first Caravelle jet flight went from Rome to Tripoli on May 1, returning on May 2. A special cancel was used on the Rome dispatch with a special green cachet used on the Tripoli flight.

May 24 the line went from Rome to Caracas with the return by DC8 jet on May 25, 1961. Venezuela used a square violet cancel on all mail.

June 16 they flew a DC8 from Rome to Buenos Aires via Milan, Dakar, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo. The return flight took place on June 17 from Buenos Aires with a stop at Montevideo. Argentina used a special black cancel to tell about this flight on mail dispatched at Buenos Aires. On June 14 they inaugurated DC8 service to Sydney, Australia via Teheran, Karachi, Bombay and Bangkok. A spe­cial cancel was used in Rome. We have not seen any return (Australian) dispatch on this flight.

We have called attention to the Hun­garian iroperf editions. Many of the air­mails have been seen iroperf. Prices are fantastic when they reach the USA. Col­lectors in Hungary tell us many have not seen the imperf issues. We previously wrote we had never seen them on cover. Our column hinted about the validity of these stamps for we had not seen them used. Now, however, we have seen them used, registered and complete with full postal markings. We still do not under­stand the high price mark-up.

Several readers have written to ask us about the address where the World Re­fugee Year "stamps on postcards" may be obtained. Readers may contact: United Nations Staff Fund for Refugees, Office B. 114, Palais Des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. As yet we have not heard as to our plan of having mail posted at camps.

NOVEMBER, 1961

HARMER, ROOia: SELLS THREE 24c INVERTS FOR $25,450,

In the last 10 months Harmer, Rooke & Co., Inc., has sold three copies of the U.S. 24c airmail invert for a total of $25,450.

Recently the Fifth Avenue auction house sold the 24c from position 14, a stamp of brilliant color, to a New Jersey collector by private sale. The price was $9,000.

The "Dr. Cole Copy," position 32, went to a New York dealer for $7,250, despite a diagonal crease, in the May 10 auction. It had previously changed hands at $4,500.

The T. Charlton Henry copy, which is position 94 and has the sheet margin at bottom, brought $9,200 in the sale of last Dec. 16. This sum, then a record, was paid by a New England collector.

WANTED

YOUR Sales Department is urgently in need of material to sell. If you have duplicates you have been think­ing of selling, now is a good time to do just that. Especially needed at this time are mint and used air mail stamps. The demand for stamps is very good and all newly-entered books will go out on circuit at once. Stamps must be mounted in department books which are for sale by the Sales Mana­ger at 20c each. Books are designed to hold 120 stamps.

In covers we need most types, but especially CAM, Airport Dedications, Crash and Rockets. Covers must be listed on Pack Lists which are also for sale by the Sales Manager. Price for these is .021;2c each plus a stamped addressed envelope. To order any of above or for further information, write

HERMAN KLEIN.ERT Sales Manager

213 Virginia Ave, Fuller:t·on, Pa.

PAGE 61

A YEAR OF AIR MAIL

There has passed a year of Aerial Mail service between New York, Philadelphia and Washington, and regular service over a second aerial route, that between Cleveland and Chicago. One year of air mail has demonstrated the feasibility of the plan from the commercial point of view as well as others.

What was so lately a marvel is now an everyday affair. The ships ply their way

through the skies every day but Sunday with the r~gularity of clockwork, and rain, snow or sleet, thunder and lightning may come and blizzards may tie up traf­fic on terra firma, but the Air Mail pilots keep to their course.

Though the war in the air resulted in many deaths among our aviators abroad and in American camps, the Aerial Mail Service has been singularly fortunate, for not a single fatality has occurred in the entire first year of operation among the regular members of the staff. Recently one or two accidents occurred, but the aviators were so skillful in management of their machines as to avoid serious in­jury and are now back in the service.

The fact that the six original mail planes used, with their engines, have survived the year's service, flying in all kinds of weather, is a significant fact, and shows something about the commer­cial feasibility of the plan. These planes flew in storm and sunshine, rain, hail or snow, and in some very high winds, and the aviators often had exciting experi­ences in passing through violent thunder storms. The postal air services closes its

PAGE 62'

first year of operations with a record of 200 flying hours in the life of several of these planes and 14,000 miles of flying per plane. The service transported by air a grand total of over 200,000 pounds of mail, or about 8,000,000 letters. The New York to Washington flight has been reduced from 3 hours 10 minutes to 1 hour 58 minutes.

(From The Christian Herald, June 21, 1919.)

AIR POST NEW ISSUES

OF THE ENTIRE

WORLD

PAMPHLET UPON REQUEST

Nicolas Sanabria Co. Inc. A . MEDAWAR, PRESIDENT

521 Fifth Ave., New York 11, N.Y.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

A COLLECTOR'S ITEM -PASS FOR ONE

The years 1929 and 1930 represented the peak in the history of lighter-than­air dirigibles up to the present time. Those years were the period of Graf Zep­pelin's Round-the-World Flight and of his first South America service flights. At that time, the large Akron airship dock had been completed and the construction of the USS Akron had gotten under way. The British airship R-100 had made its first trans-atlantic flight to Montreal and back to Bedford, England. (American Air Mail Catalogue 1950 p. 926 #Z-452).

Another British dirigible, the R-101, was scheduled to enter service between England, Egypt and India, at a time when the dirigible was getting ready to assume a leading part in British Empire air communications.

However, a .sudden setback interrupt­ed this development. On October 1, 1930 the R-101 left Cardington, Eng-

PASS FOR ONE TO

Royal Airship Base, Karachi

for arrival of H. M. Air$hip R-tOt.

IMPORTANT.

No penon is to approach within one t housnntl feet or the Mooring Tower on tht> Win<hrard side. Utnler no •·ircumstnn· CPS io &')}'one to walk on the landing ,;muo<l ouy where tu leeward (down wind) of the Tower,

Sboold there· b~ no wind No pnson shnll walk any wh1·re on that •iJe of the Tower from which the Ship is appronchint.:, or witLin one thousand feet on the other side of the 'l'uwcr .

The necessity of strict n<lherencc to tlu:se inetrnction• cannot be OYCit-emplm.sizetl owing to t.he P. Xttflme dnnger "ri ~inJ,: from nnaeen wires e\feepiug across the lauJ.ing g-rouall. :pul 1 he xuads ndjacent thereto.

In no c;L~e will the Ro1ynl Airship BnsP 1\l'P.f pt any r('•· ponsibility for any acciolont nrisin~r to inJiviJu"b ur tu th~ir property.

RESPOKSIBLE OFFICIALS. Responsible OHichls of thP. lto>yn.l Airship R,.P will wo·nr

a purl'le nrmlet on 'the l~fl "~'"' whilo• !'mplo>Jee< 1\'ill 1\'\':lr a gr.-eu nrmlet.

NOVEMBER, 1961

W~ H. WAT'r, Ullicer·iu-charf:~·

land, for the first trip to India carrying official correspondence only. In the early hours of the morning of October 2 the R-101 crashed at Beauvais, France and was fully destroyed. The official corres­pondence was completely destroyed.

At the India end of the scheduled route a large airship shed had already been built at Karachi. Our illustration shows that passes to the landing field had been issued for the first arrival of the airship. (This form might possibly represent the only existing collector-rec­ord of the R-101, since all the official mail on board had been destroyed.)

The British magazine "Flight" report­ed on January 13, 1961, that finally the Karachi airship shed is being dismantled, after being for 30 years a memento of these R-101 developments.

-Dr. Max Kronstein

See Page l, October issue

PAGE 63

OFFICIAL SECTION MONTHLY REPORT From the Secretary

Ruth T. Smith, 102 Arbor Road, Riverton, New Jersey NOVEMBER, 1,1961

NEW MEMB·ERS 4856 Hodgson, Claude L., 69-12 165th St., Flushing 65. N. Y. 485·7 Mathieson, Alfred H., P. 0. Box 645, Amherst, Mass. 4858 Lally, Joseph E., 3609 W. Anne St., McHenry, Illinois 4859 Glovinsky, H. Pete, 7636 Gannon St., St. Louis 30, Mo. 4860 Reidmar, Stig, Forvaltarvagen 19, Solna, Sweden 4861 Constantinou, D., P. 0. Box 3, Piraeus, Greece 4862 Rutter, Kurt L., 3061 Edwin Ave., Apt. 3E, Fort Lee, N. J. 4863 Buse, Raymond L., Jr., 2540 Handasyde Ave., Cincinnati 8, Ohio 4864 Lapayowker, M. Stanford, 2500 Belmont Ave., Phila., 31, Pa. 4865 Alander, Jack V., 2532 Lexington St., Harrisburg, Pa.

NEW APPLICATIONS Chassy, David F., Box 42, Babylon, N. Y. Dealer. Age: 51. By: F. Kleinert Hartman, Harold H., 6001 Idylwood Dr., Corpus Christi, Tex. Manager. Age: 64.

PC HC PA PB FAM CC OF Z 1D By: R. T. Smith Bernhardt, A. H., 3651a Dunnica, St. Louis 16, Mo. Retired. Age: 66.

AM AU AS U20 UC PC HC PA FF CAM FAM CC OF DC CF 1D X By: R. W. Murch

Skupny, John J., 11405 Conant St., Detroit 12, Mich. Funeral Dir. Age: 56. PC HC PA GF CAM FAM RP CC OF DC Z 1D By: M. M. Small

Puckett, Christine (Mrs.), 113 Henry St., Gadsden, Ala. Secretary. Age: 38. AM U20 UC 1D X By: R. T. Smith

Gonzalez, John, 1102 Lee Hall St., San Antonio 1, Tex. Lab. Analyst. Age: 33. DC 1D By: R. T. Smith

Smith, Leonard H., Jr. (Col.), P. 0. Box 6, River Edge, N. J. Retired. Age: 56. General used singles - specialized Australia and Un. of So. Afr. By: J. J. Matejka

Godbout, G. J., 1000 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington 6, D. C. Dir. of Mail Expr. Age: Legal. By: R. W. Murch

Latvenas, Rimas, 3316 Caroline Ave., Culver City, Calif. Engineer. Age: 25. AM AU U20 UC PC HC FF GF RP OF D Z CF APS By: R. T. Smith

Brown, H. Leland, 32 W. 40th St., Wilmington 2,Del. Int. Rev. Serv. Age: 65. By: R. T. Smith

DECEASED 4101 Rezek, Jon. J., 845 Acacia Dr., Burlingame, Calif.

NEW LIFE MEMBER #104 W. R. Ware #105 John G. Kunz #106 Jbhn S. Davis

#107 R. E. R. Dalwick #108 Albert N. Brown 'HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS

Francis Cardinal Spellman Basil L. Rowe CHANGE OF ADDRESS

3202 Zeller, Vern G., 455 Barclay Rd., Rosemont, Pa. 4782 Mallott, R. F., (F/Lt.), 130226 - 30 AMB, RCAF, CAPO 5051, Montreal, PQ, Can. 4477 Raes, Walter, P. 0. Box 841, Hawthorne, Calif. 4838 Perrin, Fred F., 835 County Line Rd., Highland Park, Ill. J4787 Faulkner, Carl J., Apt. 31, 373 Commonwealth Ave., Boston 15, Mass. 4774 Keeton, John G., Jr., P. 0. Box 10502, Riviera Beach, Fla. 2189 Jones, Bob, 21llh S. Ohio Ave., Sidney, Ohio 4825 Quackenbush, James, 1105 Elm St., Box 806, Cincinnati 10, Ohio 4499 Lewandowski, A., Box 1, Fort George Stat., New York 40, N. Y. 3824 Pearson, Elliott R., 104-60 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills 75, N. Y. 4233 Wagg, J. W. Bruce, 2408 - 25th Ave., NW- Suite B., Calgary, Alt., Canada

111 FLEW FROM WINDSOR11

Clement Creswell, one of the "aviators" flying the London to Windsor mail in 1911, now lives in retirement in Invernessshire, from where he sent the following account of his part in the great adventure especially for this commemorative issue of Stamp Collecting:

"Perhaps after 50 years readers will be interested to know that I flew a 50 h.p. Gnome-Bleriot. Always felt a little apprehensive about climbing above the high trees in Windsor Park. I had no instruments except an unreliable altimeter and in bad gusts had to lean to one side to balance the machine! Gustav Hamel carried the first mail out, to Windsor, I flew the first one in to London. However, it was all great fun. I was then 21 and dangers, at that age, are not thought about."

PAGE 64 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

APJ ADS RATES:

FOUR CENTS PER WORD per insertion. Minimum charge one dollar. Remittance must accompany order and copy. The AIRPOST JOURNAL. 350 No. Deere Park Drive, Highland Park, Ill.

FOR SAL·E

CAN SUPPLY FDC and FFC of Australia and whole world. Eugene Stanley, Philate­list, 29 Clarke St., Elwood, S3, Victoria, Australia *378

ALBUM PAGES for mounting space Stamps and Covers, such as Moon Flights, Missiles, Rockets, Astro·nauts, Free Litera­ture. Artopages, Woodville, Ohio *383

AAMS EXCHANGE ADS --------------------------WE CAN USE Artcraft unaddressed plate ;J:t Blocks of any Famous Americans you might have, for anything you might need in U.S. or U.N's. Dolin, 31 Park Row, N.Y.C. 38.

WANTED: Members to attend NYC Chap­ter meetings 2nd Friday of every month at 20 W. 40ta St. 8 p.m. Info from Harold J. Frankel, pres., 6201 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn 4, N. Y. *378

WILL TRADE - 1 copy each AAMS Air Letter Sheet, Cat. 1949, 1951, 1952 and Supp., 1953. Sanabria's Airpost Cat 1953. 1954-55. J. F. Reinhardt, 3944 McKinney, Dallas 4, Texas.

HELICOPTER mail Italian handbook, edi­tion 1952, I offer for one rocket fLght cover of U.S.A. Giuseppe Schenone, Via Zamenhof 2, Milano (733), Italy.

BALLOON covers, cards and labels of U.S. A. wanted. Exchange with balloon item·; of Europe. Giuseppe Schenone, Via Za-menhof 8, Milano (733).~·-It_a_l.::_y_. __ _

WESTERN Covers, philatelic material and philatelic literature of all kinds wanted. All contributions are deductible for in­come tax purposes. Write to Arizona Pi­oneers' Historical Museum, Postal History Dept., 949 East Second St., Tucson, Ari­zona. *380

Urgently Require - FAM 5-85, 87a, 88, 88a, 89a, 90/90a, 91/9la, 92a, 96, 97b, 97g, 98, 98a/98c F5 E - 12/l2a, 13/13a, 14/14a; 15a, 17 /17a, 18/18a F5 - 104, 105/105b, 106, 107 jl07a, 112a, 113/113b F6 - 76, 77, 78a, 79a/79b, 80/80a, 81/81a.

Write Ralph E. Moffett, AAMS ;J:t591, P.O. Box 602, Nav School,Monterey, Calif.

SEND for copy of my airport dedication want list. Wm. T. Wynn, Jr., 13537 Rocke dale, Detroit 23, Mich.

\YOULD like to trade or purchase crash covers, as well as dirigible and aeroplane post cards before 1925. Joseph Eisen­drath, 350 No. Deere Park Drive, Highland Park, Ill.

NOVEMBER, 1961

AAMS EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT BUY SELL WANT LISTS

WANTED: Mint, Hungary imperf C156, C194, Monaco imperf. J51, Trieste Zone A, Cl, 4, 6, 17, 19, 20, 22. Lawrence De Mars, 501 - lOth Ave. W., Spencer, Iowa.

EGYPT - Wanted rare stamps and covers. Will Buy or Exchange. E. A. Kehr, 220 W. 42nd St., New York 36.

----------Interested in contacting other collectors of dedications. Write: Steve Reinhard, 333 N. Columbus Ave., Freeport, N. Y.

WANTED: 1960 Deds: L. A., Winnsboro, New Iberia, Carrolton, West Milford, Flora, Montreal. Also Carroll, Iowa 4/3/61. Steve Reinhard, 333 N. Columbus, Free­port, New York.

SCADTA Consular Overprints, stamys, covers. Also Colombiana de Navegacwn Aerea and Scadta Ecuador. Have similar material in exchange. Orjan Luning, Od­engatan 11, Stockholm, Sweden.

WANTED: anything perta--in_i_n_g_t_o_L-in_d_­bergh. Also Georgia "Pioneer" and first llight covers. Back copies of Airpost Journal. Horace D. Westbrooks, Box 252 Griffin, Georgia. *37S

WANTED - Nat'! A.M. Week covers of May '38. Will buy or swap. Don Lussky, 466 Oak Ave., Aurora, Ill. *379

WANTED: Correspondence with anyone who collects aircraft on stamps & postal statwnery. .Jet auplanes my topic. Law­rence De Mars, 501 - lOth Ave. \\' ., Spen­cer, Iowa.

US - FDC collection, 95% with Blx's & Pl. Blx. old cachets,. mounted. European F. Flight covers, to dispose of. What have you? Joseph F. Bush, 4601 N. E. 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. *379

WILL SWAP 1 set United Nations Imp. :J:t blocks on superb first day covers for mint set of zepp. singles. H. Dolin & Co., 31 Park Row, NYC 38.

QUATEMALA, 100 different stamps post­paid by registered airmail in exchange tor . 12 International Reply Coupons, available at all Postoffices. Kurt John Weiss, Panajachel, Republic Guatem'lla.

______________________________ *.379

\Y ANT: Regulu3 Missile Mail - Carried. For, U.S. Commercial Jets Non-Govern­mental Rockets carried Wallops Island Firmgs. Edmond C. Browne, 120 Kenil­worth Place, Brooklyn 10, N.Y.

WANTED: Austria and Czechoslovakia Airmail stamps and covers, oddities or what-have-you. Dr. Matejka, Hotel La Salle, Chicago.

I GIVE 200 nicely assorted foreign air­mails for every 300 large used U.S. Com· mems. sent me. Tauber, 708 E. Tremont Ave., Bronx, N. Y. *379

WANTED: Exchapge o£ First and Special Flight Covers With A.A.M.S. members in other countries. L. Stransky, 91-19 - 245th St., Bellerose 26. New York. (4732)

Nicklin 67t!lt Auction Sale FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 1961 at 2 P.M.

Air Post Stamps & Covers WIDE ASSORTMENT

Rouket Stamps & Covers • e •

AUSTRIA, Including Rarities SPLENDID LOT

I NOlA, Representative Lot Boy Scout, Girl Guide Firings

Rarities and Classic Firings Propaganda Missives WWl, WW2

STRIKING LOT

LIBERIA- Splendid Lot of High Priced Material ALSO WHOLESALE LOT

The Ballard Stock of Foreign Covers

19th and 20th Century, Offered in Singles and Bundles · Mixed Cover & Postal Sta,tionery Lots

Collections, Bulk Lots, Wholesale All Desir·able For Collec±or, Dealer, or Speculator

CATALOGUE ON REQUEST

John W.·Niclclin Pioneer of Aerophilately

110 WEST 42nd STREET NEW YORK 36, N. Y.