APJ ADS - American Air Mail Society
Transcript of APJ ADS - American Air Mail Society
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 SALE: Historical North and South Pole Expedition Flight covers, US, United Nations, Foreign dispatches. List lOc. Also: Rockets, Balloons, Semi-official Airs, Pioneers, Zeppelins etc. Belham Exchange, Box 119, Ridgewood, 27, N. Y. ''354
ARTCRAFT Engraved First Day Covers. Request illustrated folder on our Envelope and Cover Club Plan. LINCOLN CLUB Box 211A, Chatham, N. J. *355
BUY \Vorldwide airmail issues at face! Directory listing complete instructions, $1.00. Bedard Publications, Box 637-K Detroit 31, Michigan. 353
EUROPEAN first flights available thru European Aero Philatelist Club. U.S. collectors of KLM - SABENA -LUFTHAN· SA. etc: send want list. ''Valter Raes, 121~ North. Daytona Beach, Fla.
JETS, US, UN Foreign 35c up. Also FAM, CAM, Foreign Flights. Aerogrammes on approval. Vic Wailly, Box 26A, Roxbury 19, Mass. *258
AAMS EXCHANGE ADS
GUAM Guard Mail Stamps wanted on cover, Also 1904 St. Louis World's Fair Postcard and early Aeroplane cards.Murch 9560 Litzinger, St. Louis (24) Mo. *353
DEDICATIONS WANTED: B 493, a, b; B 494, a, b; C 28. C 31, C 350, D 19, G 38, N 28, T 108, W 73, W 161. Send one or more on approval at your best price. J. J. Klemann, 2815 Richmond Hill Road, Augusta, Ga.
WANTED - Stamps and covers of Haiti and Dominican Republic. E. Lee Dorsett, M. D. (A.A.M.S. No. 1405) 120 Orchard Ave., Webster Groves 19, Mo.
PIONEER Pilots on photocards, and airmail pioneers wanted. Offer gre'1t variety v_i<;wcards, autographs, first flights, Expos1t10n slogans. Roy Votaw, 5806 Twin Gardens, Carmichael, Calif.
AIR-LETTER Sheets for exchange. Mint and used. Will Clarke, 8 Kintyre Ave., Toronto, Canada. Member #3852. *354
GARDEN Estates card or cover wanted. Offer .J>ioneer autographs, Zeppelins or Expos1t10n slogans. Roy Votaw, 5806 Twin Gardens, Carmichael, Calif.
WILL EXCHANGE: 3000 duplicate Airport Dedication covers, listed by AAMS catalogue numbers for dedication covers I need or for US plate blocks. C. L. McCoy, Horat10, Ark.
AAMS EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT BUY SELL - WANT LISTS
HA VE LOTS of mint foreign airmail sets in collection would like to exchange for used ai.rs. Arnold V. Larson, Twisp, Wash. Route #1.
EAGERLY Wanted, Stamps British, French, Dutch Colonies this hemisphere; also Latin America; offering Bolivia, Paraguav, Peru, etc. Ludwig Horn Flach, Casilla 415, La Paz, Bolivia. *353
WANTED: Exchange of first and Spec. flights of all the world. Prefer Zeppelin and Trans Atlantic flights. A. Houweling, Am8terdamse weg, 453, Amstelveen Holland. ' *353
NEW BRUNSWICK Air Mail Field Postmarks wanted on cover. Also information about AMF operation. Exchange or buy scarce AMF covers. Perham C. Nahl, 2D14A Lincoln, Evanston, Illinois. *355
HAVE ALL U.S. Commercial Jet Airmail f~rst flight covers. Exchange for mint U.S. c.irmail postage, or cash. Doc Rieger, 5323 Baccich St., New Orleans 22, La.
FOR VOL. 2 of AAMC give three le blue 1851 very fine, or purchase. Henry Dupont, 22, av. de la Liberation, Le Coteau, Loire, France.
WANTED To Buy -- South Africa MLS ·#3 and #4 with red "Gifts and Comforts Fund" imprint and any airletter card with A.P.O. 44 postmark. AAMS #4480. J. M. Wemstem, PO Box 419, Pretoria South Africa. '
SOUTH AFRICAN military letter cards and S.A.A.F. Korean aerogrammes offered m exchange for similar'airmail stationery. AAMS #4480. J. M. Weinstein, PO Box 419, Pretoria, South Africa;
LAST CALL.
Round Trip Jet Covers
The American Air Mail Society makes the final offer to secure a round trip official U.S. Post Office jet cover, New York - Los Angeles - New York, January 1959 first jet flight via American Air Lines with special cachets and proper backstamps.
These round trippers are $1.0J each plus 4c postage to readers of the Airpost J o_urnal. Proceeds of the sale go to the Red Cross and AAMS Publication Fund thanks to American Air Lines.
Orders to be sent to Robert W. Murch, AAMS, 9560 Litzinger Road, St. Louis 24, Mo. Supply is limited, first come, first served.
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
1 j
A Non-Profit Corporation Incorporated 1944
Organized 1923 Under the Laws of Ohio
PRESIDENT Robert W. Murch
9560 Litzinger Road St. Louis 24, Mo.
SECRETARY Ruth T. Smith
Ferndale & Emerson Sts. Philadelphia 11, Pa.
TREASURER John J. Smith
Ferndale & Emerson Sts. Philadelphia 11, Pa.
VICE-PRESIDENTS Joseph L. Eisendrath, Jr.
Louise S. Hoffman Florence L. Kleinert
Dr. Southgate Leigh, Jr.
EDITOR - Other Publications L. B. Gatchell
ATTORNEY George D. Kingdom
DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN RELATIONS
Dr. Max J¥onstein
AUCTION MANAGER Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr.
DIRECTORS Alton J. Blank
Herbert Brandner George S. Chapman
Samuel S. Goldsticker, Jr. Lester S. Manning Emmett Peter, Jr. Dr. Tomas Terry Earl H. Wellman
ADVANCE BULLETIN SERVICE Herbert Brandner 4038 Forest Ave. Brookfield, Ill.
SALES MANAGER Herman Kleinert 213 Virginia Ave.
Fullerton, Pa.
MEMBERSHIP DUES $4.00 PER YEAR
Dues include subscription to THE AIRPOST JOURNAL. Applicants must furnish two references, philatelic preferred. At least -0ne must reside in Applicants 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.
SEPTEMBER, 1959
-de~IBPOST ~.ra7ov11NAL
Official Publication of the AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOOIETY
Volume 30 No. 12 Issue No. 353
Contents ........ for September, 1959 Articles .Election Results .................... . Uncle George .............. .. Biography and History of George W.
314 315
Angers .......... ...................... .... 317 The Origin ~nd Growth of the A.A.M.S. 320 Balloon Post of Siege of Paris, 1870-71 325 Honor to World Air Forces 333 Aerophilately and Aerophilatelists .. .. .. 336 Argentine Airlines Inaugurate Jet
Service .. . . .... .. . .... . .. ...................... 344
Regular Features APJ Ads ................ . Inside Front Cover CAM Cover Notes Tips By Julius Official Section
......................... 330
Notes From Dow.n Under . Airport Dedications ..................... . The Philatelic Story of Flight
339 341 342 343
. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . Inside Back Cover
EDITOR Joseph L •. Eisendrath, Jr.
350 No. Deere Park Drive, Highland Park, Ill.
ASSISTANT EDITORS Robert "'. Murch
Ernest A. Kehr L. B. Gatchell DEPARTMENT AND ASSOOIATE EDITORS
R. Lee Black, N. Pelletier, Florence L. Kleinert, Dr. Max Kronstein, Thomas J. O'Sullivan, Richard L. Singley, William R. Ware, Sol Whitman, Julius Weiss. James Wotherspoon, John Watson, William T. Flynn, Frank Blumenthal, Samuel S. Goldsticker, 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., February 10, 1932, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
The AffiPOST 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-philately. 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 313
RESULTS OF ELECTION FOR SOCIETY 'OFFICERS 1959-1961
FOR PRESIDENT -
Robert W. Murch .................................................. 134 (Elected) T. Earl Van Sickle, Jr. .......................................... 1
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT -
Joseph L. Eisendrath, Jr ....................................... 123 (Elected) Florence Kleinert .................................................... 116 (Eleoted) Sol Glass .................................................................. 60 Louise S. Hoffman ................................................ 71 (Elected) Gordon W. Ray ...................................................... 60 Dr. Southgate Leigh, Jr ......................................... 103 (Elected) Earl Wellman ........................................................ 1 L. B. Gatchell ....................................... :.................. 1 W.R. Ware.............................................................. 1 T. Earl Van Sickle, Jr. .......................................... 1
SECRETARY-
Ruth T. Smith ........................................................ 133 (Elected) T. Earl Van Sickle, Jr. .......................................... 1
TREASURER-
John J. Smith .......................................................... '133 (Elected) T. Earl Van Sickle, Jr. ............................................ 1
DIRECTORS -
Alton J. Blank .................................................... ~··· 111 (Elected) Herbert Brandner .................................................. 95 (Elected) G. S. Ohapman ........................................................ 111 (Elected) Emmett Peter .......................................................... 90 (Elected) Ray Sinn .................................................................. 7£ Sol Whitman ............................................................ 70 Gerald Bookhop .................................................... 1 T. Earl Van Sickle, Jr. .......................................... 1 Frank Blumenthal.................................................. l
Certified: The Election Committee -
August 8, 1959 PAGE 314
James J. Matejka, Jr., M. D., Chairman Edward Benson Jake Shick
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
Uncle George
P ROBABLY the most amazed person jn this nation is George W. Angers at this very moment when he gets his copy of the Airpost Journal. It's a surprise in which we're mighty proud to have a part.
This man has never refused a request or an assignment, no matter how difficult, when it came to anything concerning the welfare of the American Air Mail Society. The occasions must have been numerous when he dug down into his pocket to tide us over a hard bump. The thousands of hours of time he has put into his beloved hobby have been repaid many times over in the satisfaction he has had at seeing things work out. It hasn't always been rosy. For instance, last year he broke his record of having attended every Society convention, because he wanted to remain with his brother Henry, who faced (and has since recovered) an extremely serious operation.
Elsewhere in this issue we present his biography. He probably wonders where we got all the information. Son-in-law Don Conniff, who sees the editor once in a while, was approached on the idea of this pecial issue. With the help of his wife, Mickey, the project was told lo Margaret F. Angers (Mrs. George) - and she did the rest. When George was away or at work, she "conned" his papers and came up with the amazing list of honors that we list on another page.
This issue is not only about "Uncle" George W. Angers, but it contains much material by him. • Knowing that many newer members of the Society are unfamiliar with its past history, we asked him to bring up to date a history he had written for the .Arrpost Journal in July, 1936. You'll find the new history in these pages.
George on the left
He is responsible for the stories that have been running for several years concerning the balloon mail carried from Paris in 1870 and 1871. He and Dr. Everett E. Thompson meticulously translated the French text of Louis A. Chaintrier, and a slow and tough job it was. We have perhaps a dozen chapters ahead from him. Many of his articles have appeared, not only in the APJ, but in the general and
SEPTEMBER, 1959 PAGE 315"
George, Henry, and Larry Angers phila telic press over the past for ty years.
Our personal fondness for George is unbebevably difficult 10 express. What can you say about a man who unselfishly sends a friend much of his priceless collection and library? And always on a voluntary basi ·. If we'd ask him for something, surely we'd get it; but George gives generously without being asked . . We might say tha t mcst of our library was recen tly his. A complete run of the APJ and its forerunners , booklet· (bound to George'. order) . Catalogues, clippings, memorablia -- you name it; he sen t it to us. Our co ll ec.: tion abounds w.th covers and stamps from his; he simply thought that they belonged in ours. H ow can you classify your fee lings about such a person?
'1\Tp value tremendously the opportunities to be with him and talk to him. His frequent visits to Ev-anston, a Chicago suburb, to see one of his two d aughter and h er family, always seem to include a visit with us, and th legio:i of th ings we discuss is endles . His wise counsel on matters troublesome to us has always helped us resolve our problems more quickly. His suggestions have often been p u t into force.
This man is an unusual man. His credo, we know, is that givina ·ervice is the price he pay for the space he occupies. Look at his activitie , outlined el ewhere, and you can see he easily pays this price.
W e could go on and on - but what more we might add could not in the least add to the luster of f 1is hi ning personality.
W e're glad we know him - we're glad to affectionately dedicate thi i ue of the Airpost Journal to George W . Angers .
Prositl
PAGE 316 THE AIRPOST J OURNAL
Biography and Philatelic History Of George W. Angers
G EORGE W. ANGERS was born at Springfield, Mass., August 9, 1897. He attended local schools and is a graduate of St. Laurent College, Montreal, Canada. During World War I he was connected with the 437th Detach
ment of Engineers, U.S. Army. In 1926, with his two brothers, he established a building and property management business and has served as its Treasurer ever since.
Vitally interested in community, religious and philatelic affairs, he is a member of the following organizations:
Charter member of Post 21, American. Legion Director of Springfield Chamber of Commerce Springfield Automobile Association Rent Advisory Board Founder and for eleven years President of the Springfield Apartment Own-
ers Association Advisory Council Civil Defense Director Franco-American Credit Union Ligue du Sacre Coeur Treasurer of Serra International American Air Mail Society Sp~ngfield Philatelic Society Springfield Air Mail Society
George first became interested in the collection of stamps at the age of ten. He started to collect airmail stamps and early pioneers in 1918.
His philatelic activities are many. They include: Founder, American Air Mail Society (formerly Aero-Philatelic Society of
America), Member #3, Life Member and President Emeritus Founder, First President, Springfield Philatelic Society Founder, First President, Springfield Air Mail Society, President Emeritus Life Member and Ex-President, Springfield Stamp Club Life Member, Jack Knight Air Mail Society Collectors Club - #256 - (1921) American Philatelic Society - #5913 - ( 1921) Editor and Publisher, (Aero-Newsletter, 1923) Editor and Publisher, Aero News, 1926 Editor-in-Chief, American Air Mail 1940 Catalogue Associate Editor, American Air Mail 1947 and 1950 Catalogues and Sup
plements Secretary, American Air Mail Society Advisory Boards (Past Presidents)
He holds Honorary Memberships in the New 'Zealand Air Mail Society Aero Philatelic Club of India Philippine Air Mail Society Aero-philatelists of France Japan Air Mail Society, 1922 Chicago Air Mail Society Cleveland Air Mail Society Boston Air Mail Society
SEPTEMBER, 1959 PAGE 317
His marvelous collections have received widespread recognition where shown. Awards he has earned in International Philatelic Exhibitions include the following:
New York, 1926 Gold Medal for Balloon Post, Siege of Paris, 1870-71
Paris, France, 1930 New Zealand, 1933
London, 1934
New York, 1947
Silver-Gold for First Flights of the World Gold Medal for Balloon Post. Siege of Paris, 1870-71 Diploma of Honor and Gold Medal, Historical Air Mail
Covers Gold Medal for Balloon Post, Siege of Paris, 1870-71 Silver for U. S. Contract Flights Gold Medal for Balloon Post, Siege of Paris, 1870-71 Silver Medal for Crash Covers
La Habana, Cuba, 1955 Gold Medal with Felicitation, Balloon Post, Siege of Paris Other awards, not in,,International Exhibitions, were:
Cleveland, 1932 Grand Award A.A.M.S. Exhibition
New York, 1933
New York, 1934
Washington, 1935 New York, 1937
St. Petersburg, 1937
Toronto, 1940 Springfield, 1940
Boston, 1941
Milwaukee, 1942
Philadelphia, 1942
Chicago, 1946
Milwaukee, 1947
Chicago, 1949
-PAGE 318
First Award Balloon Post, Siege of Paris First A ward Historical Covers President's Trophy, A.A.M.S. Exhibition Certificate Of Highest Merit - Crash Covers Certificate of Highest Merit - Balloon Post, Siege of Paris First Award - Specialized Foreign Covers First Award - Historical Flights First Award - The National Stamp Exhibition, Rockefeller
Center, Balloon and Pigeon Post, 1870-71 Gold Medal - Balloon Post, Winners' Class Certificate of Participation - Balloon Post, Siege of Paris Certificate of Participation - The New York Museum of
Science and Industry, National Stamp Exhibition, Balloon Post, Siege of Paris
Grand Award - Balloon and Pigeon Posts of the Siege of Paris, 1870-71, including Crash Covers and Historical Covers, also Gold Medal for Balloon Post Collection
A.A.M.S. Grand Trophy - Balloon Post of the Siege of Paris Award of Special Merit by the Springfield Stamp Club,
(founded in 1895 ) for Balloon Post of the Siege of Paris
Certificate of Participation - American 7th Congress, Siege of Paris Collection
Honorary Award - Invitational Exhibit, Midwest National Meeting - Balloon Post of the Siege of Paris
First Award, Philadelphia Air Mail Society, Paris Balloon Covers, Crash Covers, Historical Covers
Honorary Award - Jack Knight Air Mail Society "Airpex" in honor of Jack Knight, Balloon Post of the Siege of Paris
Honorary Award - 16th Annual Exhibition, Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clu1bs. Balloon Post of the Siege of Paris. Crash Covers
Court of Honor Plaque and Participation Certificate for Paris Balloon Post Collection
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
Special Award Plaque - Consistent and Meritorious Service
Philadelphia, 1950 to Aero-philately
National Philatelic Museum
Toronto, 1951 President Trophy for Paris Balloon Collection and others First Canadian International Exhibition "Capex" Court of Honor Participation Certificate
Norfolk, 1952 A.A.M.S. Convention Exhibit, Certificate of Participation and Appreciation
Dayton, 1953 Philadelphia, 1954
A.A.M.S. Convention Exhibition Certificate of Participation National Philatelic Exhibition
Plaque Best Airpost Covers Gold Medal - Paris Balloon Gold Medal - Crash Covers First Award - General Air Posts First Award - Foreign Pioneer Flights
NEW PHILIPPINE AIR MAIL STAMPS
To help raise funds to finance the 10th Boy Scouts World Jamboree celebration which was held at the Makiling National Park, Los Banos, Laguna, during the period from July 17 to 26, 1959, the Republic of the Philippines issued a set of semi-postal stamps consisting of five values, of which three are air mails.
E ach stamp depicted a phase of the activity of the Boy Scouts.
Airmail stamps issued were the 30 + lOc is slate green, 100,000 issued; 70 + 20c in brown red, 100,000, and 80 + 20c io. purple, 100,000.
SEPTEMBER, 1959
AIR POST NEW ISSUES
OF THE ENTIRE
WORLD
PAMPHLET UPON REQUEST
Nicolas Sanabria Co. Inc. A. MEDAWAR, PRESIDENT
521 Fifth Ave., New York 17, N. Y.
PAGE 319
The Origin and Growth Of ·the American Air Mail Society
By GEORGE W. ANGERS
T HE National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, a wartime organization, read accurately the signs of the times when it announced late in 1917 that "the first and obvious use of airplanes in the future lies in the delivery of
mail." All air mail collectors know that this resulted in the establishment in May, 1918, of a regular air mail service between Washington and New York and the issuance of a 24-cent air mail stamp to meet the rate required for an ordinary letter (plus special delivery service). Later in the same year the rate was twice reduced and thus the United States produced its fir,i set of air mail stamps - the 6-cent, 16-cent, and 24-cent varieties, and incidently also one of its greatest rarities - the 24-cent invert.
What were the American collectors doing in this early period of the establishment of mail-earrying service by plane? Before the war there was considerable interest among a few pioneer air mail collectors in covers carried by airplanes, covers which of course had no special stamps but which did have special cancehlations. These flights began with that now famous pioneer hop by pilot Earle Ovington, who carried a pouch of mail in his "Dragon Fly" from Garden City Estates to Mineola, on Long Island, September 23, 1911. The Annual Report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General stated: "During the fiscal year ( 1911-12) the Department has permitted further experimental aeroplane mail service. There have been twenty orders issued permitting the mail to be carried between certain points by aeroplanes. Such service was merely temporary and was not intended to be permanent. In each instance where the mail has been carried the service has been performed by a sworn carrier and without cost to the Department. Such service was authorized in 13 different States."
These experimental flights had aroused such interest among a few collectors that through the efforts of Karl Koslowski of Detroit, Mich., Harry A. Truby of New Kensington, Pa., and others, the AERO MAIL CLUB was founded June 21, 1913. The members of this Club were enthusiastic about the latest phase of modern postal service and issued formal announcement of the organization in the leading American philatelic journals and in the English weekly of London, "Stamp Collecting". The organization was simple and efficient and its campaign of widespread publicity affords very interesting reading today: "The Wizards of the Air and their numerous attempts to turn the eyes of the Nations skyward are now staged to perfection. Mail has also been successfully carried by aeroplanes, special cancellation marks have been issued, . lots of Collectors came forward to follow up this line, known as the Aero Mail Cancellation. Every new attempt to carry mail by Aeroplane brings forth more Collectors of those postmarks, who in turn swap, sell and exchange new issues among them, and by this means try to express their wants." (Philadelphia Stamp News, 1913).
The Aero Mail Club was active through World War I, but with the organization of government air mail routes, the issuing of air mail stamps, and the wide increase in the use of the airplane commercially, many new collectors interested in aerophilately appeared in the United States. It was felt that a more substantial bond of union was needed and so in, October, 1923, a small group of active air mail collectors - among them some of the pioneers of the earlier club - met in Philadelphia
PAGE 320 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
for the purpose of organizing a society, having for its object the promotion of interest in aerophilately; the dissemination of information to its members of proposed flights and stamp issues and ultimately the publication of the results of studies and research work of its members.
By November, 1923, plans were perfected and the AERO PHILATELIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA came into existence with a membership of 21 Charter Members. Since then the Society has prospered and grown so that today it numbers more than twelve hundred members, the oldest and largest group devoted to this special branch of philateiy. Among this number are postoffice officials, senators, airmail pilots and operating officials. In order to clarify the name of the Society and to avoid confusion with that of the American Philatelic Society when abbreviated, the name was changed in October, 1926, by vote, to the AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY (A.A.M.S.).
The first organ of the Society was a mimeographed sheet, THE AERO-NEWSLETTER, edited by the present writer, covering in two volumes the period from November, 1923, to July, 1926. In July, 1926, the first number of the AERO NEWS appeared and for about two years this publication covered the news and contained many articles of interest, with varied advertisements. Because of the smal\ membership of the Society in these early days when aerophilately was not widely known, this magazine received insufficient support. PHILATELIC GOSSIP then succeeded it as the official organ of the American Air Mail Society, followed by the AIR MAIL COLLECTOR for a brief period. In the meantime. a new magazine, the AIRPOST JOURNAL, had been launched under the able editorship of Holcomb York. Its first number appeared on November 20, 1929. By a vote of the A.A.M.S. members it was selected as the official organ and became the property of the Society in October, 1931. Certain changes in style and format were made and it now appears monthly with many interesting articles, up-to-date information for the aerophilatelist, and attractive advertisements.
At all International Philatelic Exhibitions held in New York, the American Air Mail Society played an important part, having a booth at each and contributing one or more members to each of the International Juries.
As the Society increased in strength, provisions were made for annual conventions. Section 9 of the Constitution deals with this matter and in accordance with it the first annual convention was held at Cleveland, Ohio in 1930. Since then a total of 32 Conventions or regional meetings has been held, including meetings in Canada, Cuba and the United Nations. These were:
1931 Washington, D.C. 1932 Cleveland, 0. 1933 New York, N.Y.
1934 Chicago, Ill. 1935 Washington, D.C. 1936 New York, N.Y. 1937 Springfield, Mass.
1938 St. Petersburg, Fla. 1939 Cincinnati, 0. 1940 Toronto, Ontario 1941 Atlantic City, N.J.
1942 Regional Meetings at Springfield, Mass., Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Philadelphia, Pa.
1944 Regional Meeting at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1946 Detroit, Mich. 1947 Washington, D.C. 1948 Havana, Cuba 1949 Chicago, Ill. 1950 Philadelphia, Pa. 1951 . Toronto,. Ontatjo
SEPTEMBER, 1959
1952 Norfolk, Va. 1953 Dayton, 0. 1954 Philadelphia, Pa. 1955 Havana, Cuba 1956 New York (Fipex) 1956 St. Louis, Mo. (Re-
gional) 1957 United Nations,N.Y. 1958 Philadelphia, Pa. 1959 United Nations, N.
Y. (Regional) 1959 Chicago, Ill.
PAGE 321
Among other activities of the A.A.M.S. are the operation of the Sales Department, which offers members an opportunity to buy stamps and covers at reasonable prices, or to dispose of their duplicates at a minimum commission; conducting an Exchange Department, entitling each member to two 25-word exchange ads per year in the official publication; sponsoring an Advance Air Mail Information Bulletin, which gives news about future air mail events, cachets, new issue stamps, etc.; and the publication of the authoritative AMERICAN AIR MAIL CATALOGUES, Periodically, a directory of the Society, giving membership list, Constitution, and By-Laws, is published.
The PUBLICATIONS OF THE AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY have been numerous and as a matter of record, we list them in chronological order:
AMERICAN AIR MAIL CATALOGUE - Section l, CONTRACT AIR MAIL ROUTES, 1935, 130 pages, three editions: regular, paper bound; DeLuxe, red cloth; Sponsors, silver and blue. Editor, L. B. Gatchell.
AMERICAN AIR MAIL CATALOGUE, 1940, 718 pages, three editions; regular, blue fabrikoid; _!)eLuxe, 3/4 purple and blue fabrikoid; Sponsors, full blue Morocco. Editor, George W. Angers; Walter J. Conrath, L. B. Gatchell, Associate Editors.
1941 SUPPLEMENT, 128 pages, Two editions, regular, paper bound; DeLuxe, blue fabrikoid.
1943 SUPPLEMENT, 68 pages, paper bound, Edited by George W. Angers and L.B. Gatchell; George D. Kingdom, Associate Editor.
AMERICAN AIR MAIL CATALOGUE, VOLUME l, 1947, 608 pages. L. B. Gatchell Editor; George W. Angers, Associate Editor. VOLUME II, 1950, 574 pages. L. B. Gatchell, Editor; George W. Angers, Associate Editor. VOLUME III, 1959 Supplement, 508 pages. L. B. Gatchell, Editor. All three volumes were published in three Editions: regular, blue fabrikoid, DeLuxe, 3/4 gray and blue cloth, Sponsors, Maroon leath'er.
AMERICAN AIR MAIL CATALOGUE OF AIR LETTER SHEETS, 1949, 56 pages, paper bound. Edited by L. B. Gatchell and Ian C. Morgan.
1951 Edition, 116 pages, paper bound. Edited by L. B. Gatchell and Ian C. Morgan.
1952 Supplement, 36 pages, paper bound. Edited by L. B. Gatchell. 1955 Edition, 176 pages, paper bound. Edited by L. B. Gatchell. 1957 and 1958 Check Lists, paper. Edited by Richard L. Singley. 1959 Supplement. In preparation. Edited by Emmett Peter, Jr. Most aerophilatelists are primarily stamp collectors who have turned to air mail
as an advanced state of special philately. When. the futility of approaching completeness in a general collection of stamps is realized one usually turns to a welldefined branch of philately. Air mail stamp collecting offers the most universal approach to the already well established collector instincts. Here, completeness to a greater degree, with the added zest of all that is making history of today's outstanding aeronautical accomplishments, may be gathered together in the album and preserved as a permanent record of the development of the conquest of the air.
The aims and objects of the American Air Mail Society have been mentioned briefly in the foregoing account of its inception. They are important and diverse and should be carefully studied. First, it circulates news items of all kinds with regards to new air mail routes, inaugural flights, official cachets, air postal rates, etc. It protects its members by informing them of fraudulent covers, false or entirely
PAGE 322 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
private cachets, and by preventing exploitation to which especially the newer members might be exposed. It has worked in close and cordial contact with the Post Office Department and by such co-operation has secured many acts of consideration for collectors. Backstamping of many important air mail flights has been permitted by the Post Office Officials and certain complaints of peculiarities of service have been investigated and cleared up. Through the AIRPOST JOURNAL and its other publications it gives a healthy publicity to the organization, and in general it promotes a complete interest in the aero-philately which could not be achieved by unorganized individuals alone.
The history of the American Air Mail Society has been briefly recounted. What has the Society actually accomplished during the thirty-five years since its founding? It is i- safe statement that nine-tenths of all air mail literature published in the last three decades in the United States has been the product of members of the A.A.M.S. From the private libraries of some of the older members and officers of the Society a long list of such publications could be made up, and it is from this wealth of material and from their long experience as collectors that most of the articles of a historical nature appearing in the AIRPOST JOURNAL are compiled. It would be apropos to list the Editors of the AIRPOST JOURNAL who were without exception indefatigable in their work of love to edit the monthly Journal:
Holcomb York, Cummington, Mass ................ 1929-31 George D. Kingdom, Conneaut, Ohio ................ 1931-33 Walter J. Conrath, Albion, Pa ............................ 1934-42 L.' B. Gatchell, Upper Montclair, N.J ............. 1942-55 Committee headed by George D. Kingdom .... 1956 Joseph L. Eisendrath, Jr., Highland Park, Ill ..... 1956-59
The AIRPOST JOURNAL, owned and published monthly by the Society, is now one of the world's foremost airpost publications. In addition to its historical feature, it is thoroughly up-to-date in its record of current events. And for all members there is a large assortment of helpful ads for the collectors' varied needs. The Sales Department for air mail stamps and covers is in a flourishing condition and brings a real service to A.A.M.S. members. Likewise more than 500 bulletins have been issued in recent years, giving valuable advance notice to members of air mail activities and scheduled flights.
Such a service has been possible chiefly because of the excellent spirit of cooperation existing between the Society and the U.S. and U.N. Postal authorities. Various modifications of the U.S. government's official cachet system for flights have been brought about by suggestions from the Society. Instead of the monotonous repetition of an uninteresting design, first flights and other air mail projects now generally have a cachet depicting something of real local interest. This adds much to the pleasure of collecting such items.
In connection with its annual conventions, many successful Air Post Exhibitions have been promoted by the Society, and its members and officers have assisted and participated at Exhibitions held in Paris, Danzig, Germany, New Zealand, Toronto, Havana and London. At these exhibitions American Air Mail exhibitors won high honors.
The Society, over the past several years, has sponsored the Walter J. Conrath Memorial Award. The purpose is to perpetuate the memory of WALTER J. CONRATH, who contributed unselfishly to the growth and welfare of the AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY, who possessed a fearless conviction and was an unceasing advocate of every principle of right, who was an ardent and true aerophilatelist:,
SEPTEMBER, 1959 PAGE 323
and who made many valuable contributions to the betterment of the hobby. It is hoped and desired that the esta:blishment of this award will inspire others to make contributions to our Society and hobby which in time will make them eligible for the high. honor.
THE WALTER J. CONRATH MEMORIAL AWARD is given annually to the member of the AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY who in the opinion and judgment of the Award Committee has rendered an outstanding service to the Society or who has made an outstanding contribution to the hobby of Aero-philately. The following, listed alphabetically, have been recipients of this cherished award:
George W. Angers, Mrs. Grace Conrath, L. B. Gatchell, Ernest A. Kehr, John P. V. Heinmuller, Jesse G. Johnson, George W. Kingdom, Rafael Oriol, Richard L. Singley, John J. Smith, Mrs. John (Ruth) Smith.
And last, but not least, in its list of services rendered, is the infornrntive missionary labor that many of its members have perfornied in talks and lectures before countless stamp clubs throughout the country.
In number of years the American Air Mail Society is yet young, but since it celebrates this coming November its THIRTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY, it may be termed a sturdy and vigorous organization. This is especially true when we consider that aerophilately itself is but hardly more than two score years of age.
The brief resume of the "Origin and Growth of the American Air Mail Society" would not be complete i'f we did not list the Presidents and Secretaries who have served the Society so well.
AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY PRESIDENTS Joseph A. Steinmetz, Philadelphia, Pa ............................... 1923-1925 Harry A. Truby, New Kensington, Pa .................................. 1926-1928 George W. Angers, Springfield, Mass .................................... 1929-1931 Herbert H. Griffin, Cleveland, Ohio .................................... 1931-1932 Llovd B. Gatchell, Upper Montclair, N.J ........................... 1933-1934 Francis B. Leech, Washington, D.C .................................. .'. 1935-1936 Walter J. Conrath, Albion, Pa ................................................ 1937-1938 Paul F. Robertson, Peoria, Illinois ...................................... 1939-1940 William R. Alley, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y .................................... 1941-1942 Richard L. Singley, Lancaster, Pa ......................................... 1943-1944 George D. Kingdom, Conneaut, Ohio ................................... 1945-1946 M. 0. Warns, Milwaukee, Wisc ............................................. 1947-1948 Grace Conrath, Erie, Pa. ......... . .................... . ... 1949-1950 Jesse G. Johnson, Norfolk, Va .............................................. 1951-1952 John P. V. Heinmuller, New York, N.Y. .. ...................... . .. 1953-1954 Rafael Oriol, Havana, Cuba ................ ...... .. ... ....... .............. 1955-1956 John J. Smith, Philadelphia, Pa. .. ........ 1957-1958 Robert W. Murch, St. Louis, Mo. ...... ............ ................... 1959-1960
SECRETARY AND/OR SECRETARY-TREASURER George W. Angers, Springfield, Mass. . ...... 1923-1928; 1933-1937 L. B. Gatchell, Upper Montclair, N. J ............................... 1929-1932 Emil J. Vlasak, Springfield, Mass ........................................... 1938-1941 Claude W. Degler, Milwaukee, Wisc .................................... 1942-1950 John J. Smith, Philadelphia, Pa. .......... ..................... 1951-1956 Ruth T. Smith, Philadelphia, Pa. . .............. .............. 1957-1959
In the very rapid increase during the last few years in the number of stamp collectors throughout the United States, the branch of air mail collecting has received its full proportion. AEROPHILATELY HAS COME OF AGE!
Balloon Post Of The Siege Of Paris, 1870-71 By LOUIS A. CHAINTRIER - Translated by
DR. EVERETT E. THOMPSON and GEORGE W. ANGERS CHAPTER 22
(In memory of Galileo Galilei, mathematician, physicist, astronomer, born at Pisa 1564, died at Arcetri 1642.)
The twenty-second postal balloon was sponsored by the Administration of Posts. It contained 204.5 cubic meters and it was piloted by Jean Husson, a sailor of the National Marine, detached from Fort de Noisv, and a former non-commissioned offi~er of the Merchant Marine.
The passenger, Antoine Etienne, a civil engineer, was entrusted with a special mission by the Government of Paris.
The postal consignment comprised: ( 1 ) seven sacks of dispatches weighing a total of 420 kg. ( 924 lbs.); ( 2) a cage containing six pigeons belonging to Louis Antoine Garnier Pages, member of the Government of National Defense.
Departure took .Place from the Orleans station in the presence of the Director and Administrators of the Post and of Admiral De Challie who gave Etienne a secret message for the Delegation of Tours, on Friday, November 4, 1870, at 2 P.M. in a light northeast wind and in weather very clear and briskly cold._
The following is a selection from the report submitted by A. Etienne to the Director General 0f Posts at Tours relating to his aerial journey, his capture and escape: "The balloon Galilee, containing a little more than 2000 cubic meters, constructed by the Godard brothers, left the Orleans station, Paris, November 4 at 2 P.M.; it was especially intended to carry to Tours the result of the vote of Paris ( 557,996 for the members of the Government, and 62,638 against) just announced in favor of those who had undertaken the heavy task of saving the country. The balloon was to have been inflated at 8 A.M., but a contrary order arrived to delay the departure until the time when the complete returns would be known.
"A large crowd of spectators had gathered to witness the ascension of the Galilee which was carrying more than 420 kgs. of mail, Government dispatches to which was attached the greatest interest,
SEPTEMBER,. 19\)9
• ballast of about 200 kgs. and finally Husson, its aeronaut, and the person who writes these lines.
"The wind was blowing from the northeast. Godard, Sr., who presided at the operation of inflating the balloon, directed us to climb into the basket and then the balloon was transported to the launching site. Some moments later the sacramental 'lachez tout' was pronounced and the Galilee, freed from its bonds, rose majestically into space with the applause of the large crowd that in exceptionally fine weather had gathered for the spectacle.
"Although for the first time we were in an ascending balloon we experienced no discomfort; on the contrary we felt fine and while the Galilee rose we were admiring the splendid panorama that was unrolling to our view. Then when a well-sustained fire and the whistling of bullets came to draw us out of our contemplation and make us realize that we were above enemy lines, we threw out ballast to put us out of the range of projectiles. But we thought that already the Galilee had been pierced by one or more bullets for from that time on we had to expend much ballast. in order to keep at a suitable height. The strength of the wind made us proceed at 16 to 20 kilometers per hour, unfavorable because of the rather large useful weight that the Galilee was carrying; and so, in spite of the advantage that the terrain we were traversing at high speed offered us, we had to neglect it a little to keep track of the altitude of our balloon since all the time we were flying above enemy troops.
"We passed over Versailles at about 3:15 p.m.; we were at 1950 meters ( 6396 ft. ) and the thermometer registered seven degrees above zero. From Versailles we flew on to Rambouillet at 1200 meters ( 3936 ft.) above the earth but this altitude did not prevent the en-
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emy from firing at us although without result. About 5 o'clock in an extensive level space to the west of Chartres we made our first descent, only after we had examined the ground with a spyglass. A good woman who was there. told us that the enemy were in the neighborhood and that they frequently passed by there. Although we had but little ballast left, we remounted and proceeded again for about sixteen kilometers.
"It was 6 p.m. when we managed our second descent, about 10 kilometers northwest of Chartres, after having in-. quired from peasants if there were any of the enemy force in those parts; on their negative answers and after we had assured ourselves that we could get carriages for the transport of dispatches, we touched ground by opening the valve. After some bounds, harmless because of the calm weather, and aided by the peasants we became masters of our gentle motive power, the Galilee.
"It was hardly half an hour after we had landed when cries of the women announced the arrival of Prussian horsemen. I had only time enough to seize_ the sack of Government dispatches and hand it to a peasant, ordering him to send it along as soon as possible to Tours where he would be rewarded, which was done. One can read in the November 7, 1870, issue of the 'Universal Monitor', printed at Tours, and the official organ of the Delegation, a copy of the following dispatch addressed to the Delegation by the sub-prefect of Nogent Le Rotrov. Dispatch relating to the saving of this sack and to the capture of the Galilee: 'Nogent le Rotrov, November 5, 10:40 a.m. Balloon from Paris descended yesterday 6 p.m. at Fresnay le Gilmert, 8 kilometers from Chartres Prussians seized one bundle of dispatches - one sack saved and sent on immediately to the train that will depart at 1 :30 this p.m. -a true copy - Minister of the Interior and of War'.
"This duty accomplished, we awaited our enemy, who made us prisoners of war.
"The officer sent away all the peasants and had us placed at about three meters from his horse. During this time the peasants were planning together and
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came back threatening to make an appeal to arms in our behalf. The officer then warned me that at the slightest hostile act of the peasants, my companion and I would be shot. I had to resort to a flag of truce and had the good luck of making my brave fellow citizens understand that their action could be very praiseworthy, but since their arms consisted of a few pocket knives and stones from the highway, they could only increase the number of victims without contributing any chance of our deliverance.
"Convinced by my reasoning, they retired and I profited by my flag of truce to charge them again with regard to the sack of dispatches. I returned to rejoin my companion.
"The officer who had taken us prisoners spoke a little French. He was, on the whole, courteous, and after having compelled us to turn over all our papers as well as my maps of France and of the environs of Paris, we proceeded in lwo separate groups.
"Arrived at Chartres, they made me disrobe so that they could inspect even the lining of my clothes; this led them to no discovery, for it appeared there was nothing more than my, letters and papers that thev had confiscated and so the next dav at noon Prince Frederick had
. me tak~n under a strong escort to Versailles. Two hussars accompanied me on horseback, one at each carriage door; at Rambouillet, horses were changed.
"We arrived November 6 at 3 a.m. at Ver~ailles and one hour later they led me before the commandant of the place who questioned me in proper fashion; then later I was placed in a small cell in Versailles prislm, where there was nothing but a bad straw mattress. There I waited for daylight with great impatience, for the profound darkness of my prison prevented me from getting any line on my dwelling place.
"\Vhen day arrived I saw with some satisfaction that I had a companion in captivity, an employee of the Paris postal service who had been captured passing the enemy lines with letters sewn into the lining of his clothes. He was
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
given his liberty three days after my arrival, after being under lock and key for thirty days.
"The little cell was 4 meters long by 2 meters wide and about 21j2 meters high and in one of the corners was the water closet. This arrangement left something to be desired from a hygienic point of view. At 8 o'clock they brought me some black coffee in an earthen dish, slightly sweetened and very inuch watered. At 11 o'clock they served me my breakfast, a kind of paste in which I found a piece of meat the size of a nut. At 5 o'clock they served me again in an earthen dish a horrible mess of rice curdled in water in which I found a small piece of meat; for drinking there was a permanent tap in the cell."
(To be continued)
NEW SOCIETY DIRECTORY IN THE OFFING
It is planned tr.> issue a new A.A.M.S. directory of members sometime in the not too-distant future. For those members who have the most recent directory, published last in 1955, you will note the various listings of speciadty classifications after each name. Since 1955 many changes must have occurred in collecting habits. If you have made changes in your classifications, we'd suggest you drop a note to Secretary Ruth Smith so that your changes can be noted. No deadline yet, but we'd like to get started on this project. Any other changes - such as addresses, spelling, etc. - should also be made at the same time. If you don't know the classification code, drop us a note and we'll send a list of these. Stamped envelope, please.
The 1959/60 SANABRIA CATALOGUE
answers all questions on air post stamps
$12.50 (incl. free supplements)
NICOLAS SANABRIA CO. INC. A. Medawar, Pres.
521 Fifth Avenue New York 17, N.Y.
SEPTEMBER, 1959
RECENT FLOWN U.S. GLIDER FLIGHT COVERS
The 26th National Soaring Contest took place at Harris Hill, Ehnira, N.Y. between July 1 and July 10, 1959. A commemorative cachet was provided for the occasion.
Some flown covers are at hand from these flights - at least two, which this collector has received. Both have the cachet and one hand inscribed: "Flown by R. E. Schreder in the H P 8" with cancellation of the landing area at South Otselic, N.Y. July 10, 1959. The other is inscribed on the reverse side, and a card is enclosed, "I carried your letter with me on a soaring flight from Harris Hill, Elmira, to Whitehall, N.Y. The distance being 203 miles, I believe. This was the third longest flight of the day. F. Sebek". This cover has the cancellation of Whitehall, N.Y., July 10, 1959.
In other countries glider-flown covers have been reported from time to time. In Switzerland, for instance, a special "Glider Postflight" of the Swiss .glider HB 366 Bellavista was announced for July 18, 1959 to take place from Egerkingen, Sol.
In this country, although glider-flown covers have been reported less frequently, soaring or glider flight has made great progress each year.
-Dr. Max Kronstein
DAN R. ROBERTSON DIES
Early Airmail Pilot Was Lindbergh Flight Backer
A recent Associated Press dispatch from St. Louis savs that Dan R. Robertson, an early airmail pilot, died on June 5th of a heart attack at the age of 52.
He was one of four brothers who blazed trails in aviation and was a backer of Charles A. Lindbergh's historic flight across the Atlantic to Paris in 1927. He was a fellow pilot of Lindbergh for the old Robertson Aircraft Corporation, which flew the mail between Chicago and St. Louis.
The brothers were associated with the old Robertson Aviation School and Robertson Field, which later became the nucleus of Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport.
PAGE 327
BUYING ' AL WAYS INTERESTED! it is impossible to stay in the stamp business without buying ... it goes without saying. Hence, having serviced covers since 1926, we are always interested in continuing to stock stamps and covers to maintain "The Department Store of Philately''.
SO, WE ARE ALWAYS BUYING: Your collection may he shipped, with your instructions attached, and without any previous correspondence on the subject.
If you wish to sell, either quote your price or ask for our best cash offer, as you prefer.
If you wish to sell via our monthly auctiom, instruct us to handle on 20 % commission basis in the next sale to he sent to press.
BE ON OUR MAILING LIST: If your philatelic interests are active, ask for free current auction catalog and other lists or information which may he helpful to you!
- SELLING NOT A MUSEUM! Because we are not running a museum, but wish to sell the stamps and covers that we have acquired over the years, you will always find us anxious to he of any possible philatelic assistance to you.
ON APPROVAL: Actually, a large part of our stock can he sent to you "on approval" (on your request). Whatever your field may he, we shall be glad to try to make up selections according to your wants and tastes. True, we may not he of help in some highly specialized fields and in the case of recent flight material, we have not been keeping up our stock. We do have many of the pre-1935 airmail covers, and we also have many of the 1935-1959 first day covers.
MEMBER FOR THIRTY YEARS As a fellow member of The American Air Mail Society for more than thirty years, I welcome the opportunity to help you in any possible way. Drop in and visit us when in Harrisburg! Office open weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays included. Thursday hours: 9 am to 9 pm.
Your Complete Satisfaction ls Always Assured When You Deal with Long! .................................. , ... The Department Store of Philately
IELl\mIER Ro ILO~G
PAGE 328 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
1l 1l 2 HA\RK.IET ST o9
lllA\RRISIBUUR<Gi, Jp> A\o
SEPTEMBER, 1959
Life Member: AAMS APS SPA
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P.O. Box 595, Malden, Mo .
The latest release by the Civil Aeronautics Board was the decision in the Pacific Northwest Local Service Case, which expands the routes flown by West Coast Airlines and Pacific Air Lines, both local carriers.
The decision provided for an extension of Pacific's Route #76 from Crescent City, Calif., to Portland, Oregon. At the same time ,West Coast's Route #77 will serve Salem, Oregon, Newport-Toledo, Bend-Redmond, Oregon on the PortlandKlamath Falls Segment and will be extended southward to Sacramento and San Francisco-Oakland. West Coast was also awarded an extension of Route #77 eastward from Klamath Falls to Boise, Idaho via Burns, Lakeview, Oregon giving the latter two cities their first air mail service. Omak, Wash., will also be added to Route #77. The effective date of the decision in this case was July 27, 1959. However, West Coast filed a petition for re-consideration of the Board's decision in this case; requesting authority to operate new routes 'between Boise and San Francisco and between Klamath Falls and Reno, Nevada. This being the case, it is probable that inaugural flights involving the awards in this decision were postponed. CHRONICLE -
AM ROUTE #14 - EXTENSION TO MIAMI, FLA.: Among the other carriers awarded route extensions in the Additional Service to Florida Case, Capital Airlines was authorized to extend Ronte #14 from Atlanta to Miami.
Prior to December 14, 1958 at which time the inaugural flight from Miami was made, Route #14 operated as far south as Atlanta, Ga., and since the Postal Bulletin had announced official cachets for Atlanta for this extension, it was
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• thought that the inaugural flight into Miami would operate via Atlanta. However, the schedule as issued for this service involved non-stop flights from Cleveland and Pittsburgh to Miami without stops at Atlanta. The first flight into Miami was therefore made via Flight #703 on December 14, 1958 by Capt. C. McQuigg operating non-stop from Cleveland to Miami. The mail from Cleveland and Cleveland AMF consisted of a very small dispatch from each office without official cachets, cancelled 9 AM, Dec. 14th, at each office. This mail was subsequently backstamped at Miami at 4 PM, same date.
The inaugural flight from Miami was made via Flight #702 on Dec. 14, 1958, Capt. R. T. Dobbins, who handled 675 pcs of mail from Miami postmarked 3 PM and 1520 pcs from Miami AMF postmarked 3: 30 PM. This was backstamped at Pittsburgh (first stop from Miami) at 10 PM, same date. Official cachets were applied at Miami in green and at Miami AMF in magenta.
AM ROUTE #14 - ADDITION OF TAMPA - CLEARWATER AND ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.: Using the same airport, tlrnse cities were given service on this route on Jan. 15, 1959. The inaugural Southbound flight was made by Capt. Norman Hunter flying Flight #705, with 595 pcs of mail from Tampa, 586 pcs from Clearwater and 500 pcs from St. Petersburg backstamped at Miami AMF, 8 PM, Jan. 15th.
The inaugural Northbound flight was flown by Capt. Edward O'Donnell, carrying 129 pcs from Tampa, 125 pcs from Clearwater and 300 pcs from St. Petersburg. All mail was subsequently backstamped at Buffalo, N.Y., at 11 PM, Jan. 15th.
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
Official cachets were applied in black at Tampa, magenta, at ClearWater and purple at St. Petersburg. At this writing, no Southbound dispatch from Atlanta has as yet been made.
AM ROUTE #1 - EXTENSION CHICAGO TO WASHINGTON, D.C.: Inaugurated on Jan. 11, 1959 by United Airlines, this extension to Route #1 involved stops at Dayton and Columbus, Ohio. As originally awarded by the CAB, this extension to United's Transcontinental Route provided for an extension to Baltimore, Md. However, when service was inaugurated, no stops were provided for at Baltimore in the schedule for planes operating via Dayton and Columbus and since these points were served by planes operating between Chicago and New York City, the new service simply resulted in an alternate routing of this route between Chicago and New York City. The Department considered the service as an extension from Chicago to Washington, and therefore, did not provide philatelic treatment_ for an Eastbound dispatch 'from Washington, D.C.
The inaugural Westbound flight from Washington, D.C., was made by Capt. F. A. Stetson, Jr., operating Flight #627. This flight handled 740 pcs from Washington, D.C., 702 pcs from Washington AMF, 373 pcs from Columbus, 412 pcs from Columbus AMF and 172 pcs from Dayton, all of which was backstamped at Chicago AMF (Midway) at 11 AM, Jan. 11th.
The inaugural Eastbound flight from Chicago involved Flight #526 in charge of Capt. D. E. Flanagan. He carried 545 pcs from Chicago, 877 pcs from Chicago AMF (O'Hare), 811 pcs from Dayton, 347 pcs from Columbus and 402 pcs from Columbus AMF. Mail originating at Chicago and Dayton was backstamped at Washington AMF at 10:30 PM. Jan. 11th, while mail from Columbus was backstamped La Guardia AMF at 1 AM, Jan. 12th.
Official cachets in the shield-type recently used by the Department, enclosing a map of the new territory served were used. Chicago had purple, Chicago AMF magenta, Dayton green, Columbus purple and green, Columbus AMF black, Washington magenta and Washington AMF blue.
SEPTEMBER, 1959
AM ROUTE #107 EXPANSION: Iowa City, Iowa, St. Joseph Mo., and Madison, Wis., were added to this route operated by Ozark Airlines on March 1, 1959 and at the same time, it was extended from Ft. Dodge, Iowa to Omaha, Nebr. Because these additions involved diffen:nt segments of Route #107, we t.reat tl1em individually.
Iowa City was added to the Chicago -Des Moines Segment of this route. The inaugural Eastbound flight was made by Capt. C. W. Wildhaber as Flight #120. There were 1090 pcs cancelled 8 AM, March 1st, and backstamped at Chicago AMF (Midway) at 12 Noon same date. He also made the inaugural Westbound Flight # 121 handling 400 pcs cancelled 12:30 PM, March 1st, and backstamped at Des Moines at 4:30 PM, same date. Official cachet was in green showing map of Iowa enclosed in a shield.
St. Joseph, Missouri served on the Chicago - Kansas City Segment of this route, was given inaugural North or Eastbound service by Flight #150 on March 1, 1959 in charge of Capt. Jas. P. Cole, who flew 964 pcs cancelled 8 AM, March 1st, backstamped at Chicago AMF (Midway) at 12:30 PM, same date. Operating in the opposite direction, Capt. Chas. R. Fullar, Flight #150, carried 291 pcs from St. Joseph cancelled at 1 PM, March 1st, and backstamped Kansas City AMF at 2:30 PM, same date. Official cachet was in blue showing map of Missouri enclosed in usual shield type border.
Madison, Wisconsin was added to the Milwaukee - Des Moines Segment <'>f this route on March 1st, with the inaugural Westbound flight being made via Flight #131 in charge of Capt. 0. D. Bales, Jr. There were 1182 pcs of mail cancelled 8 AM, March 1st, backstamped at Des Moines at 2:30 PM, same date. Capt. P. N. Slough made the inaugural Eastbound flight #130 with 138 pcs of mail cancelled 12:30 PM, March 1st, and backstamped at Milwaukee at 4 PM, same date. Same type official cachet as used at Iowa City and St. Joseph was applied in black but they showed map of Wisconsin.
Inaugurating the extension of Route # 107 from Ft. Dodge, Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska on March 1st, Capt. Raymond
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W. Traub as Flight #80 made the initial flight from Omaha handling 917 pcs of mail from Omaha and 954 pcs. from Omaha AMF postmarked 3 AM and 6 .AI\1, March 1st, respectively and backstamped at Chicago AMF (Midway) at 12:30 PM, same date. The inaugural flight from Ft. Dodge to Omaha was made by Capt. R. P. Downs as Flight #81. There was a very small dispatch of 76 pcs cancelled at 12 Noon, March 1st, subsequently backstamped at Omaha AMF at I: 30 PM, same date. Mail from Ft. Dodge bore no official cachet or other identifying markings. Omaha and Omaha AMF were furnished with official cachets, magenta at Omaha and purple at Omaha AMF. These cachets carried a map of Nebraska. One cover from Omaha PO had the official cachet applied in purple instead of magenta.
AM ROUTE #73 - OMAHA - KANSAS CITY SEGMENT. Service on this segment of Route #73, flown by Front~er Airlines, Inc., was inaugurated on March I, 1959. It operates between Omaha and Kansas City via Lincoln and Beatrice, Nebraska and St. Joseph, Mo. Since service between Omaha and Lincoln had previously been flown by this carrier on another segment of this route, we are only concerned with the service between Lincoln and Kansas City, via Beatrice and St. Joseph.
The inaugural flight of this service from Lincoln to Kansas City via Flight #191 as well as the return flight via Flight #192 was flown by Capt. Cecil A. Fechner. Lincoln dispatched an estimated 125 pcs of philatelic mail via the first flight to Kansas City; Beatrice dispatched 1900 pcs South to Kansas City and 381 pcs North to Omaha; St. Joseph 855 pcs to Kansas City and 321 pcs to Omaha with Kansas City and Kansas City AMF 610 and 781 pcs respectively.
First flight mail from Lincoln did not bear an official cachet or other marking for identification. Therefore, postmark time of 7 AM, March 1st, and backstamp
. at Kansas City AMF, 9:30 AM, same date are essential for proper identification. All other offices were furnished with an official cachet showing a map of
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Missouri enclosed in a shield which was used at Kansas City and St. Joseph while a cachet of the same design but showing a map of Nebraska was used at Beatrice. Colors: Kansas City purple, Kansas City AMF green, St. Joseph magenta and Beatrice black.
AM ROUTE #73 - DENVER - OMAHA SEGMENT. This segment operates between Denver and Omaha via Lincoln, Hastings, Kearney, McCook, Imperial and Sidney, al! in Nebraska and Sterling, Colorado. Service between Omaha and Lincoln had previously been flown by this route as well as service from Denver via this segment (previously served). The collector is concerned only with the intermediate points between Denver and Lincoln. Service was inaugurated on March I, 1959.
The inaugural Eastbound flight was made by Capt. W. D. Chambers operating Flight #51 while Capt. E. L. Aden as Flight #50, made the inaugural Westbound flights. Dispatches involved the following: Hastings 842 pcs West and 224 pcs East; Kearney 978 pcs West and 131 pcs East; McCook 609 pcs West and 321 pcs East; Imperial 230 pcs West and 881 pcs East; Sidney 164 pcs West and 979 pcs. East; Sterling }AI pcs West and 1354 pcs East.
Westbound philatelic mail was backstamped at Denver AMF at 12 Noon while Eastbound mail was backstamped at Omaha AMF at 1:30 PM. Official cachets showing map. of Nebraska were used at all offices except Sterling, Colorado where map of Colorado was used. Colors were blue at Hastings, green at Kearney, purple at McCook, magenta at Imperial, black at Sidney and blue at Sterling.
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THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
Honor to World Air Forces By "COLLECTOR"
A POWERFUL force of offense and a mighty arm of national and international defense, the United States Air Force fittingly celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation in August 1957 with a special stamp
issue symbolizing 50 years of military aviation adrnncement. It constituted yet another tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
However, the U.S. Air Force has not been the only national air force organization to receive such well-merited publicity through the medium of the appropriate post offices. For some years a number of countries has produced regular stamps to commemorate Air Days and Aviation Weeks as a means of maintaining national interest in aviation progress and achievements both from a civil and military tandpoint.
Such issues have emanated from Russia, Poland, Hungary, Roumania, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, the Argentine and Brazil.
Of direct relation to Air Force Day ob ervance was the is ue in July 1948 of four charity stamps by Roumania. An early type of aircraft figured on one value, while a second pictured glider planes in flight. A tractor driver signalling at a plane
pa sing overhead and a transport aircraft in flight over a typical mountain scene appeared on the remaining two stamps.
Although, so far, having had no commemorative stamps for its air force, the Au tralian Commonwealth has recognized Air Force °" eek (September )' since 1948, with a special postmark cancellation. The pictorial vignette characterized a small aeroplane in flight as it wrote in the sky as an aid to recruiting: "Join the R.A.A.F. The Service with a Future." ·
Air Force Week in Australia wa e taiblished on a national basis in 1947 to perpetuate the memory of those
The Free N orwegian Ai r airmen who fought and died in aerial battles of the Second Force i s~~aa~inted in World War, particularly in connection with the Battle of
Britain, the turning-point in the 1939-45 War. Russia's aerial commemorative stamps, variou ly described as Air Day and Day
of the Wing, have been of interest, especially the Aviation Day issue of 1945. The issue epitomizing the part played by Russian airmen in the last world war, with its
Ru ssia's Petliakov -2 bombers in action
realistically rendered designs, not only represented Russian aircraft types, many of whnse early machines were modelled on American type·, but depicted incidents in which Soviet planes participated. One stamp showed an Illushin-2 bomber on the attack, and another illustrated several Petliakov-2 bombers. A Petliakov-8 bomber on a snow-covered airfield wa5 also pictured.
Another episode displayed was that of a Lavochkin-7 fighter shooting down an enemy aircraft, while a Illushin-4 bomber dropping bombs was included in the series. Tupolev-2 bomber aircraft was prominently pictured, and an Iakoviev-3 fighter, engaged in mortal combat with an enemy counterpart, comprised the format of a further value.
Furt11er evidence of Rus ian air activity was een in the design showing an Iakoviev-9 fighter destroying an enemy twin-engined aircraft.
As long ago as December 1937 the Soviet Air Force was apparently a force to be contended with, judging from a set of seven stamps on issue to celebrate an Air F orce Exhibition in Moscow. Indicating achievements of Russian aviation genera11y the stamps pictured low-winged Army co-operation monoplanes, planes tlrnt were in a few short years to be seen in countries bordering the Soviet Union.
Aliliough practically annihilated by the Germans in 1940, during the last war, the Dutch Air Force in time became a powerful arm of defense with the "Free Dutch" organization. Support was forthcoming in the Dutch Indies in May, 1941, when three stamps were released on behalf of Prince Bernhardt's appeal for the purchase of bomber planes. These were for the Dutch Navy,which, with many Dutch
· soldiers, had crossed the Channel to Britain in May 1940 to continue the fight against German oppre sion. The stamps were sold at a substantial premium for that purpo e. The Dutch Colony of Curacao produced eight stamps for the same cause, an example emulated by Surinam.
Meanwhile, when General DeGaulle rallied the remnants of ilie French Empire to his banner in 1940, the French Cameroons issued four specially-surcharged stamps in connect'ion with the "Spitfire Fund", so that the French National Air Forces could continue to take their place in the fight for freedom. Two others were issued in 1941.
Republican Spain contributed two interesting stamps Royal Arms of Nether- during 1945 to commemorate several air aces of the SpanIands aid the Bomber ish Civil War. One stam1J portrayed the likeness of the Fund Campaign
hero, Captain Carlos de Haya Gonzales, with his fighter plane; and the second design was devoted t-0 a study of
Captain ,T. Garcia Morato", his plane, and bird in flight . '
Printed in Canada, a postal tribute to t11e volunteers who form~d the "Free" Air Force of Norway which trained at "Little Torway", Toronto, Canada, during the last war, was made in March 1946. The Norwegian-sponsored stamp adopted a its subject two Nor~egian airmen, standing on top of a globe of the world, wit11 a Viking warrior silhouetted between them . Inscriptions included "Wings for Norway" and "Little Norway, Toronto, Muskoka", while the Norwegian Air Force insignia and the. arms of both Norway and Canada also figured in the design .
Seven po.-ta e and . seYen airmail stamp were is ued by ~caragua in November i954 to honor the National Air Force and also the American pilot, Captain Dean L. Ray, who tragically lost his life while on a goodwill demonstration of the latest U.S .A. jet planes at Managua, in January 1954. Portrc its of the American airman appeared on several values, others hawing President Somoza. The Nicaraguan Air Force emblem, one of it hangars and various aircraft type , including Ray's Sabre jet F-86, a B-24 bomber, a T-6 training plane, a P-38 and an A-20, all found a place in the series.
Pre-war German "Air E 1 f d · f · 1 i· d Defense" propaganda x:amp es o mo ern aucra t, 1et p anes supp ie -by America, with three o_f_ them hurtling in formation over _ilie Chl~ng Shang Bridge
PAGE 334 THE AIRPOS'T JOURNAL
in Taipeh,. comprised the theme of a single stamp put out by F ormosa. An indication that the National Chinese forces on Formosa were well supported by air power, the stamp appeared in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of Air Force Day, in 1954.
Stamps placed on ale in the Philippines in 1955 recognized two notable Filipino airmen who made names for themselves in the war in the Pacific. Two stamps issued in October portrayed Lieut. Jose Gozar, who received the D.F.C. for his feat in attacking three Japanese Zero aircraft in December 1941, as they were strafing the Zabian Field. One of the Japanese planes was shot down and the others fled. Gozar's fighter plane and the emblem of the Philippines Air Force complete the design.
The Filipino air hero, Lieut. Fernando Basa, the first Filipino airman to be kihled in the last war, was shown on the two stamps distributed in D ecember 1955.
These coincided with the 14th anniversary of his death. His portrait and the aircraft he used in his flying operations provide the subject matter of the design.
Air defense and attack by parachutists constituted the theme of two contrasting stamp series, printed by Germany and Danzig and by Israel. .
In March 1937 Germany - whose Government · in the early part of the last war .boasted that no _enemy plane would ever fly over the border - issued three stamps as "Air Defense" propaganda. T o 5ymbolize preparedness against possible air attack, a steel-helmeted figure, carrying a shield and a spear, gazing skywards, apparently searching for approaching aircraft, appeared on the fourth
An Israeli paratrooper anniversary of the National Air Defense League.
About the same time. the ill-fated territory of Danzig initiated two stamps on behalf of Air Defense publicity. This time, views of the Polish city were illustrated along with the emblem of the Air Defense organization.
Paratroopers were honored by Israel in March 1955 with a stamp featuring a member of the Yishuv, a Jewish soldier, parachuting behind the enemy lines.
The Yishuv organization recruited some 30,000 Jewish volunteers for service with the British Army, and greatly assisted in the liberation of Europe, and p articularly that of Jewish people in occupied lands.
( Reproduced with permission from Stamp Collecting, May 29th, 1959.)
CHARTER MEMBER'S CELEBRATE 36 YEARS' R'ECOR'D
The following have been members of the American Air Mail Sodety for 36 consecutive years :
3. ANGERS, GEORGE W . 29. BECKE , CARL M. 32. FIELD, FRANCIS J. 12. GA SER, MALCOLM 21. HARD, A. M. 10. PRI lZJNG, Wm. J.
2. TRUBY, HARRY "A.
SEPTEMBER, 1959
·Springfield, Mass . Minneapolis, .Minn . Sutton Coldfielq, England Norristown,: Penn . Los Angeles, Calif. W aco, Texas New Kensington, Penn .
PAGE 335
Aerophilately and Aerophilatelists Address by Samuel Ray at the Annual Banquet of ±he A.A.M.S .
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I welcome you both for myself and for all of us here in Chicago and tell you how happy we are to have you with us again. High among the amenities of philately are the wonderful friends one makes and the pleasures attendant on renewing acquaintanceships from year to year at our conventions. Exactly twentyfive years ago I had the pleasure of welcoming most of you to the 1934 A.A.M. S. convention of which I was the general chairman. It hardly seems possible that an entire quarter of a century has elapsed since that time.
As aerophilatelists we feel particularly keenly these social amenities because we are actually a breed apart. Philately wouldn't exist for most of us were it not for the context of aeronautics; we are the people who still look up at the sound of a plane overhead and derive a thrill from its association with the souvenirs in our albums. We are the spiritual descendants of Icarus - we are one with the birds. I suspect, however, that the orthodox philatelists would say we are "for the birds" because we literally. put the Aero before the Philately, exactly as it is eiq>ressed in our name. In addition to stamps and covers we fill .our albums with photographs, news clippings, pictures, post .cards, printed programs, menus, stickers, and vignettes, and all sorts of other aeronautical souvenirs. I suspect strongly that in our collective albums there are enough examples of actual pieces of fa!bric from the skins of old airships, the Hindenburg, the Shenandoah, and even the old Akron, to build an entire new dirigible, or at the very least a pretty good sized blimp.
It is particularly because of this aspect of placing the first emphasis on the aeronautical manifestation that created our souvenir and only the second on the philately thereof that we have banded together into a separate organization where we have so much more in common than the ordinary garden variety of philatelists.
However, the amenities are not
PAGE 336
• enough. In order to maintain a purpose for our Society, to prosper and grow, to leave our mark in the literature of the hobby, and to guide those who follow us, it is necessary that we resolutely recognize and attack the problems that confront both the hobby at large and our Society in particular.
Our problems for the most part can be grouped into two general categories: that of the identification of our field, and that of the proliferation of sub-groups within the body politic of the hobby. These two problems are not necessarily unrelated and, as I shall point out, impinge upon one another. Nor do I mean to imply with my remarks that these problems have not heretofore been recognized; I am well aware that much thought and work have already been devoted to them.
The American Air Mail Society has now been in existence for over a third of a century. It is the oldest, most renowned, and still the most potent organization in the field. It is the favored hobby instrumentality of the U.S. Government and the Post Office- Department. To maintain this leadership and to improve its position it should, without any question, take the initiative in attempting ts solve these problems.
Now, as to the definition of our field, it is high time that we began to sort out the materials we collect and give them their proper evaluation, both as to category and even authenticity. Over the years there has been a tendency for fake material to creep into our listings. Unflown material - which is perfectly collectible in its own category - has been indiscriminately listed with flown material, and there seems to have developed an organized disregard for the systematic values of our hobby, a sort of a general acquicsence in the upgrading of material: for example, privately issued stamps have been called "semi-official", semi-official stamps have been called "official", and totally unrelated non-air stamps and ordinary labels have crept into the listings of air stamps.
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
The situation has reached the point where many of us are not even speaking the same language with reference to our mutual hobby. It is highly necessary to clarify the field, to call a spade a spade, and to desist from our hitherto ostrich-like head--in-the-ground attitude to the materials we collect. I think our Society should be the leader in re-examining all of our material to determine whether it is authentic, whether it was actually flown, and under what category, if any, it should be listed in our publications. '11/ e ought also to set up criteria of listing and attempt to eliminate covers which were privately flown, and particularly those of no significance. It is so. simple for any person to create so-called "first flight" covers decorated with privately made cachets. Similarly, it is quite simple for anyone to fly his own "rocket mail". This is precisely the type of activity that we should attempt to discourage by refusing to recognize or list it, and in any case to expose all of the details involved; it is unfortunate that much of of this type of material has already crept into our listings. Our new president-to-be, my very· good friend Bob Murch, has had considerable experience concerning "phony" postage stamps as chairman of the Watch-Dog Committee of the American Philatelic Society. His talents in this line will be most useful in detecting and laying low the "phony" stamps and covers in aerophilately.
We should use our position as the one group in aerophilately favored by the Government to induce the federal or local authorities to sponsor covers to be carried on significant flights - or even do this, judiciously, ourselves in order to avoid and discourage private and personal initiative in this field.
In the field of air mail stamps we should· lead in establishing the definitions of what constitutes an air mail stamp as opposed to an ordinary nostage stamp,"and establish definitions fo-r semiofficial stamps. This is doubly necessary because we apparently cannot depend on the popular catalogues to do this. · Some of the catalogues, in fact, list a frightful melange of official stamps, private stamps, semi-official stamps, essays, proofs, and ordinary labels all
SEPTEMBER, 1959
placed indiscriminately together and thus by implication, spurious material is legitimized by being associated with valid material. It well behooves us to take the lead in clearing up this situation.
Now, in my preceding remarks I referred to the existence of other aerophilatelic organizations. It seems that there is a tendency in our hobby to proliferate organizations, many of which come into being without any rhyme or reason, and usually on the initiative of one industrious individual who generally has his own axes to grind.
Patently, aerophilately doesn't need all these organizations and their existence is divisive and thereby does more harm than good. AeropMlately is actually an indivisible hobby, even though one group in the hobby claims that they are devoted exclusively to air mail stamps and maintains that our Society is devoted only to covers. Examination of the literature published by this group shows that they run something over 60% - possibly 2/3 - on cancellations, postal markings, and covers, which admittedly is our field. We must admit, however, that there is a germ of truth in the allegation that our interest is primarily in covers. Despite the excellent section on U.S. Air Mail stamps in our catalogue, the bulk of our literature largely ignores air mail stamps -except for the new issues - and consequently does not attract the collectors who are active in this aspect of the hobby. In this connection it might be well to mention the existence of the numerous country-specialist philatelic groups both here and abroad, whose members collect the air mail stamps of the countries in which they are interested, and whose literature also covers, inter al, those air mail stamps. It seems that a mutually advantageous exchange both of literature and members could be set up with these groups, and we could thereby broaden our approach.
Now as to splinter groups, by which I mean little organizations devoted exclusively to one minute branch of our hobby such as first flight collectors, dedication collectors, rocket post collectors, Zeppelin post collectors, and so on. It is only natural and healthy for collectors of similar tastes to want to get together to pur-
P AGE 337
sue their common branch of the hobby mutually and this tendency should be encouraged by our Society, but only within the framework of the Society, because no one of these groups actually stands alone. Each of their fields crosses one or several other fields. As chapters of our Society, these groups might publish a newsletter or "scandal sheet" for personal communication between themselves, but their major work should be published in• our Journal because of its potential interest, not only to the members of the originating group but to many other members in the hobby at large.
This brings up the matter of publications, without which there would be no members and no Society. Because of this fact it behooves us to emphasize our publications and while I am not unaware of the fact that this may be very costlJ in terms of both time and money, it nevertheless is the keystone to our continued success. A:lthough we are already the leader in the field, to maintain that lead we should strive to publish more and more authoritative handbooks and catalogues. They need not necessarily be elaborately bound productions but they should be ours - it is painful to see work on any aspect of aerophilately published without our imprimatur.
Well, it has been very easy for me to stand here and tell you what I thought was wron_g and what might be done about it. But please bear in mind that I
am motivated only by my desire for our Society to prosper. The American Air Mail Society is, in point of fact, the first philatelic organization I ever joined, and although I now belong to some thirty or forty others, I would like nothing better than for it to grow into its destined" place as the leading international aerophilatelic organization.
JET FLIGHTS
• ARCTIC
• ANTARCTIC
• TRANS-POLAR
FLIGHTS
- At Moderate Prices -
ASK FOR A SELECTION TODAY
WALTER R. GUTHRIE P. o. BOX 390 A
TUCSON, ARIZONA
Wh:~!;ale V /O"MEZHDUNARODNAJA KNIGA'' D~~~;rs
offers you a large selection of mint and used Soviet postage stamps of old and new issues in sets and short sets as well as First-Day-Covers.
For Aero-Postal stationery collectors we have in stock a limited quantity of attractive FIRST FLIGHT AND SOUVENIR COVERS
First Jet Flight First Jet Flight First Jet Flight Moscow - London Moscow - Cairo Moscow -Cacheted cover 50c Cacheted cover 50c Phengjang (Korea)
& 75c imperf. Cacheted cover 50c
F.A.I. Conference In Moscow
souvenir cover with cachet
50c & 75c imperf. All covers are sold ori a wholesale basis, i.e. not less 50 covers of each kind per order. When the wholesale customer orders more than 100 covers of each kind we allow 103 discount. Cash with order or C.0.D. shi11ment All inquiries receive prompt attention. - Orders under $25.00 respectfully declined.
All items offered subject to prior sale.
V /O"MEZHDUNARODNAJA KNIGA" - USSR MOSCOW 200
PAGE 338 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
TIPS BY JULIUS By JULIUS WEISS
3417 E. 147th St., Cleveland, Ohio
Several readers have written about Spanish air-letter sheets. It appears that the new Sanabria Air Post catalogue has stimulated interest for this type of material. We feel that Spanish airmail stationery is just the item for the scientific-minded philatelist. The sheets contain many varieties of color, overlays, printing as well as paper. Sanabria explains in detail the known varieties; however, almost daily some new find is made somewhere around the world. We have been in contact with the major collectors of Spanish material. One of our collectors has promised to obtain air letter sheets for our readers at a price close to face. If interested, write us and enclose a stamp self-addressed envelope for the name of the source.
While on Spanish material we mention that Iberia Airlines went to Mexico on a first flight' on May 7, 1959: Our cover is postmarked "ler Vuelo MadridMexico POR IBERIA - May 7, 1959 -Madrid". Backstamp at Mexico is May 8.
BOAC Comet 4 Jetliner first flight between London and Singapore took place on June 1. Our dispatches are: Beyrouth, June 2; Bahrain, June 2; Singapore, June 4. There were other legs on this flight, however. All cachets use a blue and yellow special printed envelope showing a Comet jet in flight plus a globe showing the route of the flight.
Aerolineas Argentina's first flight to New York on May 25, 1959 was not the first day of use of the new 5 Pesos jet airliner adhesive issued by Argentina to commemorate the use of jets. May 16 was the "Dia de Emision".
This is a historical year for Avianca -Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia, the Colombian National Airways, founded on December 5, 1919 at Barranquilla, Colombia.
This line is the second oldest in the world, being topped by KLM ( founded October 7, 1919). Avianca today has a fleet of 78 modern aircraft which includes the latest Lockheed Super-G Constellations. It has an operating route of 32,250 miles.
SEPTEMBER, 1959
• The line has authority from the Colombian government to not only transport mail but to actually operate post offices, sell stamps, and perform the usual postal services which include registering mail and the sale of money orders. Avianca also makes delivery of mail to addressees through a corps of more than 300 letter carriers.
A subsidiarv of Avianca is Helical (Colombian - National Helicopters), which is a lifeline of Colombian's booming oil industry. Starting in 1956, today it has 9 helicopters in service. The whirlybirds set down and supply geologists to investigate oil fields, and supply needs of work gangs already busy in oil production work.
On this 40th year of Avianca we hope the line goes on and on with its fine service. Long may it continue its theme, "Don't ask us what's avaHable. Let us find out what's needed!"
Readers who obtained extra FDC of the 7 c airmail (Balloon) of Aug. 17, might try some stunts with them. Some flights may soon be made in various parts of the globe via balloon. It may be possible to use some of these FDC (on reverse side) to carry the mail of the various balloon flights to take place at future dates providing they are franked with stamps of the country where the flight takes place.
The Pan American first jet to New York from Caracas provided us with an unusual item. It appears a letter was not franked, therefore our cover has the official cancel, cachet (black) plus an official's signature. However, the cancel of this flight tells all about the flight and truly makes this item a bit of postal stationery as the cancel was placed instead wf the adhesive. This will be a rather unusual item. (Editor's note: see elsewhere in this issue detai1ls on how to obtain this cover. )
Our item to N.Y. was not backstampd. Pan Am hopes to have some of the 5pecial 300 covers they flew back stamped in New York. Nothing on this yet. The Argentina and Paraguay dispatches
PAGE 339
all received the backstamp at New York, N.Y. on July 22. Several readers desire to know where to obtain some of the elusive material via auction sale. Needless to say, watch APJ for ads of the latest auctions. If you're interested in a good source which sends catalogues quite often containing much elusive flight material, send us a stamped self-addressed envelope.
Qantas plans its Hight from "Down Under" to Britain by way of U.S. sometime in September. We wrote about this in a recent column. The flight in July went to the west coast of U.S.A. only.
Delta received its Douglas DC-8 jet late in July. This was the first time a U.S.-built commercial jet airliner had landed in Georgia. Sometime in September ,the line will inaugurate jet service. Keep your eyes open for Delta.
We would like to hear from readers who have odd or unusurul forms of collecting airmail items. Several have written us and we plan to tell a bit about their collecting methods in the near future. Share your experiences with others and in that way we can all learn and keep our hobby at its highest at all times.
Several members have asked us if we are a dealer and what we have for sale. We are not, as we are employed by General Motors (Fisher Body - Cleveland).
\1\7 e are an accredited writer for the hobby press and have written about short-wave radio, stamps and various, other hobbies. We enjoy philatelic writing as well as other forms of writing as a hobbv, and our collection is a file -just as ~ newspaper has a morgue (file).
Ye old sage is 37 years old, a bachelor who feels that freedom of the pres~ is man's most important freedom, whether in a newspaper or in a stamp column.
We hope this replies to the letters we get from members asking us to tell a bit about ourself. We do not enjoy telling about ye old sage, but we must make it known that we are not a stamp dealer, we have nothing to sell, but we are always ready to help a member of AAMS. Should there he a question pertaining to aerophilately, merely send a stamped addressed envelope and if we have the answer we will send it along pronto.
PAGE 340
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l 3-ring binder
only $·9.95 postpaid, new customers only. Subscribe to my New Issue Service or .order from my lists to be had against an Be stamped & addressed large envelope. Stationery lists 50c, deductible. Additional pages $4.50 per 50, postpaid. Catalogues supplied.
Box 186 LAVA
New York 59
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THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
OFFICIAL SECTION AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY
MONTHLY REPORT . From the Secretary Ruth T. Smith, Ferndale & Emerson Sts., Philadelphia 11, Pa.
September l, 1959 NEW MEMBERS
4635 Hust, William L., 227 25th St., Marysville, Calif. 4636 Russell, Thomas E., 1223 Wertz Ave., NW., Canton 8, Ohio 4637 Beamer, W. V., 5919 Elsinore St., Philadelphia 20, Pa. 4638 Fowler, Dorothy S. (Mrs.), 1310 W. Medlock, Phoenix, Arizona 4639 Headley, Ernest W., PO Box 75, Springfield 99, Ohio 4640 Tuthill, Hull E., Main Rd., Mattituck, L. I., N.Y. 4641 Gagg, Alfred, 100-40 - 205th St., Hollis 23, N.Y. 4642 Zirkelbach, Leslie, PO 6015 - Vailsburg Stat., Newark 6, N.J. 4643 Bedard, William L., Box 637, Detroit 31, Mich. 4644 Swanson, Carl L., Jr., 1621 Lewis Dr., Lakewood 7, Ohio 4645 Fuerst, Talbot A., PO Box 186, Long Island City 4, N.Y. 4646 Fladung, Edward, Box 381, Sierra Madre, Calif. 4647 Waddell, John L., Arenzville, Ill.
NEW APPLICATIONS DeWitt, Omar L., 1704 55th Pl., LaGrange, Ill. Engineer. Age: 53.
AM UC PC FF CF lD APS X Carah, John M. (Capt.), 146 E. Palfrey Dr., San Antonio 10, Tex.
By: H. Brandner USAF Pilot. Age: 37.
AU U20 VC FF CAM FAM OF lD X Woodard, Betty, 545 Superior South, Salem, Oregon.
By: H. D. Westbrooks Statesman-Journal, Newspaper
Advert. Age 48. By: Julius Weiss Pappenheimer, Ralph, 1047 Barry Lane, Cincinnati 29, Ohio. Retired. Age: 67.
By: Jos. L. Eisendrath, Jr. Dumont-Fouya, Andre, 38 Ave. G. Clemenceau, LaPerreaux, s/Marne, Seine, France.
Transportation. Age: 44. HC EL FF FAM RP OF By: M. S. Hirsch Abbott, Arnold W. (Dr.), 703 E. Harvard Pl., Ontario, Calif. Physician. Age: 41.
By: P. C. Nahl Harmer, Cyril H. C., 41 New Bond St., London Wl, England. Dealer. By: R. T. Smith Baylis, Charles P., 5542 East River Rd., Grand Island, N.Y. Student. Age: 16.
U20 UC FAM lD X By: H. Brandner Crumrine, Arthur M., lOlh W. College Ave., Apt. 4, Westerville, Ohio. Sales. Age: 35.
AM AU U20 UC PC HC FF GF CAM FAM OF Z lD By: R. T. Smith Hoffman, Richard A., 4 Veterans Ave., Worcester 3, Mass. Moldman. Age: 28.
By: J. Weiss Russell, C. D., PO Box 414, Bakersfield, Calif. Postal Clerk. Age: 40.
AM U20 UC FF CAM FAM lD X By: J. Weiss McGaw, Stephen H., 3806 Estes Ave., Nashville 12, Tenn. Advert. Mgr. Age: 42.
AM AU U20 UC PC HC CAM FAM lD X By: G. D. Kingdom
RE-INSTATEMENTS 1405 Dorsett, E. Lee (Dr.), 120 Orchard Ave., Webster Groves 19, Mo. AM AU HC FF X
NEW LIFE MEMBER LM #95 Higgs, Suzanne, Nassau, Bahamas LM #96 Costales, Eugene N., Garden City, N.Y. LM #97 Harmer, H. R., London, England
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Sharp, Harriet S., PO Box 4396, Tucson, Arizona Ellis, Charles J., Sunrise Hill. Charles City, Iowa Wasmer, Herman, 548 Addison St., Chicago 13, Ill. Cullen, Merle B., 2505 West Blvd., Duluth, Minn. Borcher, Fred W., 1326 Neilson St., Berkeley 2, Calif. Bykovetz, Dmytro,. Jr., PO Box 2913, Philadelphia 22, Pa. Detwiler, Jack R., 4244 Mt. Herbert Ave., San Diego 17, Calif. Kostenko, Barry M., 6772 N. Oxford Ave., Chicago 31, Ill. Wiggin, Mabel Rodgers, 6 Compo Hill Ave., Westport, Conn. Hollister, Frank C., PO Box 233, Camp Hill, Pa.
SEPTEMBER, 1959 PAGE 341
NOTES FROM DOWN UNDER
New Zealand - Tasman Air Link, Auckland to Brisbane
By Teal Cover are now at hand carried by
New Zealand's international airline, TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited), on the new Trans-Tasman link Auckland to Brisbane. Thus, New Zealanders are offered the opportunity of wintering at Australia's "Surfer ' Parndise" a well as Fiji and the Pacific Islands.
The new service, to nrn once a week for three months, commenced on July 4. Philatelists were disappointed that a special cachet was not provided - the best the Post Office would do was to backstamp on arrival.
Shown here is a cover carried on the return Brisbane-Auckland flight and a photo of Mr. J. S. Webb, acting-manager of the postal branch Auckland, handing _, over the special mail to Captain D. W. Keesing, commander of the DC 6 that made the inaugural flight.
-J. S. Langabeer
PAGE 342
AIR POST ISSUES
Are Frequently Offered
IN OUR AUCTION SALES
Our OCTOBER 19 - 21 sale include· one complete session
of Air Post
Send your request now for the for the fully illustrated, accurately described auction cata logue: it is gntis.
H. R. HARMER, INC. The Caspary Auctioneers
6 West 48th St., New York 36, N.Y.
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
RECENT SOVIET JET COVER
Illustrated is a cover flown March 3, 1959, from Moscow to Phenjan, Korea, by the first jet flight by Russian plane betwen those points. The cachet illustrates the TU-104, well known Russian turbo jetliner. The colorful stamp shows esta-blished mail routes from Moscow. There is a cachet on the reverse side applied at Korea. This cover was sent us by "Mezhdunarodnaja Kniga", the Soviet philatelic agency, whose advertisement appears elsewhere in this issue. We believe it's the first time they have advertised in an American publication - at least we've seen no other - and we're glad they chose the Airpost Journal.
Airport Dedications By WILLIAM T. WYNN
13537 Rockdale, Defroi:t 23, Mich.
No dedication is planned at Salem, Mo. or Reynoldsburg, Ohio. - First Flight covers from Anniston, Ala. on Dec. l, 1958 are not dedications. -Washington, Pa. held dedication of its County Airport on May 9, ibut NO covers are known. - Yoakum, Texas held dedication on May 17 hut again no known covers. - Sheldon, Iowa will dedicate on Sept. 9, Chamber of Com-
SEP'DEMBER, 1959
merce will hold covers. - The following is a list of 1959 airport dedications as we have it as of now, with the number of covers reported to have been mailed on each event. 1-31- Twent· ·-nine Palms, Calif. ( 6) 3-17- Seguin, Texas. ( 18) 4-18- Marietta, Ga. (10 ) .5-23- Oakley, Idaho ( 62 ) 5-30- Olean·, N. Y. ( SO) 6-14- Sturtevant, Wis. 6-28- Sac City, Iowa ( 78)
Covers are reported from Bodega Bay, Calif. July-3; Allison, Iowa, July-5; Eagle Pass, Texas, July-5, but no further information on these three as yet.
Too few covers are being mailed on these events, due to the fact that we are not getting enough advance publicity for collectors to cover the events. We feel sure that ~ large number of covers were mailed on Allison, Iowa artd expect the same for Fond du Lac, Wis. which was clue on July 19th.
Covers for the Sturtevant, Wis. dedication of Jun e 14 were mailed on Monday A. M. June 15, as the post office was closed on Sunday. Will you hold covers for 'airport dedications in your section and ma!il them out for the readers of this column? If so kindly send the editor of this column your name and address so that it may be listed.
PAGE 343
ARGENTINE AIRLINES INAUGURATE JET SERVICE By ERNEST A. KEHR
Buenos Aires: (Special to the Airpost Journal)
Fifteen short hours after the Comet 4 DeHavilland jet plane whizzed off the Idlewild International Airport, in New York, we set down at Ezeiza, slicing travel time between the two largest cities of the Western Hemisphere exactly in half. The last time the writer made the flight, in 1958, it took five stops and thirtv-two hours.
The flight - the inaugural of a second weekly schedule - set a new record in air transportation since it represents the first pure-jet aircraft to be used on an international ~ervice between countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Actually the inaugural of jet service took place on May 29, when a once-aweek schedule was introduced by Aerolineas Argintina. As soon as the equipment was available the second flight was introduced, leaving New York on July 12.
The service makes fuel stops at Piarco Airport in Trinidad, and at Galeao, in Rio de .Janeiro.
The inaugural marks another milestone in the history of the Argentine Airlines. The history of air transport ( and especially, airmail) of the Argentine is studded with pioneering records. The important nations of South America long have been an important source of products - particularly foodstuffs and raw materials - which European nations desperately needed. Long before the United States envisioned it as a worthwhile market, European nations competed with each other with more than a littfo keenness. Almost as soon as aircraft had been developed for long-distance hops, Europeans were sending pioneers from Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and England to survey and establish early routes. It is interesting to note that mail was being flown between Argentina and the continent years before the first service headed towards North America.
Aeropostal was founded as a government line in 1931, for the shipment of mail from Buenos Aires to the outlying cities to bring faster, more efficient post-
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al service to natives who formerly had to rely on rail, river or coach transport.
European airlines served the routes over the South Atlantic. The Graf Zeppelin, for example, was making regular flights from Friederichshafen in the early thirties on split-second schedules that were as dependable as a German railroad.
In the meantime a few small, privately-owned airlines were esta:blished for service between cities not linked by Aeropostal. By 1950 the networks were so extensive (and in some instances duplicating) that the Government unified all of them to form Aerolineas Argentina. That same year, AA decided to enter the ~nternational market. For almost two years, its DC-6' s were flying from Buenos Aires to New York on a training basis, carrying only diplomatic mail and a few government officials.
By March, 1950, the line was ready for regularly scheduled flights. One route extended from BA to London, with a leg connecting Rome and Lisbon; the other was BA to NY, via Montevideo, Rio, Belem and Trinidad. ·The service is of particular importance siIJCe it now brings mails to the United States in less than half the time formerly required. Mail ~ervice never was good from Argentina or Brazil, and it still is less than fast. AA's route, which goes through Rio, now enables the Brazilians to ship mail to the United States by jet. (The Pan Am route opened on July 21 by-passes Rio, stopping in Paraguay instead.)
To mark the occasion, Argentinian postal officials authorized the release of a special 5 peso, olive and black stamp which depicts the Comet 4 and a Mercator projection of the world map to show its international routes. It is the world's first postage stamp to actually depict a jet plane used to carry air mail. While prepared as a commemorative, the Ministry of Communications told the writer that "this stamp has already proven to be so popuJar that it will be retained as a regular airmail to frank post cards and letters weighing less than 5 grams and addressed to the U.S.".
THE AIRPOST JOURNAL
THE PHILATELIC STORY OF FLIGHT By Frank R. Gracey
No. 4 One of the strange myths of flying concerns Simon the Magician founder of an
anti-Christian sect in the first century in the time of Nero. To prove that there was nothing supernatural about the ascension, the story goes, he made a fiery charict, in which he flew several times over Rome.
Witches and sorcerers, according to popular tales, could always travel through the air. It is said that about 790 A. D., wishing to see if this really could happen, some prominent men living near Mount Pilatus, Switzerland, forced some of their poor neighbors .to go up in a sort of balloon.
The frightened wretches are said to have come down in the town of Lyons, where they were surrounded by a frenzied mob. The judges condemned them to be burned, but Bishop Agobard, after questioning them, decided that they had no evil intentions and allowed them to escape.
AAMS MEMBER ACTIVE IN NEW AIR MAIL PILOT ORGANIZATION
Captain E. C. Edelmann, AAMS, and one of the crack Eastern Air Line pilots flying out of Miami, Florida has been active in the organizing of a unique new group, "The Fraternal Order of Air Mail Pilots", a national organization composed of nilots who have carried air mail for at lea;t one year.
The Miami Lodge of the Order has approximately sixty members and one of the objectives of the group is to provide a well rounded library devoted to the historv of aviation and the aeronautical sciences.
Captain Edelmann is a native of St. Louis and was first attracted to aviation by frequent visits to Lambert Airport when Robertson Aircraft Corp., and air mail pilot Charles Lindbergh were flying the mails over CAM #2, St. Louis to Chicago. Captain Ed has also built up
SEPTEMBER, 1959
a fine collection of CAM covers in recent years and has many flown mementos of Eastern' s routes.
AAMS members flying to Miami from mid-west cities should look for Captain Edelmann's name plate on the plane crew list. He is a good salesman of aviaLon and air mail!
Addres of the Fraternal Order of Air Mail Pilots is PO Box 48-411 Miami Airp:Jrt ( 48) Florida.
HERE'S JOHN CAPALDI AGAIN
Our old friend, John J. Capaldi, sends us, among other things, several samples of attractive airmail envelopes in standard size. He'll be glad to send some 'Nith his compliments to any A.A.M.S. member who sends hirna LARGE stamped self-addressed envelope. "Friendship through Stamps" has been his motto for a long, long time. It certainly works in his case! His address is 6261 Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia 41, Pa.
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