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~·-~ AIRPOST · JOURNAL ~I

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XXllI N 0.

11 e NORFOLK'S HISTORIC MACE Symbol of Civic Authority, Peace and

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Good Will. ~

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You can't collect o{ir Stamps

without SAN AB RIA THE AIRPOST CATALOG

1953 Edition

• Fully Revised - Accurate - Concise - Complete ...

This most useful and unique publication will

be ready for delivery September, 1952.

$4.75 post free

• NICOLAS SANABRIA Co., lne.

A. MEDAWAR, President

521 FIFTH A VENUE NEW YORK 17, N.. Y..

A. A. M. S. Meets At Norfolk, Va.

For Annual Convention Gathering •

FULL PROGRAM SCHEDULED FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

• A £:=r~s 0~:.:r::~~:n:g~nit~ coNve.NrioN'''cti;\iR'MAN

nual Convention of the American Air , •••••-,,-••••••_,,,,,,_,,_,,.,,, .. Mail Society, when delegates convene in Norfolk, Va., on August 29 for the three day session. In addition to the usual business sessions and annual ban­quet, this particular gathering will in­clude a trip to Kitty Hawk, N. C., birth place of aviation, and a tour .of U. S. -Navy aviation and -other facilities in the Norfolk area. A special get-together and frolic, an invitational exhibit of selected portions of world renowned airpost col­lections, luncheon aboard a U. S. Navy aircraft carrier, or other capital ship, a boat tour of Hampton Roads and the Elizabeth River area, and a special pre­sentation ceremony at NATO Sea Head- ' quarters are some of the other features of what bids fair to be a week-end busily packed with interesting events!

To add to the interest of the occasion the United Nations Postal Administration has announced that Friday, August 29, the first day of the convention has been chosen as the release date for the first air letter sheet to be issued by the United

7-' '.' __ .. . .. , , , ~ , -·- 1

1. .. ·:··i

Nations. This sheet, of course, will be • Rear Admiral Jesse G. Johnson. released in New York at United Nations · United Stales Navy (Ret'd). President, headquarters, but exampl~s of same will American Air Mail Society. be flown promptly to Norfolk and at 8:00 P. M. on August 29 a presentation folder containing the first such sheets will be formally presented to Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, USN Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, at his NA TO headquarters, located at the Nav­al Base at Norfolk. For the convenience of those attending ·the convention, the Am~can Air Mail Society will purchase a quantity of the new air letters and make them available to delegates to the

convention at the Monticello Hotel Head­quarters in Norfolk.

The United States Post Office Depart­ment will operate a special postal station at the convention headquarters in the Monticello Hotel and this station will be provided with a distinctive cancellation which will be used on all mail dispatch­ed during the tluee days of the convE'.n-

( Continued on next page )

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY

Entered as second-class matter, February 10, 1932, at the p ost office a t Albion, Pa. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Published monthly.

AUGUST. 1952 - VOL. XXIII. NO. 11 - ISSUE NO. 268 - 25c PER COPY

346

A. A. M. S .. CONVENTION (Continued from precedln' page)

• tion. Hon Osborne A. Pearson11 Assistant Posbnaster General, has arranged for a large selection of recent commemora­tives and other stamps on sale at the Philatelic Agency in Washington to be on sale at this special convention postal station.

Bernard Davis11 Director of the Na­tional Philatelic Museum in Philadephia and a Director of the American Air Mail Society, is arranging the special invita­tional exhibit of airpost material which will be on display in the Lee Room of the Monticello Hotel. This exhibition will be officially open at 8:30 P. M. on Friday, August 29, and following the opening there will be an informal get­together and frolic with entertainment and refreshments for those attending. The convention postal station will be open to the public, commencing ~t 10:00 A. M. on Friday, August 29, and at 3:00 P. M. the delegates will journey to NATO headquarters for the presentation to Admiral McCormick. Upon the return to the Hotel the first business session will be held, startiiig · at 4:30 P. M.

At 10:00 A_ M. 6n Saturday, August 30, viSitors to the convention will em­bark for the boat trip around the har­bor and Hampton Roads and will be the guests of. the Norfolk Port Authority. This trip will be followed by luncheon at the Naval Base and at 3:30 P. M. a short donation auction will be the order

. of the day at the Monticello Hotel. Some 68 lots of fine airpost material, all do­nated by members of the Society for the benefit of. its Publication Fund, will be auctioned at that time. Immediately fol­lowing the auction the second and final · business session of the Society will take place.

The Annual Banquet of the Society, which will be held in the Monroe Room of the Monticello Hotel at 7:45 p. m., will be preceded by a reception tender­ed to the Mayor of Norfolk and other honored guests. This affair will be un­. der the direction of the Norfolk Phila­telic Society which is acting as local host

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

for the convention. The Toastmaster at the Annual Banquet will be President Jesse G. Johnson of the American Air Mail Society who is a distinguished citi­zen of Norfolk. Principal speakers on this occasion will be Hon. Osborne A. Pearson, Assistant Posbnaster General of the United States, Bertil A. Renborg, Chief of the United Nations Postal Ad­ministration, Major Al Williams11 noted racing pilot and aviation ace, Hon. W. F. Duckworth, Mayor of the City of Nor­folk, Aubrey G. Graham, Norfolk Post- · master and other distinguished guests.

The trip to Kitty Hawk on Sunday, August 31, will be taken in privately owned automobiles which will depart at I: 00 P. M. for the 80 mile trip to the famous sands from which the first heav­ier than air flight in the world was ac­complished some 49 years ago by the Wright Brothers. Assembled in front of the Wright Brothers' monument the group will hear a few words appropriate

HONORARY . CHAIRMAN

• Carter Glass. Jr .. Past President. American Philatelic Society and

Distinguished PhilaJelist.

AUGUST, 1952

HONORED GUEST

• Hon. Osborne A. Pearson, Assisianl Postmaster General, United

Stales of America.

to the occasion from George D. KSngdOm, prominent attorney of Conneaut, Ohio, and a past president of the Society. For those aesiring to remain well into the evening, arrangements have been made to view the final 1952 performance of the famous symphonic opera, "The Lost Colony, which is presented throughout the summer on Roanoke Island, N. C., 1'he site of one of the earliest settlements on the North American Continent.

While the convention officially ends on Sunday, a large number of delegates are planning to remain in the Norfolk Area for Labor Day, Monday, September 1. For those staying over, the Committee has arranged a special trip to Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg, Va., all interesting and historic spots in the Tide­water portion · of Virginia. A more de­tailed progran;i of the convention events will be found printed in the box which accompanies this article. Carler Glasa, Jr. of Lynchburg, Va., a former President of

347

the American Philatelic Society and prominent collector of airposts, is serv­ing as Honorary Chairman of the Con­vention Committee. President Jesse G. 1 ohnson of the Society is the Active Chairman and he is assisted by Lt. Den­wood Kelly, USN who is a prominent

' philatelist on active duty with the U. S. Navy and presently assigned to Norfolk. Other members of the Local Committee include ]. W. Dennis, Jr., President of the Norfolk Philatelic Society, Chas. Col­lier, A. W. Waite, Dr. Southgate Leigh, William Bayliss and Joseph Bobbitt, Jr.

KIJTY HAWK SPEAKER

• Past President Geo. D. Kingdom

1952 - Foreign Used Airmails -1952

Now available for 50c which also Includes all supplements for 1952 and ts deductible

from the first order for f5.08.

GEORGE HERZOG, INC. 68 NASSAU ST. N. ·Y. C.

The Philatelic Cruise Of The U.S.S. ''Midway''

\~V H!~er:~ A~em~:~z o~oci~; were recently ordered to the aircraft carrier MIDWAY for several weeks duty afloat it was only natural to expect a new source for Navy flown covers. Before leaving the Norfolk area, June 20th, 1952, AAMS members LCDR. Robert Murch, USN and Lt. Clyde Morrison, USN had the privilege of seeing the col­lection of Admiral Jesse G. Johnson, one of the foremost collectors of Naval flown mail. With this incentive, plus a cooper­ative mail clerk on the USS MIDWAY,· little time was lost in getting some sou­venir mail airborne by the pilots attach­ed to the Midway's air groups. Midship­men members of the Naval Academy Stamp Club as well as the pilots them­selves were intrigued with the possibili­ties of souvenir mail and many interest­ing flights from the deck of the Midway occurred.

Souvenir mail was flown on the fol­lowing flights:

June 27, 1952, Ship to Shore Fli(ht, From USS MIDWAY at sea, to At­

lantic City, N. J. Mail carried in TBM Avenger Plane, with Midway cachet and Atlantic City postmark.

June 27, 1952, Ship to Ship Flight. Mail carried in HUP type Helicopter

from deck of MIDWAY and retm:n to MIDWAY during plane landing exer­cises. Mail cancelled USS MIDWAY, printed ship's cachet, and pilot auto­graphed.

June 27, 1952, Ship to Ship via Jet Air Mail.

Mail was flown in an F2H Banshee Jet Fighter Plane which took off and landed on the MIDWAY. Print­ed Jet Air Mail Cachet, postmarked iUSS MIDWA.Y, autographed bj.r jet pilot LCDR. PAUL DURAND, USN.

July 1, 1952. Ship to Shore. USS MIDWAY dispatched mail to

Naval Air Station, Quonset, R. I. Po~t­marked USS MIDWAY, 12 am. July 1.

July 7, 1952. Ship to Ship Flight. Planes from the Air Group took off

from the MIDWAY and carried out a simulated air attack strike on the RCAF Air-Drome, Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Mail was carried in the attack planes and is identified by printed cachet indicating type· of plane carrying

• mail, either Banshee Jet Fighter, AD Skyraider attack bomber, or FSF Bear­cat attack fighter.

July 10, 1952. Jet Air Mail, Ship to Shore.

Mail carried in Banshee Jet plane catapulted from deck of . MlD­Way off Virginia Capes at 10 A. M. and postmarked Virginia Beach, Va., 10:30 A. M., July 10. Jet Air Mail cachet markin(.

From 20 to 50 covers were carried on each flight, all with distinctive markings. A percentage of the mail was addressed to the pilots' families and friends so the philatelic supply is small. Members of the Annapolis Stamp Club and Midship­man Stamp Club accounted for a goodly share of the sendings.

• SPECIAL A. A. M. S. POSTAL

STATION COVERS AVAILABLE

• As has been previously announced, readers are reminded that the United States Post Office Department will operate a special Postal Station in the Monticello Hotel in connection with the Convention of the American Air Mail Society, August 29-31. In addition to the specially flown U. N. Covers offered in last month's JOURNAL, the Society will also furnish three specially cacheted 6c

. U. S. Air Mail Envelopes, each cancelled on a different day of the Convention with the special Convention Station Can­cellation, for the sum of 50c. Orders should be addressed to Adm. Jesse G. Johnson, USN, Cardinal Point, Norfolk 8, Va. A few extra sets will be prepared for those belatedly receiving this word and in this case orders should be sent to John J. Smith, Secretary-Treasurer, Fern­dale & Emerson Sts., Philadelphia 11, Pa.

Program

AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY 29th Annual Convention

MONTICELLO HOTEL, NORFOLK, VA. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29

9:30 A. M. Registration, Monticello Hotel. 10:00 A. M. Opening of Convention Postal Station, Monticello Hotel.

3:00 P. M. Presentation of· First United Nations Air Letter Sheet to Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, USN, Supreme Allied Com­mander, Atlantic at NATO Headquarters, Naval Base, Norfolk.

1:30 P. M. First Business Session, Monticello Hotel . .3:30 P. M. Official Opening, Special Invitation Exhibit of Airpost

Material, Lee Room, Monticello Hotel. 9:00 P •. M. Informal Get-together and Frolic, with Entertainment and

Refreshments, Monticello Hotel.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 9:00 A. M. Registration Continues, Monticello Hotel.

10:00 A. M. Boat Trip around Hampton Roads and Harbor Area, as Guests of Norfolk Port Authority.

12:30 P. M. Luncheon Aboard ,;;; U. S. Aircraft Carrier or Other Capital Ship, Naval Base, Norfolk.

3:30 P. M. Official Convention Auction. Sixty-Eight Lots of Donated Material will be sold, Monticello Hotel.

4:15 P. M. Final Business Session, Monticello Hotel. 7:00 P. M. Reception to Mayor of Norfolk and Other Distinguished

- Guests, Hosts, Norfolk Philatelic Society, Monticello Hotel. 7:45 P. M. Annual Banquet, President Jesse G. Johnson, Toastmaster,

Monroe Room, Monticello Hotel.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31

1:00 P. M. Depart for Kitty Hawk in Privately Owned Automobiles. 4:00 P. M. At Kitty Hawk Monument. Address by George D. King­

dom, Past President, A. A. M. S. 8:00 P. M. Symphonic Drama 'The Lost Colony', Roanoke Island, N. C.

Note: The Convention Officially Closes on Sunday, August 31, but for those Desiring to Stay Over for Another Day the Following Program ls Available:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

9:30 A. M. Depart for Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg, Va., in Privately Owned Automobiles.

1:00 P. M. Luncheon, Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg. 2:30 P. M. Sightseeing in Williamsburg. 6:30 P. M. Dinner, Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg. 8:00 P. M. Symphonic Drama, "The Common Glory", Lake Matoaka

Amphitheatre, Williamsburg.·

1022 W. Ross Si., Lancaster, Pa •

• T HE Civil Aeronautics Board hasoriginally served by American Overseas

at long last settled the dispute Airlines which was acquired by Pan between Trans-\Vorld Airways and Pan American Airways, hence Pan American American World Airways, and under an believes T. W. A. has little right to be order approved by President Truman and operating to these points. Under the new signed the latter part of June, new certi- modifications, T. W. A. may serve the ficates have been approved effective July Azores on flights between the United 1, 1952. It has been the contention of States and Portugal and Rome may be both airlines that each was infringing on served as an intermediate point on routes the other's right of domain. In brief, between Cairo and Tunis. A new stop neither airline wanted the other in its granted to T. W. A. in the near future backyarc;{. or in that part of the world will be Kuwait, a sheikdom at the head which if considered its own, by reason of the Persian Gulf, on the Route be­of having pioneered service to that par- tween Iraq and Saudi Arabia. ticular area. Pan American Airways was granted

The new certificates, with minor mod- the right to serve Casablanca as an in­ifications, are the same as the old ones termediate stop between the Azores as authorized by the Civil Aeronautics (Lisbon) and Dakar, French West Afri­Board when it re-arranged the trans- ca. This will be permitted however, only Atlantic pattern late in 1950. The cer- until the expiration of P. A. A.'s South tificates of both lines in the European Atlantic certificate in August, 1953. Pan and Middle East areas are to extend to American also received authorization to July 4, 1959. Pan American holds per- eliminate Basra, Iraq but will serve Bag­manent certificates to fly what we know dad insb.~ad, "60 days after the conclus­as the original F. A. M. 18 and on the ion of arrangements with the government re-arrangement of this route it was of Iraq, which are satisfactory to that granted temporary certificates to fly government and the government of the into Paris and Rome. Of course, T. W. A. United States, for service to Bagdad." wanted P. A. A. eliminated from this Washington and Baltimore were elim­part of the world and at the same time inated as co-terminals of any route ac­wished to extend its F. A. M. 27 to cording to the decision. Chicago, Detroit, Tokyo. The original plan was for T. W. Boston and Philadelphia were continued. A. to meet Northwest Airlines in Shang- The decision on the application of P. hai, China but due to more recent de- A. A. for renewal of its certificate east velopments, Tokyo appears to be the of Calcutta together with the decision more desirable port of call. T. W. A. T w A' li f l f now terminates its F. A. M. 27 at Born- on · · · s app ·cation or renewa o

its authorization east of Bombay, was de-bay, India. ferred until action in the forthcoming

T. W. A.'s certificate to fly to Paris Pacific case had been completed. The and Rome has been made permanent Board also decided tha,t the public con-while on its service to London and d venience an necessity did not require Frankfort, Germany, it continues to fly on a temporary basis. These points were (Continued on page 378)

Welcome <To Vlorfolk! The Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk welcomes you as Delegates and

friends of the American Air Mail Society to Norfolk, Virginia for your Twenty-Ninth Annual Convention. Here you will find every­thing you desire. Our Shops are ready to serve you, our City is doing everything possible to make your stay a happy and unforgettable one. We assure you that we have just completed a new bridge across the Chesepeake Bay to make it easier for you to motor down here and another one across the York River, both to replace older ferry service. Then you are invited to inspect our new Elizabeth River Tunnel which has just been completed; all of these were rush­ed to completion when we heard that your Society would hold its Convention here. The next time you hold your Convention here we are sure we will have another Tunnel and Causeway across Hampton Roads to Newport News; this will end our long dependance on Boat Service and make it easier for you to travel in all directions.

Be sure to visit our new, modern Airport; it is located right at our Municipal Gardens. We are sorry that the azaleas are not blooming now for you to see, <because we think it the most beautiful spectacle in the spring anywhere in the United States. We hope you like our large and deep harbor which serves the Eastern half of the United States in all direetions abroad. Located at the center point of the East Coast it is equipped to handle more and more business as our im­ports and exports increase through the years.

After your Convention is over remain here and spend a few days fishing. There is no limit to how many you can catch. We start with a row boat out at Ocean View through a deep sea boat in the ocean off Virginia Beach to Gulf Stream Fishing down at Oregon Inlet. We guarantee that you will catch fish at any one of these fine Fishing Grounds. Then too, visit our Beaches for your enjoyment. They are unexcelled anywhere in the United States.

Our Churches also welcome you on Sunday before you go to Kitty Hawk.

Thanks for making Norfolk your Convention City and take home with you our very best wishes.

This Advertisement Paid For By Individual Members Of The

Uosmopolitan Ulnb of Norfolk, Virginia

Air Mail Issues of the United Nations

• by JAMES H. BAXTER

Research Chairman, National Philatelic Museum

• EDITOR'S NOTE:

It is a real privilege to bl! able to bring this important article to the readers of THE AIRPOST JOURNAL. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time this data has appeared in a philatelic publication. We are grateful to the distinguished Author, to Bertil A. Renborg, Chief of the Postal Administra­tion of the UNITED NATIONS, and to Bernard Davis, Director of the National Philatelic Museum, Philadelphia, for makin~ this possible. -L. B. G •

• <O~N November 16, 1950, the Gener-

" al assembly authorized the es­tablishment of the United Nations Postal Administration. Bertil A. Renborg sub­sequently was appointed chief of the ad­ministration and machinery was put in motion which culminated on March 28, 1951, in a postal agreement between the United States government and the United Nations.

Since preliminary arrangements had been completed several months before the postal agreement was signed, the United Nations Postal Administration be­gan work at once on the numerous prob­lems involved in issning postage stamps and it began to select appropriate de­signs for the first issue.

A four-page list of "possible phrases for use in developing designs for U. N. stamps" had been published in January, 1951; U. N. artists had been instructed to prepare designs; and an open invita­tion had been extended to artists, throughout the world, to submit entries. As a result, designs were presented by a number of independent artists, by de­signers on the staffs of engraving firms, and by members of the Presentation Unit of the United Nations Secretariat.

Design Committee

The Secretariat Committee, which was responsible for examining appropriate designs, chose a total of thirty-six from the numerous designs presented. These were submitted to a special Secretary

General's Committee. This committee, which was appointed

to consider and to give final approval to stamp designs, consisted of Shamaldhoree Lall, Assistant Secretary-General for Con­ference and General Services .in the U. N. Secretariat; Ruben Dussaut, Counsel­or of the Argentine Delegation to the U. N.; Jean Carlu, a French artist now liv­ing in New York City; and Bernard Davis, Director of the National Phi'latelio Museum in Philadelphia. Robert E. Fellers, Assistant Executive Director of the U. S. Post Office Department's Bur­eau of Finance, was appointed to assist the committee in an advisory capacity. Byron Price, and Benjamin Cohen, As­sistant Secretaries-General for Adminis­trative service and Public Information, participated in the Committee's work. Bertil A. Renborg, Chief of the U. N. Postal Administration, acted as secretary.

At the first meeting of the design com­mittee, held on April 11, 1951, it was decided that the five official languages of the United Nations (Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) should appear on as many stamps as feasible. At a final meeting, held on May 4, 1951, six of the thirty-six submitted designs were accepted for ordinary postage and two were approved for air mail issues.

Airpost Designs Chosen

The two airpost designs are in hori­zontal format and illustrate the idea of the United Nations combined with a

AUGUST, 1952

AUTHOR

• JAMES H. BAXTER

Mr. Baxter has Received World-Wide Acclaim and Recognition for his Work "Printing Postage Stamps by Line-Engrav­ing". He Prepared and Annotated all of the Material Relating to Postal Issues of the United Nations, Recently on Display in the National Philatelic Museum, in

Philadelphia.

concept of flight. Both designs are the work of staff artists of the Presentation Unit of the United Nations Secretariat. The first design by 'Ole Hamann, a Dan­ish artist, depicts an airplane superim­posed upon a gull. This design appears on the 6c and lOc denominations. In the second design Olav Mathiesen, also a Dane, uses a flight of swallows towards the U. N. emblem as a motif. This fatter design appears on the 15c and 25c stamps. Both designs were prepared with the understanding that they would be reproduced as bi-colored stamps.

In a contract with Thomas De La Rue & Co., Ltd., London, England, completed June 8, 1951, two million of the 6c and

353

one million of each of the lOc, 15c and 25c denominations were ordered. The quantities in this initial order were bas­ed upon the estimated requirements for postal and philatelic purposes for approx­imately two years. The contract called for delivery of the air mail stamps by October 15, 1951. Among the points cov­ered by the contract were the stipula­tions that the air mail stamps should be 27 mm. high by 40 mm. wide, from per­foration to perforation; that they_ should be printed by steel engraving; and that -they should be delivered in panes of 50 , subjects.

Approved Drawings

Numerous preliminary . sketches by both artists were prepared for study. From these, the approved designs event­ually developed. · These latter designs were sent to the printers.

The Plane and Gull design, which ap­pears on th:e 6c and I Oc stamps was pre­sented in two drawings - one for layout and inscriptions, and the other for color.

Difficulty developed as the work pro­gressed and it was necessary for the printer to recommend that both airpost designs should be printed in a single color and that the two-tone effect should be obtained by ruling. This recommen­dation was accepted by the United Na­tions Postal Administration.

At this stage, it also was decided that the lettering in the frames should appear in white Roman characters instead of square letters as indicated on the ap­proved drawings.

A further difficulty arose with the Swallows and Emblem design and it was decided to alter the , accepted drawing by changing the lighting behind the swallows and to add a curved dark seg­ment ( representing the earth) behind the lower part of the emblem.

Models Prepared

Considerable time was required in preparing models incorporating these changes, and in obtaining approval of the altered designs. In fact, so much time was required that it became necessary to speed up production and the original delivery date was less than two months away when engraving actually com­menced.

(Continued on next page)

354 • THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

U. N. STAMPS (Continued from preceding page)

• Preliminary Studies and Models for the Two D~slgns of the Air Mail Stamps. At left, ls Destg"n by Ole Hamann, Adopted with Modlf1catlons for the 6c and lOc Values and. on the right ls the Original Model for the Swallows and Emblem Design Utilized

. . . for the 15c and 25c Values.

Engraving Dies

. B. S. Cresser, of Thomas De La Rue & Company, began to engrave the 6c and lOc air mail stamps on August 20, 1951; several days later, on August 27, A. B. Crossett also of the De La Rue firm, be­gan wo;k on the 15c and 25c denomina­tions.

Beveled steel die blanks, with a pol­ished mirror-like surface were requisition­ed from the plate vault. These die blanks measured about two by three inches.

Cresser did considerable hand work on the 6c and lOc Plane and Gull design.

First, a rectangle, approximately 24 mm. high and 37 mm. wide (the exact size of the stamp design ) was ruled on the die. This was followed by a rectangle indicating the inner line of the border. The outline of the plane and the parts of the Gull's body within the confines of the plane were completed first.

Cresser then outlined the letters and characters in the five ·language frame. The dark background, surrounding the lettering and the plane, was ruled-in and then etched with acid. The figures of value, the lettering to the left and the right side· of the plane's tail, and the out­line of t;he tips of the gull's wings were then engraved in the die.

The two dies were then heated and stick sealing wax was rubbed over their surface filling all the lines. The two sur­faces were leveled and polished with stick charcoal. After cleansing, with a suitable solvent, an etching ground was laid upon the entire upper surface and the die was carefully fastened, with sev-

eral pieces of wax, upon a ruling mach­ine table.

Ruling Machine Work

When the angle at which a system of lines was to be ruled, and also the spac­ing between lines (to obtain the desired shading effect) had been determined by the engraver, a diamond etching point (a part of the machine) was manually pushed across the face of the die. As a consequence, a line was scratched through the etching ground, exposing the metal beneath. The ruling machine was readjusted and a second line, a pre­determined distance from the first, was scratched in the ground. Ruling was continued until the lines in the same direction were completed. A large photo­graphic print of a die proof of the in­cor:xiplete de~ign was used as a ruling gm de.

Some engravers prefer to etch each system of lines running in the same di­rection before cross ruling. It is not known which procedure Cresser preferr­ed; but if he etched each system of lines independently, it was necessary for him,, after the first etching operation, to re­move the ground from the die with a solvent to heat the die, to fill all the lines with stick sealing wax, to level and polish as before, and to apply a new ground before ruling the cross lines.

In either case, the parts of the ruled lines that were not to he etched were meticulously painted-out with stop-out wax, applied with a fine brush. Acid was

· applied to the smface '.' the die and the

AUGUST, 1952 .355

e The lOc Air Mail Stamp Die on a Ruling Machine. The Engraver ts Working on the Lower Left Corner of the Design Ruling Lines from the Left Side to the Bottom.

lines were carefully etched to the desir­ed depth.

The engraving on the 6c and lOc dies was completed on September 25.

Because of the nature of the Swallows and Emblem design, and the shortness of time in which to engrave both the 15c and 25c air mail stamps, the printer de­cided to resort to etching wherever pos­sible instead . of hand cutting with an en-graving tool. ·

Pantograph Machine Used

The pantograph was used to transfer the design from a model, several times stamp size, to the steel dies.

For this purpose a black ink tracing on a sensitized zinc plate. On this large was turned over and used a photographic negative to produce a print of the design oq.· a sensitiz~d zinc plate. On this large template the legends read from right to left. This zinc plate was etched and re­touched with an engraving tool and then was used as a template· in a pantograph machine.

To prepare ·the die for reception of the design, the steel die blank was heat- · ed and its surface was rubbed with ball ·

ground carefully wrapped in a small , square of silk with the comers tightly drawn together. As the ball ground melt­ed when it contacted the warm die, a small amount of the ground passed through the silk covering the steel sur­face. To smooth the ground more· thor­ougly, a small rubber roller about two inches wide and two inches in diameter was rolled over the die while the ground was still soft. The die was then placed aside . until the ground was thoroughly set.

Then the large zinc plate was placed in the pantograph directly below a trac­ing stylus. In another part of the mach­ine the steel die, with its surface coated with ground, was fastened securely di­rectly below a diamond engraving point.

Swallows Design Engraved

A. B. Crossett, of the De La Rue firm who had been assigned this particular job, commenced the task on August 27, 1951, just seven days after he had com­pleted the frame and lettering for the U. N. le and lOc ordinary stamps.

As Crossett followed the lines of the (Continued on next page)

356

U. N. STAMPS (Continued from preceding page)

• zinc model w:th the tracing stylus of the pantograph, the machine, by a system of levers, reduced the design to the exact dimensions of the stamp. A diamond en­graving point, actuated by the trac;ing arm, scratched the design in the etching ground on the die and exposed the steel surface beneath.

When the tracing was complete, the lines scratched on the die were etched by flowinW acid back and ·forth over the surface until the bite had reached the de­sired depth. The work was perfected and finished by hand tooling.

Both the 15c and 25c air mail dies were completed on September 24, one day before the 6c and lOc stamps were finished. Thus, the Swallows and Em­blem designs required eight days less time· to c9mplete than the Plane and Gull designs. This time saving was made pas"! sible by etching, which, although it re­quires as great a skill as engraving, is considerably quicker than hand tooling.

Die Proofs

Proofs, which were pulled on a hand roller press, were printed on regular, pre-gummed stamp paper. Each was about the same size as the stamp dies themselves. On each proof the United Nations order number ( 97) was indicated in ink. This was followed by the number of that particular proof, thus: 97 /249.

Of the airpost issues the writer has ex­amined three incomplete proofs: a 6c -97 / 249 in red, a I Oc - 97 I 250 in green, and a 15c - 97 /243 in blue. Since these proofs are held by the printer for record

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

purposes they are still in the same con· dition as they were when they left the proof .press .

Proofs for presentation to the United Nations were trimmed to slightly more than actual stamp size with a margin of about two millimetres on each side. These proofs were stuck down on cards on which the manufacturer's imprint was pasted near the bottom. Proof numbers are written in ink on the cards directly below the stamp designs.

Double proofs exist with both the 6c in various shades of red and the lOc in various shades of blue-green. With the 6c at tl1e top and the IOc directly below, they are mounted on cards measuring 4 7 /16 inches wide by 5 15/16 inches deep.

There is also a single lOc in green on a card measuring 4 inches wide and 4 7 I 8 inches deep. .

Similarly m<?unted proofs of the 15c and 25c denominations also exist. Three double proofs of this Swallows and Em­blem design each in a different shade of the accepted colors have been examined by the writer.

Proofs of each denomination in several trial colors were submitted to the United Nations Postal Administration. Die proofs in the accepted color were approved on October I, for the 15c and 25c stamps, on October 9 for the 6c, and on October 12 for the lOc denomination.

Some proofs were evidently returned to the printers before the 'vriter had the opportunity to examine them.

Minor differences appear in each pair of designs, particularly in the ruling. Note that the dot, representing the Black

-::?~-,'g

~-.:- .. Li: ?2#

15c

e Incomplete Engravings of the Two Designs; at left is the Design of the Ge and lOe Values Prior to Addition of Lettering within the Frame, as Engraved by B. s. Cresser, and at the right is the yet Uncompleted Engraving of the 15c Sta.mp, Just Prior to Machine Ruling. This Stamp was Engraved by A. B. Crossett. Both Engravers are Em-

ployed by Thomas de la Rue & Company, London.

AUGUST. 1952 351

e Two Attractive Designs Submitted by Leon Helguera of Mexico and New York. While these Designs were not Accepted, Mr. Helguera's Design of the U. N. Bulldin' in New York was Utilized for the 1"1! and soc Values of the Ordinary Series and for

the 2c Post Card.

Sea. (?) appears on the 15c but does not appear on the 25c stamp.

Printing Plates Transferred

The four dies were case hardened and the engravings were transferred by means of transfer rolls to steel printing plates.

Trans£ erring of the 15c stamp began on October 3, . entering of the 25c began the following day, transferring of the 6c began on October 10 and entering of the lOc began on October 11. Transferring of the lOc airpost stamp evidently bega~ the day before the die proof was approv­ed by the United Nations. But si.nce this design was similar to that of the 6c de-: nomination approved on October 9, the printer took a calculated risk as it was a decision relating to the color of the stamp that delayed approval.

United. Nations air mail plates consist of 50 subjects arranged in five vertical rows of ten stamps each. The U. N. Em­blem with the words "First U. N./Issue of 1951," line engraved directly below in two lines, was transferred to four po­sitions in each airpost plate. On the printed sheets the emblem and inscrip­tion is found in the left margin opposite stamps number 6 and 41 and in the right margin opposite stamps number 10 and 45.

Perforating Guides

Perforating guides were manually en­graved in the top margin above the sec­ond and third and the third and fourth stamps and in the bottom margin below the forty-eighth and forty-ninth stamps. These markers are in the form of a cross with a circular dot at the juncture of the two lines. The longest line, the upright, is approximately 7 mm. long and the shorter is about 51h mm. in length. Markers are engraved in such a manner that the top of the cross, about a milli­metre in length, points . towards the stamps. That is, the crosses at the top are inverted while those at the bottom are in normal position. The very top of the marker is about 2 mm. from the stamp designs and the horizontal stroke is about 8 mm. away. This is about the same width as the gutters between stamps.

Perforating Marker Variety

An interesting variety is found in the upper left perforation marker of the lOc denomination. The engraver accidently placed the vertical stroke about lA mm. to the right of its proper position. When this misplacement was discovered a sec­ond line was engraved in the proper place. This particular marker has two

(Continued on next page)

358 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

U. N. STAMPS (Continued from preceding page)

e Another Attractive Design Submitted by Leon Helguera, but not Accepted.

vertical ~trokes, but the dot is accurately located on the proper line.

Although only one marker at the top and one at the bottom are used in per­forating, · two sets are engraved so that stamps can be perforated from top to bottom or bottom to top. However, all the air mail stamps we have examined are ptrforated from bottom to top.

On all denominations the lower left perforating guide is not mutilated in any way and is the best example of a com­plete marker.

lncidently, since it is De La Rue's custom to perforate in the same direction as that in which the sheet is printed, we

· assume that the airpost sheets were printed from bottom to top.

Upon completion, the printing plates were curved on a three roller curving machine, were chromium plated, and were printed on a rotary press.

The 25c stamp went to press on Octo­ber 9, the 15c on October 10, the 6c on October 17, and the lOc on October 18.

Pre-gummed unwatermarked paper was used.

i-ertoratlng

To · obtain good centering the upper right and the lower right perforating dots were punched by hand with an awl so that the sheets could be mounted on pins projecting upward from the feed carriage of the perforating machine. About six sheets at a time were placed face up­wards upon these pins with the bottom of the sheet facing the feeding end of the

perforating machine. After each row of stamps was perfor­

ated on three sides by the perforating die, the feeding mechanism moved the sheet exactly the depth of one stamp plus the gutter width ( 27 mm. in all). This operation was repeated eleven times as the sheet passed through the comb per­forator. The perforation ran-off the top edge of the paper as the completely per­forated sheet left the machine. This re­sulted in a sheet with imperforate mar­gins at the bottom and both sides. The perforation was gauge 14.

After an inspection the sheets were numbered in sequence from 001 to 100 directly below the fiftieth stamp. Five such units ( 500 sheets) were assembled to form a package ..

Shipping Delays

Despite the delays caused by changes in the original designs, De La Rue was able to ship 75,000 of the 15c denomina­tion and 175,000 of the 25c on October 16, aboard the R. M. S. Queen Mary; 75,000 of the 6c on October 23, aboard the R. M. S. Queen Elizabeth; and 125,000 of the !Oc on October 26, aboard the R. M. S. Mauretania.

But fate conspired against the United Nations - a dock sbike prevented the unloading of the cases of stamps when the ships arrived in New York. Con: sequently the ships returned to England with unloaded cargoes.

This new development caused some consternation because the United Na-

359

• A First Day Cover Showing the Four Finished Air l\lail Stamps as Issued.

tions Postal Administration, in a press release dated October 8, had announced that the four air mail stamps would be issued on November 30.

tional shipping schedules, the first day of issue for the four air mail stamps had rf>en postponed until Friday, December 14.

In a later release, dated November 23, the Postal Administration announced that, due to an interruption in interna-

The airpost stamps, which had crossed the ocean twice by boat, were flown across the Atlantic the third time and arrived in New York on November 6.

Edgar Mohrmann u Europe,• forena.osl Pll.llalellc Dealer''

PRESENTS ... An invitation to pre-war friends and to discerning new clients, to

avail themselves of an unsurpassed stock of classic and modern stamps and covers offered with ~uperior, friendly service •••

Regular auction sales of at least 3,000 lots at every session, accurately described in a comprehensive, illustrated catalogue.

"Atlantic Post." a ubetween auction sales" offering of special items of unusual interest, and fully described in a large illustrated cata­logue air-mailed to clients •••

For Catalogues Write -

EDGAR MOHRMANN HAMBURG 1 SPEERSORT 6

GERMANY

Official Publication of th .. American Air Mail Sor!Pt.v. Pub­lished monthly at Alb10n, !Erl .. Co.), Pennsylvania. U. S. A.

Entered as second-class matter at the Post ilillffice at Albion, Pa., February 10. 1932, under the Act of March 3, 1879 .

• The AIRPOST JOURNAL is not conducted for profit. The Editor. Business Manager, and all other editors, feature writers and contributors serve gratis and without compensation of any ki11d. All receipts from advertising, subscriptions and contributions are applied directly to the betterment of the magazine and the

promotion of aero-philately.

EDITOR L.B. GATCHELL - 6 The Fairway, Upper Montclair, N. J.

BUSINESS MANAGER GEORGE D. KINGDOM, Tyler Building, Conneaut, Ohio

ASSISTANT EDITORS ALTON J. BLANK - 1089 Winston Rd., So. Euclid 21, Ohio

GRACE CONRATH, P. 0. Box 519, Albion, Per.n'a ERNEST A. KEHR 230 West 41 Street, New York 18, N. Y.

ART EDITOR EDWIN L. HASTRY

DEPARTMENT EDTTO.RS R. LEE BLACK - Interrupted Flight Cover News

FLORENCE L. KLEINERT - A. A. M. S. Chapter News IAN C. MORGAN - Aero Postal Stationery

RICHARD L. SINGLEY F. A. M. Air Mail Routes WILLIAM R. WARE Contract Air Mail Routes

WILLIAl\I T. WYNN - Dedication Covers Assistant Editor ALTON J. BLANK also conducts "Airs of the Month" Department

ASSOCIATE EDITORS FRANCIS J .. FJELD F. W. KESSLEit DR. MAX KRONSTEIN

THOMAS J. O'SULLIVAN JAMES WOTHERSPOON

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Anywhere ............................ $3.00 per year.

Second (duplicate) copy sent to Subscriber's same address, $1.50 per year. Back Numbers, 25c each; Bound Volumes, if in stock, M.75 per volume.

ADVERTISING RATES One Inch. per issue ..........•••.•• _. ......... $ 3.00 Fro~,t Inside or Back Cover ............ $17.50 Quarter Page, per issue .................... $ 4·5° Composition charge for solid, tabular Half Page, per issue ............................ $ 8.00 or special typographic layouts: lOc to Full Page, per issue ........................ $15.00 25c per inch additional. Interested advertisers may apply for contract rate for space used every issue for a period of 12 months. Advertising and editorial copy MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE 20TH OF THE MONTH preceding publication date.

The right is reserved to refuse any advertising.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL has been published under the auspices of THE AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY since October, 1931. It has reached its high place of usefulness to the hobby primarily through the genius, industry a.nd devotion of the late

WALTER J. CONRATH successively Business Manager and Editor. To his memory are the future

issues of the JOURNAL gratefully dedicated.

WHERE TO WRI'IE Correspondence concerning advertis­

ing, new and renewal · subscri;:itions, back numbers and bound volumes. address changes and other matters of circulation, business matters o:f. all kinds and all remittances should be aent direct to the Publication Office at

ALBION, PENN'A

Department Editors may be written direct at the addresses printed at the top of their columns. All general edi­torial copy and communications on all other matters should be sent to the personal attention of the Editor at

6 The Fairway UPPER MONTCLAIR, N. J.

RANDOM NOTES FROM THE

EDITORS DESK

CUBA Again! • Q UR_ Goo'! Neighbor to the South, the Republic of Cuba, has issued two

air mall stamps to commemorate the 39th Anniversary of a flight by AGUS'.l'IN PMLA from Key West, Florida to Mariel, Cuba, Which was ac­complished on May 19, 1913. The Aviator Parla is a National hero in Cuba and it is only fitting that this important flight be commemorated. The CLUB FILA'.l'ELICO DE LA REPUBLICA DE CUBA, our A. A. M. s. Chapter, was the first to urge such commemoration by a resolution adopted in May 1942. It was their intention that the commemoration should mark the 30th Anni­ve_rsary _of the Flight but_ as usual by the time the authorities were persuaded, this logical commemoration date was long since past. It would seem that the release of the stamps could have been held for the more significant 40th An­niversary, especially as again they were delayed and could not be issued until J1;1.ly 22, se~eral months after the May 19th Anniversary date. However, THAT is the busmess of the Cuban Government and who are we to criticize these things!

It seems to us, however, that it IS the business of philatelists the world over to take note of the fact that AGAIN we have a series of speculative miniature sheets or hojitas in addition to the attractive two valued regular set. The Sc value of the regular issue is reproduced in black and the 25c in deep blue; 500,000 copies of the Sc and 300,000 copies of the 25c were produced. The miniature sheets consist of the Sc stamp in dull green in the center of a sheet measuring 4 1-2 x 3 3-4 inches with the words REPUBLICA DE CUBA at top; AGUSTIN PARLA at bottom, and the dates 1913 and 1952 at each side. The 25c is printed in a lighter shade of blue in a sheet of its own and· both stamps are perforated all around. There were but 7500 sheets of each value printed. Bad enough? YOU BET - but just to make it worse;· two more sheets have been issued but with the stamps in reverse colors, the Sc in blue and the 25e in green! We are certain that the 1952 resolution of the Club Filatelico contemplated no such exploitation of collectors! The four sheets in question have a face value of 66c and within a week after issuance New York dealers were retailing them at $4.75 for the set of four.

Some months ago we had considerable to say about speculation and ex­ploitation in Cuban restricted issues. When the Batista Government came to power, collectors had high hopes that these abuses and unnecessary issues would be curtailed. We are told that these particular HOJITAS were ottlered by the previous regime - hence in a.ll fairne91i, we reserve judgment as to the future. However, should this practice continue, we shall have to regretfully assume that the new regime is no more interested in curtailing collector ex­ploitation than was the former regime. We sincerely trust that this is not the case! -L. B. G.

~\ S the American Air Mail Society ft\ convenes in its 29th Annual

meeting at Norfolk, we think it proper to extend a sincere word of thanks to all of those who have worked so hard to make this gathering a success. This in­cludes President Johnson and his Nor­folk Committee which has carried the burden of the arrangements, Past Presi­dent George Kingdom who has handled the press releases, Director Bernard Da­vis who has been responsible for the ex-

hibition, Auction Manager, Charles G. Riess who has put together and super­vised the handling of the convention auction, and many others. The Society is particularly grateful to the United States Post Office Department and the Postal Administration of the United Na­tions for their respective parts in the ar­rangements. The U. S. Navy has been particularly cooperative as has the Nor­folk Chamber of Coirimerce, the Norfolk

(Continued on next page)

362

RANDOM NOTES -(Continued from preceding page)

• Philatelic Society, and other local or­ganizations in the host city. As usual we are grateful to Harry L. Lindquist, pub­lisher of Stamps Magazine, for devoting a special issue of that weekly to the con­vention activities and the Society also desires to thank the philatelic press in general for its cooperation.

* * * Mention of the Society auction to be

held on Saturday afternoon, August 30 reminds us that the Penny Black Stamp Company of New Yo.rk, which is con­ducting .a mail auction sale of air mail items which closes on August 31, has arranged to display the lots at the Mon­ticello Hotel in Norfolk on Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31. Our mem­ber, Mr. S. L. Bayer, who· is the pro­prietor of the Penny Black Stamp Com­pany, will be on hand on these days and will have the lots available for those desiring to inspect same. The catalogue of the sale, which can be secured from the aforementioned company at 116 Nas­sau Street, New York 38, N. Y., reveals that more than 1200 lots of air stamps and covers are being auctioned. The covers are particularly strong in Zeppelin flights, Foreign Pioneer flights and Rocket flight items.

* * * Our Director of Foreign Relations, Dr.

Max Kronstein, advises us that advance information has been received to the effect that the next International Airpost Exhibition will be held in Vaduz, Liech­tenstein during the summer of 1953. It is stated that this exhibition will be called "L UPOST A II" thus perpetuating the name used by the first International Air­post Exhibition which took place in Dan­zig in 1932. It is hoped that United States collectors will participate in, visit, and generally support this exhibition which will be held in the beautiful Al­pine country adjacent to Switzerland and Germany. We understand that Dr. Kronstein has been invited to serve on the International Jury, an honor which was also accorded him in connection with the earlier Danzig show.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

'While on the subject of exhibitions we would like to give our readers advance notice of an important exhibition which will be presented in the National Phila­telic Museum in Philadelphia later this year under the auspices of the Museum and the West German Republic. While full details cannot be divulged at this time, we think we can state that ar­rangements are being matured for this important show under the direction of Edgar Mohrmann of Hamburg, Ger­many, a member of the American Air Mail Society and a regular advertiser in The Airyost Journal. Mr. Mohrmann is the European commissioner for the Na­tional Philatelic Museum. On his recent visit to the United States he advised us that the West German exhibition will be restricted to German postal items prior to and immediately following the Nazi regime and that no postal emissions which appeared during that regime will find any place in the show. The Ameri­can Air Mail Society has pledged its full cooperation insofar as the air mail aspects of this exhibition are concerned.

* * * In the June issue of the Journal our

Assistant Editor, Ernest A. Kehr, repori­ing from Luxembourg, gave details of what was stated to be the first Interna­tional helicopter flight. Member John R. Sollberger of San Antonio, Texas writes us that he particularly enjoyed Mr. Kehr's account of this helicopter flight between Strasbourg in France and the Centilux exhibition in Luxembourg, but believes that it is not correct to call this the first such International flight. He cites a flight between Brussels in Belgium and s'Gravenhage in Holland which took place on November 5, 1947 as the first such International flight and a flight from Brig, Switzerland to Milan, Italy on October 2, 1950 as the second such International flight.

* * * An important film entitled "United

Nations New York," which details the storv of the designing and manufacture of the first United Nations postage stamps, is now available from the De­partment of Public Information, United Nations, New York. The film runs thir­teen and one-half minutes and may be rented for $2.50 or purchased complete

AUGUST. 1952

for $32.50. An effort will be made to have this film available for showing at the N0rfolk Convention.

* * ·* Last month we reported the illness of

Dick Singley, former President of the American Air Mail Society and widely known authority ·on FAM covers and air letter sheets. \Ve recently visited Dick and his charming wife, Dorothy, for a few minutes on a week-end trip to Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, and are happy to report that Dick is making a rapid recovery from the sur­gery which he underwent early in July. On the way back we spent a few minutes with Secretary-Treasurer John J. Smith and his equally charming wife, Ruth. It was good to see these fine folks again and regret that our stay was so limited.

* * * Malcolm MacGregor, American Air

Mail Society member from Bronxville, New York who recently did an article for the Journal entitled "Horses and Au­tographed Stamps", has again broken. into print-this time in the slick paper department. Mr. MacGregor was re­cently the subject of a special article in Service, tl1e official publication of the Cities Service Company which featured Mr. MacGregor and commented upon an article which he had previously written for Stamps Magazine entitled "One Pound Jimmy". Mr. MacGregor is a principal of the auditing firm which handles the Cities Service account. We are indebted to Merle Thorpe, Editor of Service for a copy of this issue. Readers will recall that Mr. MacGregor's particu­lar specialty is collecting autographs of important people which form a tie-in with the stamps in his collection. Nat­urally, the autographs are secured on the stamps themselves.

* * * We have received a list of Nicaraguan

postage stamps on sale by the Philatelic Agency of Nicaragua, P. 0. Box 325, National Palace,. Managua, D. N. Nic­aragua, C. A. This list was sent us through the courtesy of our friend Agus­tin Vanegas P., Director of this Agency, and contains a large number of stamps

(Continued on pai:e 376)

363

WANTED -I am desperately in need of any or all of the fo1lowing Air Letter Sheets, either mint or used, and am prepared

to pay exceptionally high prices:

Bahamas !LS Brit. Afr. Forces 1MLS-7MLS; 8MLS-

13MLS Canada lMLS; 2MLS; lPWL Australia 1MLS-4MLS; lPWL; 2PWL Ceylon lLS; 2 LS; 3LS Cyprus 2LS Liberia lLS; 2LS Colombia !LS; 2LS Middle East Forces 1MLS-3MLS New Zealand 1PWL-5PWL Pakistan lLS; 3LS S. W. A. IMLS-SMLS; 1LS-4LS Southern Rhod. 1MLS-5MLS; 2LS Swaziland 2 LS; 4LS; 5LS Union of South Afr. IMLS; 2MLS

See you all at the AAMS Convention

WALTER R. GUTHRIE SEA CLIFF NEW YORK

COMPLIMENTS

OF

Denwood N. Kelly Always interested in the

Private and Local Posts

of the w~rld.

Lt. D. N. Kelly, USNR Rm. 615, Bldg. N23, U. S. Naval Base Norfolk 11, Virginia

• To help YOU en1oy your Hobby That you may enjoy your hobby all the more, we are in business here

in Harrisburg. Known as "The Department Store of Philately" we are

anxious to serve you, to please you and to help you.

. Thru the medium of approval selections which are personally selected

for YOU, you are as close to our office as your nearest mailbox may be.

located. Write, asking for the kind of stamps, seals or covers that you

collect ... tell what you like or what you dislike . . . let me assemble a

consignment for your inspection.

Your AAMS membership number is

your reference. Just ask for the kind of

thinlf,S that you'd like to look over. We

haven't everything, but we do have one

of the world's most varied philatelic stocks.

It won't do you· any good as long as it's

here and you don't ·ask for it.

-·-Additional new material is always coming into our hands. Each of our

monthly Mail Auction Sales contains some airmail material (stamps as well

as covers). In addition, we are always buying and breaking down collec­• tions of all sorts.

Whether you are BUYING or SELLING, our Mail Sales will be a good

place for you! If you have a fine collection for sale, drop me a. line today

and ask about including it in a future sale. If you are interested in acquir­

ing unusual and worthwhile items, be sure that you receive our Sale'

catalogs. A wealth of fine air material is now going thru our hands. Be

sure that it goes thru yours!

We handle all albums and catalogs {leading U. S. publishers). If y-0u

do not have the 36th edition 64 page COLLECTORS HANDBOOK, be sure

you drop a card to us today and ask for your FREE copy. Many of these

"needs" of the collector will be found in­

cluded in the listings.

The 1953 Scott Catalogs will be sent

you when published, along with a bill, if

you place your order now. The 1st Volume

($4.00) is expected in September, with

Volume 2 in October ($4.00) and the Com­

bined Edition late November ($7.00l. The

U. S. Specialized is scheduled for December

($3.50). Which -0f these new 1953 editions will you want? Send your A. A.

M. S. number and place your order now; catalogs will be sent along with

a bill, prepaid with interesting commemoratives, when published. Bear

' in mind that Long will help you with your hobby!

i - THE DEPARTMENT STORE OF PHILATELY -

IELMIER Ro LO~G 1111 2 llA\RK.IE'Jf S'Jf o' IHIA\RRISBlURG, IP A\o

Life Member: AAMS APS SPA

\VARIED new emissions are at hand V this month for air enthusiasts.

Spain and San Marino are most active in releasing new stamps, while Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay promise new singles and sets. BOLIVIA

Last April there was a revolution in this country which will be observed this fall with an issue of stamps. CUBA

The long-promised Key West-Havana flight set of two is at hand. There is an Be black in vertical format showing the route of the flight and a 25c blue, hori­zontal in shape, showing a portrait of the aviator Augustin Parla Orduna and the Curtis plane which he flew. The non­stop flight occured in 1913. In addition to these two stamps there are four minia­ture sheets. There are two 8c sheets, one in pale blue and one in green and two 25c sheets, also in the same colors. In­scribed in the border of each sheet is "Republica de Cuba - 1918-1952 -A~stin Parla." DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

A 23c blue and a 29c red both show­inl( the hospital bearing the name of Dr. Salvador B. Gautier in Ciudad Trujillo were put on sale June 21, 1952. A small plane appears over the building. ECUADOR

Three stamps are planned for the V Centenary of Queen Isabella. Also there will be a set for the centenary of the abolition of Slavery in Ecuador on Sep­tember 27, 1852. HUNGARY

Colors of the da Vinci and Hugo stamps listed in June are: 1.60£1 green and 2£1. red violet. JAPAN

July 1 saw the release of the current

•

M~ ALTON J. BLANK

1089 WINSTON ROAD. SOUTH EUCLID 21,0HIO

set which shows a DC-4 over Tsumgi-dake peak in the Tate-yama range in a revised design. The new set has numer­als only without "00" after them for the value indication. The previous set was surely shortlived. LAOS

There will shortly appear a 3P30 stamp showing a local monument at VAT PRA KEO. The design is by the artist Pheul­pin and the stamp will be printed in two shades of violet. LEBANON

A nine valued set in two designs is re­ported from here. Showing the Interna­tional airport at Beirut are a lOp gray, 15p red, 20p orange, 25p blue and 25p violet. The 50p green, lOOp ultramarine, !OOp gray green, and 300p olive gray present the Byblos Amphitheater. MADAGASCAR

A 500 f. value printed in brown and green was issued June 30, 1952. The new stamp shows an umbrella sheltered native looking down a road which runs between Morondava and Belo. NICARAGUA

We now illustrate several of the de­signs of the IsabeHa set forecast in our June• issue. PARAGUAY

Promised are a 40c, 55c, 80c and 1.90 Guarani for Petirossi. RYUKYUS ISLANDS

An air set is due in the fall of '52. Values may be 20, 30, 100, and 200 yen. SAN MARINO

For its part in the Trieste Fair the 200 lire value of the recently issued Colum­bus set has been reissued in new colors and surcharged appropriately. The new color is brown and red brown and the overprint reads "Fiera di Trieste 1952". It is in red ink. The stamp was released

AUGUST, 1952 367

-Stamps for Illustration. Courtesy of F . W. KESSLER

• Some AUractive New Issues of Recent Vintage

June 29, 1952. August 20 will see the re­lease of a four value set for the Rimini Philatelic Exposition. The 2, 3, and 4 L values will be triangular in shape while the 100 L will be rectangular. SPAIN

May saw the release of a 1 peseta green featuring an angel holding a mons­trance. It is from the painting "The Eucharist" by Tiepolo. July 3 brought a 2 pesetas dark blue bearing the features of Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary who traveled in the Orient and who became a Saint. We illustrate the latter. SPANISH COLONIES

July 18, 1952 was the date of release of three stamps, one for each colony, in the 5 pesetas denomination honoring Isabella's husband, Ferdinand. Colonies are IFNI, Sp. GUINEA, and Sp. SAHARA. We illustrate each of the values, which are of 5 pesetas each and produced in various shades of brown. THAILAND

A 2 baht blue is at hand which de­picts the mythical" GARUDA bird in flight over the Bangkok skyline. It was

released June 15, 1952. Further values will undoubtedly follow. This same de-. sign appears on the recently issued Air Letter Sheet. We reproduce it else­where. VENEZUELA

In the June issue of this magazine we noted a number of items of the coats of anns series. The following denominations have since appeared so those interested mirrht wish to revise their list:

First of all, change the 7c denomina­tions to read "71h". The "lh" was omit­ed.

ARAGUA: 60c · olive, and 90c red brown.

LARA: · 30c blue and 90c red brown. MIRANDA: 90c red brown. SUCRE: 50c orange. TRUJILLO: 60c olive, 1.20 carmine,

3.00 gray, 5.00 violet, 10.00 purple. This month's cooperators are: L. H.

Flack, C. A. Phillips, R. Garcia, L. S. Mordecai, Alfred F. Stem, Harry Allen, Mar·ie Hurley, Gerhardo Thoolen, Carlos Lenze, William McLoud, and Charles I. Ball.

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,Complete except for the great rarities, this big 128-page catalog, containing more than 1,000 illustrations for your convenient reference, lists and prices all major varieties of the popular U. S. & B. N. A. groups. It includes also many special items: complete mint sheets, mint blocks, perforated coils, booklet panes, etc. Every collector needs this comprehensive catalog, not only as a handy check list and reference book, but also as a reliable source of supply for these desirable issues at money-saving prices. Write today for a copy if you do not already have one. ·

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CLASSICS, RARITIES & OTHER CHOICE STAMPS This profusely illustrated catalog will be of great interest and value when you are considering a purchase of the finer types of stamps . . . It includes Postmasters' Provisionals · <Baltimore 3X3, St. Louis "Bear" 11X2, etc.) . . . classic early United States issues (#6, 17a, *37c, 211Bc, etc.> ... modern rarities and :ex­hibition pieces (*C15-17, *CE2a, etc.> ... and many selected items from U. S. Possessions, British Colonies and foreign countries ... Prices range from $15.00 to $3,000.00 apiece, with all stamps fully guaranteed.

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Gf QreatGfir _)/ail Sale! Comprising 1200 Lots:

-·-• 160 AIRMAILS

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• 475 ZEPPELIN FLOWN COVERS

• 225 TRANS-OCEAN & FOREIGN PIONEER FLIGHTS

• 200 ROCKET STAMPS AND COVERS

The above material can be inspected at our downtown

office from August 18th to 29th and at our BOOTH #2

during THE AIR MAIL SOCIETY CONVENTION at

NORFOLK, VA, Hotel Monticello, on August 30th-31st.

CLOSING DATE OF THE SALE IS

AUGUST 31st, 1952, 6 P. M.

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POSTAL STATIONERY NOTES

• Conducted by

AERO POSTAL STATIONERY SOCIETY OF AMERICA

A UNIT OF THE AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY GEORGE D. KINGDOM, Organizing Secretary, Conneaut, Ohio

--·--Several new and interesting items

eligible for chronicle this month: are ranged in two lines are printed and

across the top of the sheet is printed the legend "On His Majesty's Service". The overprinting just mentioned is in a somewhat lighter shade of blue than the inscriptions on the basic sheet. The sheet in question was used by the Postmaster General's Department to circularize phil­atelic publications concerning the inau­guration of the first Australia-South Af­rica direct air mail service scheduled for September 1, 1952. This sheet has ex­actly the same status as the official sheet of Nigeria and will be chronicled under the section devoted to official letter sheets in the next issue of the Catalogue. Collectors can probably look forward to provisional or definitive new air letter sheets from Australia to conform to the increased postal rates which recently be-

ADEN We have previously chronicled sheet

No. 2 LS of this country with the over­print "50 cents" in a single line across the face of the impressed stamp. This overprint was made necessary due to a change in currency. It was originally chronicled on the sheet with the so­called "narrow setting" but now is shown us on the original sheet No. I LS which is in the so-called "wide set­ting", of the British Empire type of sheet. . The overprint on the presently chronicled sheet is in a different type face than that used for the overprint on the No. 2 LS sheet. P. H. Robbs, Wal­ter Guthrie and Richard L. Singley all sent word of this additional sheet. AUSTRALIA

There are several items of interest to be mentioned in connection with this country. G. H. C. Godfrey of Johannes­burg reports a hitherto unchronicled military letter sheet which he states is very similar to No. 1 MLS but has no outiined box for stamp. The word Aus­tralia appears in the bottom right-hand corner and the overprint reading "Post­age paid-12 cents-Jahore" appears in red. Editor L. B. Gatchell has recently come into possession of a new official sheet from this country. The sheet is similar to the sheets in current use but in place of the impressed stamp bears a colorless upright rectangular panel the size of an ordinary adhesive stamp. In this panel the words "Postage Paid" ar-

came effective. All air mail fees includ­ing fees for air letters have been dras­tically upped.

AUSTRIA

A new. card bearing a one schilling plus 50 groschen stamp of the Olympic type is at hand. This card, which appar­eently was officially issued, has had ad­ditional texts and a reproduction of the air mail label added to it, apparently un­der private auspices. The additional printing is in a lighter shade of blue than the card itself and calls attention to the first Australian sports day which was held to stimulate interest in Austria's participation in the recent Olympic games at Helsinki, Finland. As we have stated many times previously, these priv~

AUGUST, 1952

ately prepared Austrian items are not eligible for Catalogue listing. BAHREIN

P. H. Robbs is authority for the state­ment that the current 6d air letter sheet of Great Britain was overprinted "6 As. Bahrain" for use in this oil rich protect­orate of Great Britain. While the situa­tion is a bit obscure we gather that this sheet is no longer .on sale. We have not seen a copy of it and await further con­firmation. BELGIUM

Belated news as to a variety of the current Air Letter sheet from this coun­try reaches us from both Aug. Wery of Brussels and Walter R. Guthrie of Sea Cliff, N. Y. As readers are well aware the current 4 Fr. air letter sheet from this country exists normally in both French and Flemish versions, catalogued as sheets Nos. 3 LS and 4 LS. In No. 3 LS the Flemish Language appears first in all inscriptions and on the stamp; in No. 4 LS the French language takes precedence. Apparently issued last Jan­uary, we are now shown the No. 4· LS sheet with text and inscription inscribed in three languages, French, Flemish and German. We understand that this was issµed for use in some 33 Post Offices adjoining the German border where the German language is the predominant tongue. \Vhile all text is in the three lan­guae;es, the impressed stamp remains in­scribed only in French and Flemish. While the sheet before us is a variation of No. 4 LS, there is the possibility that sheet No. 3 LS has also had the addi­tional language added to it and issued for use in these same 33 Post Offices. BURMA

A new currency unit was introduced into this country on July 1. The kyat is equal to the former rupee. 100 pyas . equal 1 kyat which has a. nominal par v~l;ie of about 2lc U. S. currency. Pro­v1s1onal as well as new definitive varie­ties of aero postal stationery can be ex­pected as a result of this change. CANADA

We stated last month that the Phila­telic Agency at Ottawa was offering two varieties of the current lOc air letter sheet-both printed in Montreal-describ­ed as 1950-51 issue and 1951-52 issue.

371

Stocks recently received from the Agen­cy reveal that tliere is a marked differ­ence in the weight and texture of the paper between the two issues, the 1951-52 variety being on heavier paper than its predecessor. It was noted that the impressed stamp is somewhat larger and the lines of the design are heavier drawn in the most recent printing as compared with the earlier variety. These varieties are not to be confused with the alleged variations in the original print­ings of this sheet when first brought out several years ago. The Post Office De­partment has stated several times, and investigation has proved, that any slicrht variations in the original printings ~as due to expansion of the rubber plates used in producing these sheets. DENMARK

Last month we chronicled the current 50 ore sheet with additional 10 ore im­pressed stamp to make up the increased rate of 60 ore. This sheet bore the num­ber "5" to the left of triangle at bottom of face of sheet. An entire new sheet with number "6" in the lower lefthand comer and with the additional 10 ore green impressed stamp has now been noted. This sheet differs from the earlier sheets in that the reverse plate label con­taining the words "Luftpost-Par-Avion" in upper left-hand corner is now smaller and does not contain a colorless white border around the wording. This label is placed nearer the top of the sheet. So far this sheet has only been noted with the additional 10 ore green stamp but it is possible, of course, that it also exists with only the basic 50 ore stamp which bears the King's portrait. Richard L. Singley, Walter R. Guthrie and Barry M. Kostenko have shown us this new variety. FIJI

The 3d value from this country has now have noted in the revised narrow setting. In all other respects it is similar to the earlier sheet. It is stated that the 7d. value will probably shortly appear in tlte narrow setting. Walter R. Guthrie sends us this information. GOLD COAST

The current sheet from this British Crown Colony is now found in the so­

(Continued on page 380)

372

Show New U. N. Film At National Museum

e ~\ T the meeting of Chapter 18 of /-\.\ the American Phil.atelic Society

held in the National Phil.atelic Museum on Wednesday, July 9th, 1952, Bertil A. Renborg, Chief of the United Nations Postal Administration, and Jan Juta of the United Nations Department of Pub­lic Information were principal speakers.

They were also guests of honor at a dinner at the Manufacturers Golf and Country Club given by Bernard Davis, Director of the National Philatelic Mus­eum. Among a number of philatelic per­sonalities present were Admiral Jesse G. Johnson, President of the American Air Mail Society, Mrs. Bertil A. Renborg, Edgar S. McKaig, President of the Phila­delphia Commercial Museum, Philip H. Ward, Jr., James H. Baxter, Chairman of the Philatelic. Research Committee of the National Philatelic Museum, William T. West and Mrs. Frieda B. Bulger, both Associate Curators of the National Phil.a­telic Museum, John J. Smith, Treasurer of the American Air Mail Society, Helen E. Moore, Executive Secretary of the Museum, Miss Creelman Rowland, and others.

Main feature of the meeting was the world premiere of a new movie showing the various processes of designing, en­graying and manufacturing of stamps. It was made possible through the coop­eration of Enschede & Sons of Holland and Thomas De La Rue & Company of England, and was unanimously proclaim­ed as one of the most instructive movies produced to date.

The movie, a 16 mm. film, running time 13% minutes, can be secured by rental $2.50, or outright purchase for $32.50, from the various Official Dis­tributors of the United Nations Films.

Stamp Clubs can secure further infor-. mation by writing to the Department of

Public Information, United Nations, New York, or the National Phil.atelic Museum, Broad and Diamond Streets, Philadelphia 22, Penna. It is planned to show this movie, which has a running

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

time of less than 15 minutes, at the An­nual Convention of the American Air Mail Society to be held in Norfolk, Va., August 29, 30, and 31, 1952.

• Valuable Airpost Material To Be Offered At Auction

• The U. S. and foreign stamp collec-

tion of the late John F. Wagner of Cecil, Pa., will be sold on Sept. 9-11 by Harmer, Rooke & Co., 560 Fifth Avenue, New York 36, in their opening auction of the 1952-53 season.

The U. S. section includes scores of albums of covers - first flight, first day, airport dedication, naval and war covers. Many of these are franked with blocks and plate blocks. They will be sold in carton-size lots, including as many as 25 albums.

The Charles F. M eroni Gold Medal Collections, major award winners in three international exhibitions, and grand trophy recipient in many national shows, will be sold at unreserved auction sales this fall and winter by John A. Fox, 116 Nassau Street, New York 38, N. Y.

The first sale will be of Great Britain, in October, with sales of United States, general foreign and air mails following in succeeding months.

The Meroni Gold Medal Collections, formed by the Chicago postal history en­thusiast over many years, includes gems formerly in many notable collections, in­cluding the Ferrary, Hind, Emerson, Grimm, Harris, Rothschild, Reford, Tows, Knapp, Moody, McGuffin, Chase, Wilt­see, Finney, Brooks, and others.

The U. S. Gold Medal collection, years in the building, the foreign offer­ings and the outstanding air mails were all built with. care and discrimination .

Catalogues of the sales will be avail­able from John A. Fox, 116 Nassau St., New York 38, in the fall. Requests for these catalogues may be made now.

AN EXTRAOR.DINARY AUCTION

OUR 93rd UNITED STATES & FOREIGN STAMPS

AND COVERS

Including Many Rarities

The property of an old time collector

and accumulator from New England

. Saturday, September 20, 1952

at the

National Philatelic Museum 2043-45 North Broad Street

Philadelphia, Penna.

Lots on display at our office during the

A. P. S. CONVENTION - September

2-Sanduntil date.

Interesting 191() Cover Causes Pioneer Flight Conjecture

• by THOMAS J. O'SULLIVAN

•

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The illustrated cover recently came Into the possession of H. HARRI­SON BUSTER of New Jersey. The cachet, which is found in purple in the upper left corner, had never heretofore been seen b_y students of Pionee rfllght covers, and this marking immediately raised the provaca­tive question as to the nature of this cachet and the status of the cover. If a nown item it, of course, antedated all of the Pioneer night covers of the United States - and of the world! With his characteristic thorough­ness, our Associate Editor, Thomas J, O'Sullivan, has carefully investi­gated all possible angles of the matter and submits the Interesting and informative article which follows. - L. B. G .

I N connection with the recently located cover, which bears the

cancellation of Los Angeles, Cal., Janu­ary 14, 1910, and a rubber stamped cachet of a bi-plane plus the legend

' "AVIATION WEEK, JAN 10-20, 1910," we were able to secure some considerable data in respect thereto by a careful per­usual of contemporary newspapers, in­cluding several issues .of The New Yark Times. This data is valuable in trying to arrive at a determination as to whether the cover in · question might have been carried on an hitherto unchronicled air mail flight - which would make it the first cover so carried anywhere in the world - or whether the cachet is in the

• nature of an advertising or commemo­rative marking.

This meet which ran from January 10 to 20, 1910 was the first International

·Air Meet held in the United States. As such, it takes a back place to the first world's air meet held at Reims in 1909. It opened Monday, January 10, and ran each day through Thursday, January 20. It was held on the old Dominguez Ranch

. and the field was variously termed .. Avia­tion Camp", "Aero Park" and "Aviation Field". Louis Paulhan had come from France, with two of his assistants, Mais­son and Miscarole, 2 Bleriot" monoplanes and 2 Farman biplanes. Apparently he had been brought here by William Ran-

AUGUST, 1952

dolph Hearst. The latter attended the meet and one day flew with Paulhan. The Americans who participated were Glenn Curtiss, who thus renewed his rivalry with Paulhan which began at the Reims meet, Charles F. Willard, Charles K. Hamilton, Clifford Harmon, all well known, and one Edgar Smith, who had built his own plane and was almost kill-ed by the prop d the meet. In ad-dition, Lincoln and Roy Krab-onsue were there with two dirigible bal­loons, and there were other pilots, in­clud:ng ]. C. Mars who flew free bal­loons. The meet was typical of the times

races for speed, altitude, passenger carrying, quick starting, landing, target bombing, etc. The meet was well organ­ized. A grandstand was built, there was a band to play, the president of the Aero Club of America, Cortland Field Bishop, was one of the judges, and Lieut. Paul Beck, was there from the U. S. Army Signal Corps. to observe and attempt bombing in flight. During the meet, Paulhan set a world altitude record of 4,165 feet and broke the world's . cross­country record by a flight of 47 miles.

This was the first of a series of 4 air meets held at Los Angeles. The second was held from December 24, 1910 to January 2, 1911; the third, from Janu­ary 20 to 28, 1912 (Pioneer # 14); the fourth, in November 1912. All were or­ganized by the Aero Club of California. This club was established in 1908 by a group of eager aviation students under the leadership of H. LaV. Twining. When the first meet was undertaken it was necessary for the club to organize a syndicate to underwrite the expenses of bringing the aviators to Los Angeles, providing prize money, and taking care of the rest of the costs of the meet. How­ever, the response was very favorable. Approximately 30,000 attended the meet each day. Receipts were close to $20,000 a day and during the meet the syndicate had every expectation of clearing their expenses of $100,000 and returning something to the members of the syndi­cate.

The accounts in The New York Times were very detailed for each day of the meet. In none is there any mention made of mail being carried. This was a unique event - it was the first air meet in

375

America. Certainly if mail had been car­ried it would have been mentioned. That would have been just as dramatic as, for instance, Paulhan's ability to take off in 118 feet and Curtiss' ability to take off in 98 feet. Moreover, if some such elaborate scheme had been set up at the field for the collection of mail, as was done at Garden City, the 300,000 cus­tomers would have flooded the country­side with letters home, so there should have been as many now available as there are from the Garden City meet. Thus the absence of other letters leads one inevitably to the conclusion that no mail was flown.

Then we know that the earliest claim for the carrying of mail in California was made by Fred WiSeman. He said he did it in February 1911. He mentioned Paul­han in an interview in the San Francisco Chronicle on December 17, 1951, so he must have known about the Los Angeles meet. If anything could be dug up in­dicating that mail was carried at this meet - a year ahead of his claimed flight - he probably would not have made his claim to be the world's first a:ir mail pilot. In addition, the cachet says "Aviation Week" which is dis­tinctly different from the cachets on act­ually flown mail of the period. Finally, my reading in the field of Pioneer Air Mails has been fairly extensive and I do not recall even a suggestion in any of the literature that mail was carried at this air meet.

It appears, therefore, that the cover under discussion was not "air mail" as we define it. If it is not air mail; what is it? The cacheted envelope is very dif­ferent from the special cards sold at the early. air meets of the day. It would ap­pear that the sponsors of the air meet were doing everything they could to ad­vertise the meet, to get the crowd out and thus cover their expenses. The en­velope is a regular commercial one. It would be reasonable to suppose that someone from the Chanslor and Lyon Co. did not carry it around in his pocket, suddenly remember it at the meet, take it out and have it cacheted there. The fact is that the Chanslor and Lyon Co. is a "Motor Supply" company. Thus it is reasonable to suppose that someone·

(Continued on next page)

376

1910 COVER (Continued from preceding page)

• from this company would be a member of the Aero Club of California or one of the sponsors of the meet {they would be the type of person who would be in­terested in aviation at that time), that he was interested in the air meet and was stamping his mail {as other peop1e in the club would be stamping their's) to get the maximum advertising possible. It seems evident, therefore, this is a strictly private cachet. It would rank back of the special cards sold at the Bos­ton Air Meet in 1910, at the Belmont Park meet of 1910, and at Hamilton's homecoming day at New Britain in 1910. It is, however, a very interesting souven­ir of the early days of aviation, and may well be the first advertising marking or cachet ever to be used in connection with an air meet in the United States!

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

RANDOM NOTES (Continued from page 363)

• which are on sale at face value. A copy of the list can be secured by writing the above quoted address.

Thanks to Lt. C. O'G Marrison, USN, a recent new member of the American Air Mail Society, for a souvenir cover flown by him on July 30 in connection with the dedication ceremonies of the new Chesapeake Bay Bridge-and to Gerald Bookhop and George P. Collier for remembering us with cards from summer vacation and other far-away spots.

And so to bed.

VACATIONING! MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

No Orders Filled. Thank You.

LOOKING for AIR MAIL Material Worldwide Singles - Sets, Mint or Used

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The German JEIA Label -•

by DB. MAX KRONSTEIN

)If'\\ uring the 1948-50 period many 11.D airpost covers of Germany ad­

dressed to foreign destinations are found with a blue and white label bearing the

· words "PAR AVION - DEUTSCHE L UFTPOST" and an emblem similar to that formerly used by the German Luft­hansa Company. Inquiries at several German Post Offices b~ought the word that this was not an official label of the German Postal Administration. Our mem­ber, Hermann E. Sieger, has written as follows in respect to this label:

"This airpost label was officially issued by the JEIA (Joint Export and Import Agency), an official Agency of the U. S. Military Occu­pation authorities in Germany, at a time when German civilians and commercial enterprises generally were not permitted the use of the Air Mail service. However, compan­ies \vhich were registered with the JEIA received a certain number of these labels and letters to which this label were affixed were dis­patched by air mail. Later on, cor­respondents in foreign lands could forward International Reply Cou­pons to friends, relatives or com­mercial contacts in Germany. For each two coupons, one such label was issued. In due course all restric­tions were lifted and in some German Post Offices remaining labels were used on mail as regular air labels."

This, of course, merely confirms the information available at the time and also points up the listing carried in SANAB­RIA'S AIR POST CATALOGUE which reads as follows:

1948, May l. Issued by U. S. A. For­eign Trade Bureau at Frankfurt am Main. Obligatory on commercial air­post ... We record the franchise \?.b­els for the sake of accuracy, although they were not stamps in the regular sense."

These labels were required only in the American Zone of Occupation, hence Post Offices located in other Zones were unaware of their existence. The labels

•

e The JEIA Label.

were issued in booklets containing panes of six labels each arranged horizontally with binding margin at left edge. There were five panes to each booklet. It should be obvious that under no circumstances can these labels be considered stamps but they are interesting and collectable mementos of a phase of post war Ger­man economy.

It should also be mentioned that this label is found with a red overprint read­ing "D. A. P. C." which was intended for use on special air mail to be flown by the Balloon "Henri Dunant" piloted by Dutch Balloonist J. Boesman, a fellow member of the American Air Mail Socie­ty. The special flight was to be made during the Convention of the Deutsch.er Aero Philatelisten Club and the letters of the overprint refer to this Club. How­ever, permission for this flight was not received, and the prepared mail was dis­patched by regular air mail service and hence the overprinted labels are frequent­ly found with postal cancellations of May 14-15, 1949.

• F. A. M. NOTES (Continued from page 350)

• the all-cargo service proposed by Euro-pean American Airlines.

0 0 0

There has been a lull in F. A. M. in­augural flights for some months, but this important decision is the forerunner of some new activity in that there are sever­al points authorized which have never previously been served.

SELLING~

Sale through an H. R. Harmer, Inc. auction is becoming

more and more recognized as the safest, surest and most

satisfactory method of disposal.

Col. E. :r. Ristedt, owner of an Air Mail Collection sold

on April 30th, May Isl, wrote, following the auction:

"I appreciate very much the effort put forth and

the manner in which the sale was conducted."

When you decide to sell, write to H. R. Harmer, Inc., who

will be happy to forward their booklet "Modern Methods

of Philatelic Auctioneering" and other literature pertinent

to their International Organization.

H. R. HARMER, INC. 32 East 57th Street New York 22, N. Y.

PLaza 3-6481

380

AERO POSTAL NOTES (Continued from page 371)

• called narrow setting; however, the pre-dicted use of the new blue air mail paper for this Colony has as yet failed to materialize. Mr. Guthrie is also our source for this news.

ITALY There seems to be some considerable

confusion about the actual first day of issue of the sheet chronicled last month. Sheets cancelled as early as May 29 have now been noted.

SOMALIA Contrary to previous reports apparent­

ly the air letter sheet of this country may be used without additional postage to any destination. It was formerly be­lieved that this sheet was restricted for use to Italy and other Mediterranean countries. Sheets have been arnvmg in the United States without any additional postage. THAILAND

The first day of issue of the .attractive sheet released by this country was May 15. It is stated that there is an addi­tional sheet in the offing. TRIESTE

Here again there is confusion as to the actual date of release of the recently chronicled sheet. Richard L. Singley shows us a sheet postmarked May 30 from this special zone which is admin­istered by the Allied Military Govern-ment.

• FIRST FLIGHT FEDERATION

TO HOLD AUCTION

• The eighth mail auction sale of the

First Flight Federation Unit #1 of the American Air Mail Society vvill be held on September 14, 1952. Covers to be sold include Souvenir-Historical, Trans­Oceanic, U. S .. Domestic (C. A. M.) and Foreign (F. A. M.) Air Mail Flights, Alaska and Governmental First Day Covers, Dedications, and Famous Pilot autographs. Catalogue of this auction is available from: Perham C. Nahl, 20145 Lincoln St., Evanston, Illinois.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

First Australia-South Africa Service Slated

• ]II NFORrv!A TION has been re-

ceived from· the Postmaster Gen­eral of Australia that a special official cachet will be applied to all first flight . mail carried on the inaugural flight Australia to South Africa via Cocos Is­land and Mauritius, now scheduled for September 1. This service will be ren­dered by Qantas Empire Airways and is the first direct service on a regular basis between Sydney, Australia and Johannes­burg, South Africa.

The rates of postage per ounce, Aus­tralian currency, are as follows:

Australia to Cocos Island, one way 6Y2d; return 1/ld

Australia to Mauritius or South Africa, one way 2/-; return 4/-

Cocos to Australia, one way 6V2 d; return 1/ld

Cocos to Mauritius or South Africa, one way 2/-; return 4/-

All letters intended for this service must reach the Sup't of Mails, Sydney, Australia by Sept. 1.

COMING IN THE NEW SEASON

* The "Jules Wacht" Collection of Air Post issues on and off cover.

Other important aero-philatelic items.

Request Catalogues. Please specify if your interests are restricted to Air

Post issues.

H. R. HARMER, In«!.· 32 East 57th Street New York 22, N. Y.

H. R. Harmer was the first auctfoneer to hold a sale devoted exclusively to

Air Post issues.

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Term Expires 1953 Manager

The Airp.ost Journal, Albion, 'Penn'a. LoUISE DAVIS HOFFMAN

The Advance Bulletin is sent regularly by the manager only to those members who are in good standing and provide a supply of self-addressed regula­tion Government Postal Cards.

SALES DEPARTMENT EDGAR B. CHARLES

Manai:er Beaver Dam, Wisc.

New York

THEODORE LIGHT

lllinois

KESSLER M. MILLER

Utah

JAM:ES WoTHERSPOON

Great Britain

HISTORIAN • RECORDER

KARL B. WEBER

DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN RELATIONS

DR. MAX KRoNSTEIN

AUCTION DEPARTMENT

\...HARLE5 G. R!Ess Manager

P. 0. Box 11 Albany, N. Y.

MEMBERSHIP DUES $3.00 PER YEAR

Dues include subscription to THE AIRPOST JOURNAL. Applicants must furnish two refetences, philatelic preferred. At least one of these references must reside in Applicant's home town. Applicants tmder 21 years of age'must be guaranteed by Parent or Guardian. Membership iS a privilege - not a right - and may be terminated by the Society ln accordance with its By-Laws.

WRITE SECRETARY-TREASURER FOR APPLICATION BLANK

SECRETARY'S REPORT •

NEW MEMBERS 3840 Pedery, Frank J. P., Route 2, Box 74, Laurens, S. C. 3841 Turner, Louis A., 385 North Street, Bridgewater, Mass. B842 Johnson, Paul G. A., 2449 Cottle Ave., San Jose 25, Calif. 3843 Kleehammer, F. R., 3653 Diversey Avenue, Chicago 47, ill. 3844 Fargo, Charles N., Jr., 116 Woodlyn Ave., Norristown, Pa. 3845 Grskovich, Rev. Raphael, 5927 Columbia Ave., Hammond, Ind. 3846 Tardell, Henry, 1566 Longfellow Ave., Bronx 60, N. Y. 3847 Root, C. D., 855 Cove Way, Denver 9, Colo. 3848 Poole, C. A., 22278 Tanglewood Drive, Hayward, Calif. 3849 Lake, Richard B., 208 Russell Place, Hackensack, N. J. 3850 Hornberger, Henry E., 736 N. Kenwood Ave., Baltimore 5, Md. J-3851 Cox, Thomas A., 1213 W. 47th Street, Richmond 25, Va.

NEW APPLICATIONS Clarke, William J., 276 Waverley Road, Toronto, Ontario. Age 70. Accountant.

Aero Postal Stationery X by Grace Conrath. Wagner, Chet, 246 State Street, Auburn, N. Y. Age 30. Draftsman and Dealer.

by John J. Smith. Capaldi, John J., 6261 Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia 41, Pa. Age 26. Dealer.

by Geo. D. Kingdom. Henry, James M., P. 0. Box 86, Laurel, Fla. Age 71. Retired Clergyman.

by John J. Smith. Merrihew, M. J., 493 Portgage Ave., Winnipeg, Canada. Age 43. Merchant. AS

CF lD PIX Aero Postal Stationery X by Grace Conrath. Kertes, Ferdinand, 217 State Street, Perth Amboy, N. J. Age 57. Teacher. AU X

by John J. Smith Lockhart, Jack, 115 E. Euclid Ave., Deland, Fla. Age 31. U. S. Navy. AM AU U20

UC PC HC PA FF CAM FAM CC OF DC Z CF lD by Keith Hester.

REINSTATEMENTS 3188 Fisher, Paul F., 4838 30th Av.e., So., Minneapolis 17, Minn. 1194 Heckbert, William G., 148 Park Ave., New London, Ohio.

DECEASED Sonnenschein, H. G., San Mateo, Calif.

CHANCES IN ADDRESS Arnold, E. G., Box 557, North Miami Beach, Fla. Coburn, Leroy V., 91 Remsen Street, Brooklyn 28, Md. Dodd, R~y F., 205 Garden Ridge Road, Baltimore 28, Md. James, Francis H., 4133 Clement Street, San Francisco 21, Calif. Kuschbert, Edwin M., 129 E. Wells Street, Milwaukee 2, Wis. Nickles, Mrs. C. E., 2210 Charleston Place, Hyattsville, Md. Ristwm, Reynold H., 8234 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Stultz, Frank L., Howard Place, Wheeling, W. Va. Turzyn, John, 55 Melrose Ave., Bergenfield, N. J.

For delicious refreshment ord·er ice-cold Coca-Cola

80TTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE COCA·COlA COMPANY llY

NORFOLK COCA-COLA BOTTLING WORKS. INC.

APJ ADS RATES:

THREE CENTS PER WORD per inser­tion. Minimum charge 50 cents. Remittance mu•t accompany order and copy. The AIRPOST JOURNAL, APJ Ads, Albion, Penn'a.

DO YOU NEED USED AIRS? MUST SELL my carefully selected collection. Send want list and reference. Also have several complete sets current Mexico Airs 5c to 1 Peso, 9 values. While they last, 15c per set. C. D. Root, 855 Cove Way, Denver 9, Colo 267-*

OPPORTUNITY. MY OWN COLLECTION. New "LOW PRICE" four page Trans­oceanic and Souvenir Historical cover list. Also new lists for Rocket Flights, Mint Airmails and Airmail on covers. Co101p::irc my prices - Postage please. William H. Peters, Interlachen, Florida.

258-lOt•

FINE LOT OF 15 AIRMAIL COVERS, including 3 Zeppelins, $3. Remit Interna­tional Money Order. K. Kroger, Sch1ller­str. 37, (22b) Zweibrucken, F'rench Zone, Germany. 259-12t*

AAMS EXCHANGE ADS

AIRLINE STICKERS; WANT TO TRADE with other collectors. Henry Wittber, 2Jlti New Haven Ave., Fort Wayne 4, Indiana.

Ex-lt

WANT KING GEO. VI CORONATION stamps, used and on first day cover. What do you want? Herman Kleinert, 213 Vir­ginia, Fullerton, Pa. Ex-lt

MISSED GETTING RPO TRIP 2, ST. Jospeh to Des Moines and RPO Trip 2, Columbia to Charleston. Anyone have duplicates? H. C. Hauptmann, 56 Man­chester Road, Tuckahoe, N. Y. Ex-lt

WANTED - FIRST DAY SOUVENIR Programs of Harris, Pulitzer, Coast Guard and older. Also of airmails previous to C40 except C35. Trade or purchase. F. D. White, 1540 Takena St, Albany, Ore. Ex-lt

AIR MAIL WANTED WITH THE WHOLE world. Special South America, South Sea. Also exchange stamps 50-100. Bruno Mutc­zall (15) Erfurt-Thur, Treppenstade 1, D. D. R. (Deutsche Democr, Republ.) lt

WANTED TO TRADE FOR AIR COVERS. Any event postmarked in Kentucky. B. C. Tucker, Kirksey, Ky. Ex-lt

U. S. STAMPS, MINT, USED TO TRADE for Western covers postmarked prior to 1896, or will buy. Utah especially wanted. Nyal Anderson, Box 103, Heber, Utah. 1t

WILL SW AP CRASH COVERS FOR Zeppelin flown covers. H. J. Stone, 700 West 179th St., N. Y. 33, N. Y. Ex-lt

HAVE NAVY FLIGHTS, JET, HELICOP­TER, Ship to Ship, Ship to Shore, Ski Jump II. Desire Navy flights and first air mail stamp on cover all countries. Lt. C. O' G. Morrison, U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. Ex-lt

AAMS EXCHANGE DEPARTMENT BUY SELL WANT LISTS

HAVE 125 MATCHED CANADIAN FIRST Flight Covers 1933-1937 with official cachets. AAM Catalog values total $50.00. What do you offer? Ferreira, 13 Highland Avenue, Maplewood, N. J. Ex-lt

SWAP - CAM'S FOR lST FLIGHTS OF Canada, Mexico or Cuba. What have you got. Edward Auerbach, 4190 Nautilus Drive, Miami Beach, Florida. Ex267-2t

WANTED CANADIAN AIR MAIL covers; especially· those put through by "Bob of 'l'he Northland." Write before sending. D. Amos, 112 Walnut St., Winni­peg. Man., Canada. Ex-lt

HAVE TO EXCHANGE FOREIGN early semi-officials, forerunners, histori­cals, stationery, air events labels, Zeppe­lin covers. Molder, 19 Belsize, Toronto, Canada. Ex-lt

WANTED - MINT OR USED CHINA C42, Honduras C3, Cl2, Ionian Isles NCla, NC2, French Morocco CB34a, Syria Cl45a, 147a, 156a. Matejka, Hotel La Salle, Chicago,

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I HA VE INTERESTING USN FLOWN covers to trade: Operation Ski Jump Polar flights, Helicopters, Jets, Ship to Ship, Ship to Shore flights. I collect Pioneers, Trans-Oceanic, Balloon, Rockets, Foreign Flights, Naval and Military flown mail. Sena list of your auplicates to Cdr. Robert Murch, 536 McLain Lane, Kirkwood, Missouri. , Ex-lt

ANY COLLECTOR POSSESSING A HON­OLULU, Hawaii June 16, 1942 air mail crash cover, please communicate with A. J. Paul, 4315 Alice Ave., Austin, Tex. Ex-lt

WANTED - GENUINE FLOWN ROCKET cards or covers, buy for cash, or exchange for first days, C. A. M. or F. A. M.-eov­ers. Anton Hobling, 1725 Putnam Ave., Brooklyn 27, N. Y. Ex267-2t

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO TRADE FOR CAMS - ;U"om 1945 to date. B. C. Tucker, Kirksey, K!y;. , Ex-lt

AERIAL PROPAGANDA LEAFLETS -World Wars I, II, and Korea, always want­ed. Have many rare and historical dupli­cates, sale or exchange. Robbs, Grendon, Northampton, England. Ex-lt

100 FAM DUPS OF RAG STOCK. NO Auction Culls offered or wanted. Clifford Jackson, 143 West 70th St., Chicago 21, Ill.

Ex-lt

WANTED-FIRST FLIGHT WASHING­TON, D. C., May 15, 1918 with black can­cellation. Will pay cash or trade rare governmentals. Karl B. Weber, 114 lVIon­tana Avenue, Pittsburgh 14, Pa. Ex-lt

U. S. GOV. FLIGHTS: WHO HAS #116? Will give in exchange 4 covers viz # 108, 109c, 139, 162 or cash if preferred. G. Lo­digiani, 32-86 30th Street, Astoria, N. Y.

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