Airpost Journal

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The rare special vignette issued for the pioneer Heliopolis, Egypt Air Meet held in February, 1910. Only three or four copies are known.

trlaAcA f 940 EST. 1896 EST.-1896 A. P J-11 L L I PS AIR MAIL SPECIALIST NEWPORT MON ENGLAND

TRANS-ATLANTICS 1939 To Complete Orders We Urgently Require Above and We Will Pay HighKt Prices or Allow Generous Exchange for Other Items From Our Stock.

AIR MAI L M A GAZ I NE FULL OF INFORMATION .AND ILLUSTRATIONS Sc MONTHLY 60c YEARLY, POST FREE Mint Stamps Accepted SPECIMEN COPIES POST FREE ON REQUEST

COL L EC TI ONS Ap. 1 Twenty Superb Foreign First Air Mails, Normal Price at . Least $8 ...... , ...... : .....: ....: ...... _...... ~ ...... $2 .00 Ap. 2 100 Superb First Ap. 8 48 Polish First Air Air Mails, normal price Mails, impossible to re- at least $60 ...... $ 20 peat ...... :...... $ 20 Ap. 3 Ditto, including Ap. 9 Ditto, but 84 firsts $160 rarities ...... $400 Ap. 10 70 British Em- Ap. 4 1870-1939 Histor- pire Firsts, fascinating ical Album, 70 superb album .-...... •...... $ 20 First Air Mails ...... •...... $ 20 Ap. · 5 Ditto, including Ap. 11 Ditto, including rarities ...... $200 . rarities •...... : ...... $200 Ap. 6 World-Wide Collec Ap. 12 52 British Inland tion, 70 superb First Air Firsts. An investment Mails ...... -$ 20 Album ...... $ 20 Ap. 7 Ditto, including Ap. 13 Ditto, but 76 rarities ...... : ...... $400 Firsts ...... $40 0 Ap. 14 Various Means of Transport, Balloon, Dirigible, Catapult, Rocket, etc. 56 Firsts ...... $20.00 Ap. 2 to Ap. 14 are described and mounted in our Famous Rex Loose-Leaf Albums. ORDER BY INDEX NUMBER. WE GUARANTEE SATISFACTION OR REFUND OF P AYMENT. USA & CANADIAN COLLECTORS NOW BUY AT $4 TO THE £1 Instead of the Pre-War Rate of $5 to the £1 A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION DOLLAR BILLS ACCEPTED IHI 1E IL I 0 JP> IL IS VIG~JETTJE • enlightenment on the early Air Meet Egypt's Age-Old Sphinx Greeted and the re-publication of the exis New-Born Aviation In tence of the Heliopolis vignette for February, 1910 the initial general information of contemporary aero-philatelists. The late Brigadier-General R. Ridgway, • president of the Aero Philatelic Club by WALTER J. CONRATH of London, England and honorary member of the American Air Mail • Society, presented the following ac DDACK IN AVIATION'S pioneer count of his findings on the event in DD days when bamboo struts and the February, 1937 AIRPOST JOUR pusher type mountings fitted out the NAL. contraptions known as "those crazy "A vignette first attracted my in flying machines," air meets were terest in the Egyptian pioneer pic few and usually attracted an inter tured in the October, 1936 AIRPOST national representation of enthusiasts JOURNAL. This occurred in 1925. who participated in the activities, then considered by most people as " The vignette was a colored one, little more than a new fangled sport. but at this date I cannot remember In February, 1910, a full year be the colors. It consisted of the design fore the first mail was officially of an eagle on a steering wheel with fiown by airplane at. Allahabad, a crescent and star behind the eagle India, other subjects of the British and wheel, the inscription "GRANDE Empire organized an Air Meet at SEMAINE D'AVIATION D'HELIO Heliopolis Aerodrome (Cairo), Egypt, POLIS" (at the top) and "LE CAIRE under the sponsorship of the Aero FEVRIER 1910" (at the bottom). Club of Egypt. Up until 1936, so far Later I obtained a "piece" with the as aero-philately is concerned, the postmark as shown in Mr. Kessler's pioneer event was practically unre article. I then wrote the editor of corded. Then,· F. W. Kessler, New L'Aero Philatelie, who published the York airpost specialist and dealer, following in the February, 1927 is writing in the AIRPOST JOURNAL sue of his publication: announced the discovery of an Egyp tian picture postal card (illustrated "The Heliopolis meeting was held herewith) showing the Sphinx and under the auspices of the Aero Club the Great Pyramid and having af of Egypt, and took place between · fixed a 2 milliemes green stamp tied the 6th and 13th of February, 1910. on with the special cancellation: Purses were offered for the follow "Heliopolis Aerodrome, 13, II, '10." ing events: What appears to be a Bleriot mono (1). Daily prize for distance. plane was shown in flight over the left of the stone Sphinx. There was (2). Daily prize for height. no indication that mail had been car (3). Daily prize for speed. ried, but here at least, seemed to be (4). Prize for best total distance. proof of a special cancellation direct (5). Boghes-Pacha-Nubor prize. ly connected with an aerial event. The JOURNAL sought further infor (6). Heliopolis prize. mation on this interesting old card, (7). Baron Empain prize. already classed as No. 1 Egyptian "The entrants were: Latham on an pioneer airpost item. Antionette; Rougier on a Voisin· Additional details were shortly Balsan on a Bleriot; Le Blan on ~ forthcoming, together with further Bleriot; Gobron on a Voisin; Duray

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF TH.J: Tl-IE AIRPOST JOURNAL AMERICAN AIR MAIL SOCIETY March, 1940 Vol. XI, No. 6 Issue 119 20c Per Copy 112 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

• This picture postal card showing Egypt's famed Sphinx and G.rea:t Pyramid was used lo send greetings from :the Heliopolis Aerdrome during the Air Meet, February 13, 1910. Nole lhe plane, which appears :to be a Bleriol. on a Farman; Hans Grade on a Grade; ed to Francis J. Field for the cor Hauvette Michelin on an Antionette; ner copy, showing marginal paper on Metrot on a Voisin; Riemsdyck on a two sides, which is now in the writ Curtiss; Mlle. de la Roche on a Voisin. er's collection. According to Mr. Field Another entrant, Montimer Singer, only three or four of these stamps on a Farman, was prevented from in good condition, are known t~ entering by an accident. exist. The bird, shown in black, and "The Aero Club lent its grounds described by Brigadier-General Ridg for the meeting, the winners being way as an eagle, might possibly be Rougier, Metrot, Le Blon and Balsan. a falcon, which it seems to better re semble. The crescent and star shown "Special vignettes were put on in the white background, is the na covers sent by those present and, in tional Egyptian symbol. addition, letters were marked with a special postmark. There is no rec The Heliopolis Aerodrome cancel ord of the number of letters sent.'' led postal card, which was a part of Thus, the existence of the Helio the well-known Dr. Cole airpost col polis vignette was pointed out to lection, was sold at auction by Mr. American collectors who have seen Kessler last December, bringing a the card and special cancellation. It price of approximately fifty dollars. seems evident, however, that Briga It is now in the collection of Mr. Haig dier-General Ridgway did not have Ouzounian of New York. one of the vignettes in his collection Although the stamp is not official, at the time he wrote his account for it represents an interesting cycle of the JOURNAL. research in aero-philately, and is un The special Heliopolis Air Meet doubtedly one of the first associa vignette (illustrated on the front tions of the issuance of a stamp in cover in full natural colors) was pre connection with aviation, which evi pared in red, yellow and black, per dently was used on mail at the time forated and gummed. We are indebt- of the pioneer Air Meet in Egypt. How Goes Aero-Philately In Europe? • In proof of the healthy state of aero-philately in Britain may be by FRANCIS J. FIELD cited the recent publications of Sutton Coldfield, England specialised handbooks on a pioneer Chile-Argentine air mail and on the whole gamut of· British Inland ser • vices since 1933; both are privately N COMMON with general philate printed works by well-known am I ly, air post collecting is experienc ateur specialists. There have been ing a mild boom that promises to be discoveries, too, in unrecorded air maintained in spite of unforeseen . mail events and mint air stamps. In war developments, and if the war the former category may be included . continues to be one of attrition only that of the world's first parcel post then airpost prices will rise even - inBritain, 1911 preceding by more steeply than in the past three nearly two years the aerial parcel months. I refer, of course, to market post well known in Britain although prices in Britain and Europe. the stamp is not catalogued by Sana bria. In . connection with this dis There is a keen demand for all covery, there was some publicity good class, legitimate issues and that is quite unprecedented in the though important stocks are held, annals of aero-philately: the 1911 they are already becoming depleted. souvenirs were advertised for (and But perhaps the demand for semi "The Aero Field'' magazine mention officials and worth-while flown cov ed) in the leading British daily news ers is even more pronounced, while papers each of which has a circula foreign first flight covers from lines tion ranging from one-and-a-half to inaugurated since August last year two-and-a-half millions. are so scarce that only the luckiest collectors will be able to display a British aero-philately suffered ir really representative range. This is reparable losses in the early months due to the fact that philatelic mail of the war through the death of Fred ings, if any, have been very small as J. Melville, the indefatigable organi a result of lack of advance informa ser of the International Air Post Ex tion or obvious pre-occupation in hibition in London, (1934), whose more urgent war activities. It is safe world-wide repute as philately's to say that from twenty to forty publicist No. 1 is known to every col covers is the average available from lector, and of General Ridgeway, first or emergency flights of Britain, founder and chairman of the Lon Scandinavia, Belgium, and the Port don Aero-Philatelic Club and a pion uguese colonies. eer and experienced collector when air posts were in their infancy. The interest in Trans-Atlantic first flight covers of 1939 is as brisk as at the time of the events, but of course. stocks are extremely low and there • is no opportunity for adequate re plenishment. Similarly, covers from Everyone who collects airposts needs a the inaugurations of the Chungking (China) and Burma, Portuguese copy of the big 1940 American Air Mail East- West, Sweden Finland war Catalogue, published by the AAMS and emergency, Britain and Scandinavia compiled by fifty recognized air mail war lines, and Belgian internal lines specialists. 720 pages, more than 1,100 il -all dating since the war started lustrations. Order from your dealer or are even more elusive and consistent direct. The AMERICAN AIR MAIL CAT ly in demand. ALOGUE, Albion, Penn'a.

50c; Auckland to San Francisco 80c; CLIPPER PLANES WILL SKIP Noumea to Auckland 35c; Noumea BERMUDA ON TRANS-ATLANTIC to Honolulu 45c; Noumea to San Europe-bound Pan American Air Francisco 65c. ways Clipper planes will pass up !he Covers to and from Canton Island stop at Hamilton, Bermuda effective must also be forwarded through the March 15, according to announce company as there is no postoffice on ment made by the company February the island. Rates for PAA service and 25. postage are: San Francisco to Canton Island 45c; Honolulu to Canton Is Although no mention was made in land 25c; Noumea to Canton Island the release the stop is being elimin 35c; Auckland to Canton Island 45c; ated becau~e of persistence of British Canton Island to San Francisco 45c officials to censor the United States Canton Island to Honolulu 25c; Can mail at that point. The week before ton Island to Noumea 25c; Canton Clipper skipper Captain Charles A. Island to Auckland 35c. Lorber was forced to surrender 2,600 pounds of mail, half the clipper's mail Covers to be carried TO Canton load, at bayonet point. Island should be addressed to the Bermuda was made a stop on U.S. addressee at "Canton Island, South FAM-18 (Southern Route) in Septem Pacific," but should bear the addres ber 1939. The route was originally in see's home address on the reverse augurated to fly direct from America side, so that they may be returned to the Azores. Heavy war-time loads after the flight to the addressee. All of mail made the new stop advan other covers on "*'he flight may be tageous, enabling the carriage o~ a addressed to the collectors' home ad smaller fuel supply and the securmg adress. However, BE SURE to write of more safe war-regulated weather point routing in upper left corner of reporting. each cover . . . . and, be sure covers with stuffer do not weigh over half It is understood ~he PAA has now ounce, 10 grams for all dispatches worked out a better system of weath from Noumea. Money Order or cer er information, and future flights of tified check must accompany your the route will now be flown direct prepared covers sent to Pan Ameri to the Azores, as originally inaugu can Airways .. rated. Official cachets, of course, will be • placed on all these covers listed GOTHAM STAMP 8z COVER CLUB above. The points listed herein will NAMES NEW OFFICERS all be incorporated in the future list ings of the American Air Mail Cata The Gotham Stamp & Cover Club, logue. Noumea to Canton Island is Chapter 8, A.A.M.S., announces the· the where the Clipper will pass following officers for the year 1940. over International Date Line, and Daniel Newman, President; Mrs. these covers will be actually received Ethel B. Stewart, Vice-President; and backstamped the day BEFORE Harold R. Meyers, Secretary-Treas they are posted and cancelled. urer. Members of the Board of Gover e nors are: Milton Ehrlich, Herbert E. Patronize APJ Advertisers Goudket, and Gus F. Lancaster. The regular monthly auctions are in full swing again and there's plenty of action all the time. Meet LOOSE LEAF BINDERS ings are held the 1st and 3rd Fridays at the· Hotel Times Square, 43rd St., for the AIRPOST JOURNAL & 8th Ave., New York City. Come Keep your file of back numbers in down and look us over; everybody good condition. Bound in black water welcome. proof fabricoid, stamped with gold. Will hold 24 issues. Window on back for volume numbers. Each, post paid, $2.00. • When answering the advertisements AIRPOST JOURNAL - Albion, Pa. please mention that you saw it in the AIRPOST JOURNAL. AIRS OF THE MONTH • but they are of more than passing interest. Nicaragua's Worlds Fair set by ALTON.). BLANK is attractive. All data on New Issues of Air Mail e AFGHANISTAN e Reported to Stamps should be sent direct to Editor be on the high seas or over them this Alton J. Blank. 1850 Burnett Avenue, set seems to be having difficulties East Cleveland, Ohio. reaching America. • BULGARIA • These stamps were • issued on the 14th of February if reports are correct but to date they have not made their appearance. e FRENCH COLONIES e February 10, 1940 was to see a 77 francs set released for New Caledonia and a 170 francs set for West Africa. -F. W. Kessler • HUNGARY • Illustrated here with are three Horthy National Aviation Fund stamps listed last month. · • LIBIA • Again current are the rumors that a permanent set is soon to make its appearance. We await details. e NICARAGUA o Illustrated here with are the two sets, one for the interior and the other for inter national service, listed first in these columns last November. Colors of the actual stamps are at variance with first reports so we shall list the correct ones. Interior set is 4c. red brown , Be. grey black (B), 16c. blue green (A), 20c. maroon (B), and 31c. red orange (C). Exterior set is 25c. deep blue (A), 30c. black (A), 50c. carmine (B), 60c. green (C), 65c. brown (A), 90c. olive (A), and lC. purple (C). The word "Interior" ap pears thruout one set and the word "International" is on the other. e PARAGUAY · e A globe showing the American Continent and the in scription "America Land of the Free" comprises the central design of the Pan-American Union set to be issued May 14. A product of the American Bank Note Company the stamps will be vertical in format and 2 lx25mm in size. The denominations and quan - AN-AMERICAN UNION com tities will be 20 Pesos red (75,000) Jp> memorative sets and permanent 70 P. blue (50,000> 100 P. green series are topmost in the news this (25,000) and 500 P. purple 00,000>. month. There are not many to list -F. W. Kessler MARCH. 1940 117 e SALVADOR e For the Pan American Union there will be a 30c. brown and blue-black (60,000) and an 80c. red and black (40,000) set of stamps. In size 45x30 mm they will show an angel with an olive branch, the Horn of Plenty, and a plane over B a terrestrial globe. -R. Alexander D.

, 11 , • r ·"~ ,'I

. . ... - A '.-' ...... •' e SLOVAKIA • Illustrated herewith of free balloons and Zeps on stamps are the two key dEsigns of the set to be an addition to the Plane Stamp described in last month's column. list. Puhaps space will be available • next issue. · AERONAUTICAL ADDENDA • The Japanese stamp has been fin Just to remind you that The Airmail Digest, official journal of the Philippine ally explained. It is a 12 sen slate Air Mail Society is calling all airmail col gray colored stamp and presents a lectors of the w orld with requests to send plane over the map of Japan. The photos and brief biographies of all air inscription "Solu . Tatsu" means posters for publication in "WHO'S \\'HO Special Delivery. Four sen goes to IN AEROPHILATELY" which will ap wards the ordinary postal fee and 8 pear in a special edition of the AMD. Publication of photos and biogs is abso sen to pay the special delivery rate. lutely free of charge. Deadline is June The stamp is watermarked wavy 15, 1940. Have you sent your photos and lines, engraved and perforated 13. So biogs? .. . it really belongs to the "Plane Better send them now . . . for procras Stamp" category and not under the tination is the thief of time. airmail listing. The plane simply is symbolic of the speed of the service and not indicative of the kind. • When answering the advertisements We beg the patience of several of please mention that you saw it in the our readers who requested a listing AIRPOST JOURNAL. Official publication of the American Air Mail Society. Published monthly at Albion, (Erie Co.,) Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

THE AIRPOST JOURNAL is entered WALTER J. CONRATH, Editor as second-class matter, February 10, Albion, Penn'a 1932, at the post office at Albion, Pa., GRACE CONRATH, Business Manager under the Act of March 3, 1879. Albion, Penn'a All editorial copy, advertising, new and renewal subscriptions should be sent ALTON J. BLANK. Assistant Editor direct to the publication office at 1850 Burnett Ave .• E. Cleveland, 0. Albion, Penn'a. GLEN W. NAVES, Assistant Editor The AIRPOST JOURNAL is not con % Herald-Journal Newspapers ducted for profit. The managing edi Spartanburg, S. C. tor, all department editors. feature writers and contributors serve gratis ASSOCIATE EDITORS and without compensation of any kind. FRANCIS J. FIELD, Sutton Coldfield, All receipts from advertising, subscrip England tions and contributions are applied di rectly to the betterment of the maga L. B. GATCHELL, 24 Brook Road, zine and the promotion of aero-philately. Bronxville. N. Y. SUBSCRIPTION RATES D. E. HELMUTH. 1724 Page Ave., #11, United States .... ;...... $2.00 per year East Cleveland, ·Ohio Canada and Foreign ...... $2.50 per year JAMES C. HEARTWELL, 341 Carroll Single Copies ...... 20c each Park West. Long Beach. Calif. Back Numbers ...... 25c each F. W. KESSLER. 551 Fifth Avenue, Second (duplicate) copy sent to New York. N. Y. member's same address, 1 yr .....$1.00 Bound Volumes also available. RICHARD L. SINGLEY, Post Office, Lancaster, Penn'a ADVERTISING RATES One inch, per issue ...... $ 1.00 DEPARTMENT EDITORS Quarter Page. per .issue ...... 3.25 ! ALTON ;T. BLANK Half Page, per issue ...... 6.00 Full Page, per issue ...... 10.00 Airs of the Month Front Inside or Back Cover ...... $12.00 Composition charge for solid, tabular HAROLD A. JONES or special typographic layouts: lOc to Crash Cover News 25c per inch additional. W.R. PATTON Interested advertisers may apply for Canada contract rate for space used every issue for a period of 12 months. Ad MAURICE S. PETTY vertising and editorial copy MUST BE Dedications and Unofficials RECEIVED BY THE 20TH OF EACH CHARLES G. RIESS MONTH. 10 days before publication. Contract Air Mail Routes

More Aboul lhe 6c Imperf s ?

UTOW, more than a year ·since the more light was needed to establish J.~ United States 6c Air Mail stamp, the legitimacy of the stamps. imperforate horizontally "error" was The general philatelic press fum widely publicized in the general phil bled when it unwittingly took up atelic press, this variety is receiving the controversy as to whether or not additional current comment and dis errors should be re-issued by the cussion from contemporary philatelic postoffice department, rather than to writers and publications .... The seek and publish proof of the legiti AIRPOST JOURNAL was the first, macy or illegitimacy of the imperf in October, 1938, shortly. after the air stamps .... The "error" stamps existence · of these stamps became were placed on sale . . . . It was re known, to suggest in an editorial that ported the Federal District Attorney MARCH, 1940 119

at New York started a Grand Jury "find" amounted to something in the investigation into the stamps, and neighborhood, or over, forty sheets dropped it .... Postoffice officials . . . . Quite a gathering of "errors" shifted uneasily, sans comment . . . . all in one spot . . . . After . which No further or final details concerning more question marks have been the "discovery" were released, added than has formerly been though collectors anticipated addit provoked by any U. S. issue, save ional information .... The market the "Farleys" .... The Western on the variety stamps was not as Stamp Collector is still inquiring and popular as had been expected . . . . using question marks on the issue, Prices of the stamps realized at auc as published in one of their recent tion dropped below standard net papers: catalogue quotations. What News on 6c Airs? And NOW, as stated above, the "Persons (in stamps) presumed general philatelic press is beginning to be "in the know" seem reluct to look about again, and perhaps even ant to talk about U. S. 6-cent air revise its attitude on this United stamp, part perforate, as purchased States item which has been given full via Frank Zeltman's courtesy at catalogue recognition Let's a Brooklyn post office. look at some February, 1940 quota tions: .... Wrote William M. Stuart, "There is-it is said-something Stamp Editor of the Washington doing. Maybe Frank Zeltman will Post: come across with all the "horrible details" in order to allay the cur "Recently some rather unusual iosity of collectors who do seem errors concerning an air mail to want the CORRECT

tion for charter already having been received, we understand . . . . The convention will undoubtedly include a first class AAMS exhibition and a • number of other attractive features Coverage on Airposts and Airpost .... The date will be set, if Toronto Collectors as Gleaned Through is selected, and will undoubtedly be the Editorial Office during the middle or end of August . . . . so better make your plans and get your vacation leaves arranged • to attend this meeting .... Com plete details and announcement will ,ft IRPOST COLLECTORS' frozen be forthcoming in the next issue . ..tU assets, in the form of those cov ers you prepared and remittances Chapters, personals, and the-run you sent for inaugural of the South of-the-mail .... Airposters Angers Pacific service via Clipper to Auck and Vlasak went romantic, patriotic land, New Zealand last October will and colorful in the same breath .... soon be coming back, as the route is their February meeting mimeograph . expected to get under way some time ed notice was scattered with hearts this month . . . . And here's hoping and lace, Washington and Lincoln, your cachets are all neat and clear, and three or four colors . . . . and your stamps applied correctly, and George says he missed the Ground your backstamps aren't missed. hog . . . . as they've been snowed in all month .... While Glen Naves, "Pou-f-f-f" goes the postoffice de down in the sweltering Carolinas, partment to a very good idea .... evoked a few shivers during the and the new Pan American Union an January temperature dip and did a niversary stamp will, of all things, boiling hot column for the northern depict the allegorical "Three Graces" Albion News, shaming the editor for . . . . which, we'll report for the mentioning southern cold snaus .... benefit of one Bill Alley and others Thanks to Bart Gatchell for two who might have the deft ability to United States "Aerial Newspapers" wise-crack, .doesn't include a full . . . . These are the Los Angeles length line engraving of the business Evening Herald of December 4, 1931, manager of this mag! .... Anyhow, bearing cachet "Air Express via GIL the stamp will NOT be airmail .... PIN Air Lines, Los Angeels - San and, if anyone suggests to us the Diego - Agua Caliente" and the Los daisy-chain dancing "Three Graces" Angeles Evening Exuress of May 4, should be doing a rhumba, we'll quit 1931 with cachet"Delivered by Rapid collecting also. Express Air Lines." .... very in Better hang on to your Zeppelin teresting and we're happy to chroni covers, as this type of flying may be cle them in connection with this revived in the near future .... On specialty A AM S member February 17 a board of experts re Ralph Grover is employed at the ported to Secretary of Navy Edison, postoffice way up in Anchorage, urging the adoption of a ten million Alaska but keeps up to date with dollar dirigible and blimp building modern airposts . . . . He's using the program for the U. S. Navy .... new APJ album pages and Aircover The plan called for the construction Albums in mounting his collections of a rigid type ship about half the .... While Sales Department Man size of the late Hindenburg, together ager Charley Porter, who's always with a number of smaller ships .... been a dyed-in-the-wool stampster, Incidentally, who can enlighten us as saw lotsa nice and pretty covers to what happened, if anything, to coming thru the circuits . . . . and Germany's two Graf Zeppelins? now, he's hot after these items .... Call it pre-view or forecast .. even though he once thought there The official ·board of the AAMS is might not be too much interest in now considering the invitation of covers for him . . . . Bill Wynn, Toronto for the 1940 national con who's a leading lite in the Detroit Air vetion .... Toronto collectors have organized a branch chapter, applica- (Continued on page 133) NON-STOP ·Is New Plan for Future TRANS-ATLANTIC AIR SERVICES

HREE NON-STOP trans-Atlantic Airlines have made plans to operate T Flyers, designed by veteran Igor a preliminary twice-a-month service I. Sikorsky, are being constructed by to Rome, Italy, via Portugal and the United Aircraft Corporation for Spain. In this service the company the planned new service of the plans to use a commercial version of American Export Airlines. The con the Navy's PBY-4, long range patrol tract for the three huge flying boats, flying boat. This ship has proven the first of which is expected to be most successful, the Navy having re ready for service by the end of 1940, cently ordered 200 similar craft from involves an expenditure of two mil the Consolidated Aircraft Corpora lion dollars. Novel point of the plan tion. The American Export's appli is that all flying operations to Europe cation for route certificate is now will be made non-stop, proposed pending before the Civil Aeronautics schedules calling for direct flights to Authority. the coast of Europe, or Ireland, when the neutr~lity ban is lifted. Three Routes Selected Rome Service First American Export's original appli- _ Meantime, the American Export cation for a certificate of convenience

e CONSOL IDA TED Flying Boat of the American Export Airlines shown on one of the six survey flights made between New York and Europe during July and August, 1939. This ship will be used on the preliminary non-stop European flights to Rome. if authorization is granted by the Civil Aeronautics Authority. 122 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL and necessity asked authority to op New Sikorsky "Flyers" erate once-a-week service to Eng The S-44, the Sikorsky "Flying land and once-a-week service to Dreadnaught" XPBS-1, one of the France on separate routes. largest patrol bombers in the world, was designed and built for the United After the Neutrality Act was pas States Navy. It is the commercial sed and the President issued his proc version of this flying boat that the lamation barring American steam Vought - Sikorsky division of the ships and airplanes from the Euro United Aircraft Corporation is build pean combat zone, American Export ing for American Export's non-stop applied for permission to operate a trans-Atlantic service. twice-a-week service to Italy, via While detailed information con Portugal and Spain, all neutral coun cerning the outstanding performance tries outside the <'C::nbat zone. of the S-44 is being kept confidential by the Navy Department, Mr. Sikor Lisbon is to be the first point of sky feels free to reveal some of its call on the non-stop flight to Eu amazing capabilities. He says it will rope in the New York to Rome ser be able to fly non-stop with full pas vice. Another call to be made at a senger and mail load not only from port in Spain. America to a point on Europe's At Biscarrosse, the new French trans lantic Coast, but also that it actually A tlantic air base near Bordeaux, is will be capable of flying non-stop to be the first port of call on the from New York to Rome, a distance non-stop flight to Europe in the New of 4,600 miles, with a full crew and York to Marseilles service. 1,600 pounds of mail. . "One of the greatest advantages Foynes, Ireland is to be the first of flying across the Atlantic non port of call on the non-stop flight to stop," said Mr. Sikorsky, "is that it the British Isles in the New York to not only makes for greater reliability Southampton, England service. of service, but it also eliminates the LaGuardia Airport at North Beach, hazards of landing in unprotected New York City, is to be American harbors." Export Airlines base in the United The new Sikorsky ships are said States. During the winter months, if to be readily adaptable for quick weather conditions make dependable conversion into long-range bombers, service impracticable from New in case of national emergency, and York, American Export's service could be used by the Navy in patrol would be operated out of Baltimore work on either the Atlantic or Pacfic. or Norfolk, the same as the current It will be interesting to note the Pan American Airways Service. developments of this new company in the trans-Atlantic field and to watch Survey Flights their struggle to obtain a portion of During July and August of 1939 this business, before foreign nations the American Export Airlines made have a chance to dominate the air a series of six regularly-scheduled lanes across the Atalntic as they have survey flights across the Atlantic, the sea lanes. Their request, in this utilizing the Consolidated Model 28 sense, is not unfounded as current flying boat. Schedules were main news releases indicate that between tained accurately and the flights two and four foreign nations are now termed highly as successful. making plans for the inauguration of trans-Atlantic service into this country during the coming spring and summer. ~lXiC9 • Mexican Air Mails sent on Send for a supply of recruiting book approval. Selections made lets "Mail Through the Air" and help from specialized stock. Low boost the AAMS and your hobby through priced it.ems from 2 cents up. interesting new members and collectors. Rarities from $300 down. Booklet fits into regular envelope and can be mailed with letter for single rate of postage. Supplied gratis to members PAUL F. SERDANIER - 44 BltADFORD RP. by writing The Airpost Journal, Albion, SCARSDALE, NEW VOR.K. Penn'a. AERO-PHILATELISTS OF NOTE • Article No. 6 in a Series by GLEN W. NAVES P. o. B ox 446 Spartanburg, S. C . •

UTSTANDING among compar O , ative newcomers into the ranks of our American Air Mail Society is James Wotherspoon, 1 4 Stewart Street, West Calder, Midlothian, Scotland. Enthusiastic, a keen aerophilatelic student and a steady AAMS booster, he possesses, according to informa tion in this corner, one of the largest and most representative collections of first flight and other airmail covers and related material held by any young philatelist in Europe. Like many others, Jimmie began as a gen-. eral collector, then shifted to air mails. A young business man, he was born November 30, 1906, i!l Glasgow, and me in as a cadet." He passed prelim~ was educated there and elsewhere in inary tests and was nearing the final Scotland. Ambitious, Jimmie began examination when his father persuad his career early, in shop and office ed him to t

83rd AUCTION SALE THE BERKSHIRE EXCHANGE 736 Hillgirt Circle Oakland, Calif. • Sale March 29, 1940 TERMS OF SALE-Lots sold to highest bidder for cash, and must be taken up within three days of notification. Commercial references are required for new bidders (please do not give society nos. as references). Those known to us may have lots forwarded at close of sale. Any lot may be returned within three days for cause. Make you bid sheet on any piece of paper, and mail to the above address, in time for the sale. · • POSTAGE STAMPS Lot No. Cat .No. Cat .Price 1 U. S. #68, 78 10c, 5c on cvr., well cent., rather heavy cane. F ...... $ 7.50 2 * #319b 2c OG. Perfs, cut close L. VG ...... 1.50 3 • #372 2c. blk. 4, sl. reinf., fnt. thin. OG. VG ...... 1.75 4 BREMEN #1 3sgr., wide marg. VF used ...... 22.50 5 • #6 5sgr., no gum, sl. thin. R .T. cor. repaired. VG ...... 20.00 6 BRUNSWICK #19 ls, v. fnt. crease. Fine used copy ...... 10.00 7 *GERMANY OFF. IN CHINA #lb 3pf. OG. VF ...... 9.00 8 * · OFF. IN MOROCCO #44 6.25 on 5M. OG. Fine ...... 10.00 9 HELIGOLAND #2 lsh, faintly cut B. VG, used ...... 15.00 10 • #6 lsh, no gum. Fine ...... 6.00 11 SWITZERLAND #18 21hrp, small marg, sl. cut B. frame .VG ...... 45.00 12 #25 15rp. Blue cane., v. fnt. thin spt. L marg., nearly invisible. Fine for this ...... 15.00 13 *VICTORIA #117a 6d OG. Perfs. cut T. Sl. crease, thnspt. U.R. VG ...... 5.00 AIRPOST STAMPS 14 *ARGENTINE San. 1-18 18 var., mint. Compl. except 3.60P.F-VF ...... 8.36 15 *CANADA #314b Mint tete beche pr. VF. Sanabria ...... 3.00 16 * #315 Mint blk. 4, one pr. tete beche. VF ...... 6.00 17 #332 WCA., fine copy used on poor cover ...... 5.00 18 #347 CRA. VF copy used on VF cover ...... 2.00 19 *COSTA RICA #3-6, San. 2 mint sets, lOc - IC. VF ...... 1.20 20 *GUATEMALA #1-4,6 Mint blox 4. VF ...... 4.20 .21 *HONDURAS #23, 25, 38 Three values, VF ...... 2.50 22 * #25, 26, 31-34, 38, 43, 44, 46 10 var., OG F-VF ...... 3.35 SOUVENIR-HISTORICAL FIRST FLIGHT COVERS 23 #17 Govt. Flt. Dec. 5, 1919. jahn non-stop mail flt. VF, rare ...... 10.00 24 #6la Pan-Amer. Good Will Flt .. Army. Dec. 21-May 2, 1926-27, carried entire trip. Cvr. opnd. to show al! sig., stamps (see cat.) VF. RARE ...... 100.00 25 70 Jul. 31, 1927. Ship-Shore flt. by Chamberlain. VF ...... 20.00 26 #57 Aug. 23, 1928. 1st Cataplt. Ille de Fr., odd sized cvr. US stamps, posted on brd. Fine ...... 10.00 27 #73 Sept. 29, 1929. 1st flt. Moscow, Russia-NY, via Arctic Ocean. Carried "Land of Soviets." VF extreme rarity ...... 100.00 28 #122 1st Trans-Cont. Glider Flt. Apr. 6, 1930. Card. VF ...... 10.00 29 #122 Same, but cover. Hawks Flight (deceased). VF ...... 10.00 (Continued on Next Page) 126 THE AIRPOST JOURNAL

THE BERKSHIRE EXCHANGE - 83rd Auction Sale