Featuring Research Volunteer Contributions

Air Post Issues

refer to caption
10c United States map and airmail biplanes single

On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright flew 120 feet for twelve seconds and changed the world. The flight occurred at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in the biplane that he and his brother Wilbur had developed. Their success—the first sustained, powered flight by man—transformed communications, transportation, travel, commerce, and warfare. During the twentieth century, time and space continued to shrink as aeronautic and astronautic technology expanded horizons.

Airmail postage stamps depict the history of aircraft and aviation from balloons to landing on the moon. Further, mail sent by air documents the development of our changing communications networks both domestically and globally. The romance of aviation has been captured by aerophilately. Adventure awaits as you explore airmail stamps!

6-cent Curtiss Jenny single

The issue of early U.S. airmail stamps coincided with the pioneer and development period of aviation and of...

5c DC-4 Skymaster single

The Post Office Department issued the 5-cent DC-4 Skymaster stamp on...

7-cent Balloon Jupiter single

The balloon Jupiter stamp was issued to commemorate the...

References:

  • Fred Boughner, Airmail Antics: Thrilling Stories of the Pioneer U.S. Government Airmail Service (Sidney, Ohio: Amos Press, 1988).
  • Cheryl Ganz, ed., Collecting Airmail (Mineola, N.Y.: American Air Mail Society, 1996).
  • Donald B. Holmes, Air Mail: An Illustrated History, 1793-1981 (New York: Clarkson N. Potter, 1981).
  • Max G. Johl, United States Postage Stamps, 1902-1935: Regular Issues, Parcel Post, Airmails (Lawrence, Mass.: Quarterman Publications, 1976).
  • Captain Benjamin B. Lipsner, The Airmail Jennies to Jets (New York: Wilcox & Follett, 1951).
  • Simine Short, ed., Via Airmail: An Aerophilatelic Survey of Events, Routes, and Rates (Chicago: American Air Mail Society, 1992).
  • The Airpost Journal, American Air Mail Society.
  • The American Air Mail Catalogue 5th & 6th ed. (Mineola, N.Y.: American Air Mail Society, 1974-2005).
  • Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps & Covers (Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing, 2006).

Cheryl R. Ganz, National Postal Museum

About U.S. Stamps