Gaillard Cut First Permanent Airmail Series (1931)

The provisional surcharged airmails were withdrawn from sale at close of business November 17, 1931, and on the next day the new stamps were placed on sale. This was to have coincided with the arrival in the Canal Zone of Charles A. Lindbergh, who would be piloting his new Pan American Airways airmail plane from Colombia to the Canal Zone to inaugurate a fast and more direct route to the United States. However, due to a minor accident in Colombia, Lindbergh did not arrive until the 22nd, and the flight finally took place on the 25th.

Through the years, 4-cent, 5-cent, 6-cent, and 30-cent stamps were added to this long-lived series, which, except for the 15-cent (Scott C10), apparently never had an official date of withdrawal. In addition, no destruction records of the remainders are known. This series was for the most part replaced in mid-1951 by the Second Permanent Series, commonly known as the "Globe and Wings."

In general, these stamps are common on covers as printings were large, and the more exotic usages are avidly collected. The 1-dollar stamp (Scott C14) is quite rare properly used. The 1931 first day covers are quite scarce also, particularly of the complete set. The later values are common both on first day covers and regular usages. The 1931 stamps are frequently seen on the November 25 Lindbergh flight and even after 1951, as people continued using the remainders until depleting the supply.

Robert J. Karrer

The 4-cent stamp (Scott C6) of this series was issued on January 3, 1949, and was used principally on airmail postcards to the United States to fulfill a rate that remained valid through July 31, 1958. In all, some 535,000 copies were printed.

Other than usages on a postcard, the 4-cent Gaillard Cut stamp is often found in combination with other stamps for any number of combinations of rates, services (such as registry and special delivery), and destinations, all of which are very collectible. A considerable number of first day covers were also prepared by several individuals and companies.

Robert J. Karrer

The 5-cent stamp (Scott C7) of this series was issued on November 18, 1931, as part of the original group. It was used exclusively as a 'make-up' rate stamp until October 31, 1946, when the regular first-class airmail rate to the United States was reduced to that figure. This period of use ended when the rates increased to six cents, effective January 1, 1949, after which time the 5-cent stamp reverted to its former multiple usages.

Some 51,000 of these 5-cent airmail stamps were overprinted for official use by Canal Zone-located federal offices between 1941 and 1951. There are two types of overprints on this stamp known as 'The Official Airmails' (Scott CO1 and CO8).

The stamp and covers using it are readily available because just over 10,000,000 were printed over time. Interestingly, it is well known on first day covers prepared by one local individual but much less so in combination with the other stamps of the initial group. It is also fairly frequently seen in combination with 1-cent stamps on servicemen's letters during World War II as they enjoyed a special preferential 6-cent airmail rate at that time.

Robert J. Karrer

The 6-cent stamp (Scott C8) of this series was first issued on February 15, 1946, primarily for U.S. servicemen, who enjoyed a preferential six-cent airmail rate to the United States as early as January 1942. On October 1, 1946, the airmail rate was set at five cents for all customers, so the 6-cent stamps were put into storage until the rate was raised to six cents, effective January 1, 1949. The stamp is common, as are most covers, since a total of 9,440,000 were printed.

Approximately 40,500 of these stamps were overprinted for official use by Canal Zone-located federal offices (Scott CO14) between 1948 and 1951.

First day covers—many of which are known from smaller Canal Zone post offices—and single-stamp usages are quite common because the six-cent airmail rate continued in effect until August 1958. It is also found in combination with the 15-cent Gaillard Cut stamp on letters to Europe in the early 1950s, when the rate was twenty-one cents, and as a 'make-up' stamp on other covers, all of which are eagerly collected.

Robert J. Karrer

The 10-cent stamp (Scott C9) of this series is one of the originals issued on November 18, 1931. First used on mail to nearby Latin American countries and as a 'make-up' on all types of mail, this stamp was later used when authorities initiated a ten-cent civilian airmail rate from the Canal Zone to the United States. The rate existed from April 1, 1945, until September 30, 1946. Correct usages of this stamp during this relatively short period are less common than examples of the other airmail rates.

A total of 61,000 of the 10-cent stamp were overprinted between 1941 and 1951 for official use by federal offices located within the Canal Zone. Two types of overprints on this stamp known as 'The Official Airmails' exist (Scott CO1 and CO9).

Of the 5,140,000 10-cent stamps printed over time, only a few received first day postmarks. Many of the November 25, 1931, Lindbergh-flown covers, however, have the first day postmarks as part of the twenty-cent rate charged from 1930 into 1937. After July 16, 1951, when authorities lowered existing rates to ten cents, this stamp was used on letters to Latin America. The stamp also appears on letters even after the introduction of the new series of airmails in July 1951. It is often found too as a 'make-up' rate on all types of covers that are heavily collected today.

Robert J. Karrer

The 15-cent Gaillard Cut airmail stamp (Scott C10) of this series is one of the originals issued on November 18, 1931. It was first intended for airmail letters to nearby Latin American and Caribbean countries, but its greatest use occurred between December 10, 1937, and March 31, 1945, when the airmail rate to the United States was fifteen cents. In addition, it was commonly used in combination with other stamps such as on overweight, foreign, registered, and special delivery letters and packages.

Some 62,500 (the most of any of the airmails) of these stamps were overprinted between 1941 and 1952 for official use by Canal Zone-based federal offices. This stamp is known as one of the 'The Official Airmails'. (Scott CO3)

First day covers from 1931 are scarce, but they are often found with the 5-cent Gaillard Cut airmail stamp to make-up the twenty-cent rate on the November 25, 1931, Lindbergh flight.

The airmail cover depicted is a typical use of the 15-cent Gaillard Cut airmail stamp on a one ounce letter to the United States. However, a canceling machine malfunction makes the exact date illegible, though it appears that the year is 1942. Note that this letter's contents were examined (censored) in the United States upon arrival from the Canal Zone. The "Via Air Mail" handstamp was privately applied, but it adds interest to this otherwise common cover.

Robert J. Karrer

The 20-cent Gaillard Cut stamp (Scott C11) of this series is one of the originals issued on November 18, 1931. It was first intended for airmail letters to the United States and some Latin American countries. Its greatest period of use was from November 18, 1931, to November 30, 1937, after which date the rate to the United States dropped to fifteen cents. Like the other Gaillard Cut airmails, it is often seen in a 'make-up' rate situation. Some 3,214,000 were shipped to the Canal Zone, making it one of the more common stamps and on cover.

Between 1941 and 1952 some 30,500 of these stamps were overprinted for official use by Canal Zone-based federal offices. There are two types of overprints on this stamp known as 'The Official Overprints' (Scott CO4 and CO10).

First day covers are fairly scarce, apparently due to the relatively high face value of this stamp during the Great Depression. A good number, however, were used on letters destined for the November 25, 1931, Lindbergh flight from the Canal Zone to Miami. It is also frequently seen in combination with other stamps. Two of these are with a 1-cent Gorgas stamp (Scott 105) to make up the twenty-one cent rate to Europe, and less often for a thirty-one cent rate letter to Asia, Africa, and the Pacific after July 17, 1951.

Robert J. Karrer

The 30-cent Gaillard Cut airmail stamp (Scott C12) was issued on July 15, 1941, and its original intent was to cover either a double weight or registered letter to the United States. The minimum registry fee at that time was fifteen cents. Other than this, it is often seen in combination with other stamps in 'make-up' rate situations. After April 1, 1945, when the basic airmail rate to the United States dropped to ten cents, it is found exclusively in these make-up rates. One of these is in combination with a 1-cent Gorgas stamp (Scott 105) on an airmail letter to Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, where the thirty-one cent airmail rate was in effect after July 16, 1951.

Some 30,500 of these stamps were overprinted between 1941 and 1952 for official use by Canal Zone-located federal offices. There are two types of overprints on this stamp known as 'The Official Overprints' (Scott CO5 and CO11).

First day covers of this stamp are quite common, and there are a large number of different cachets prepared to honor its issue by a variety of cachet artists. One could make an attractive exhibit of just these first day covers.

Robert J. Karrer

The 40-cent Gaillard Cut airmail stamp (Scott C-13) was one of the originals in this series offered for sale to the public on November 18, 1931, and some 826,00 were printed through the years. At the time there was almost no call for it as a single stamp, so its use was almost always in combination with other stamps. In its lifetime through the 1937 and 1940s rate changes, it is uncommon in any form on cover. Perhaps most often it is seen on letters addressed to Latin American destinations such as Brazil and Argentina.

Between 1941 and 1951, some 30,500 of these stamps were overprinted for official use by Canal Zone-based federal offices. There are two types of overprints on this stamp known as 'The Official Overprints' (Scott CO6 and CO12).

Since most people could not afford the cost of the full series on cover, the first day covers of this stamp are very scarce. Those that do exist are almost always found with the other value, which makes for a very attractive cover.

Robert J. Karrer

The 1-dollar Gaillard Cut stamp (Scott C14) was the last of the original stamps in the series first sold on November 18, 1931. Patrons used it as a 'make-up' rate stamp on heavier or very valuable packets. It is rare on cover in any non-philatelic usage. Because authorities anticipated its limited use, only 406,000 were printed.

Approximately 33,500—a fairly large percentage of the entire issue—of the 1-dollar Gaillard Cut stamps were overprinted between 1941 and 1952 for official use by federal offices located within the Canal Zone. Known as 'The Official Overprints,' they must have been intended for package mail as existing usages are often found this way.

First day covers of the 1-dollar Gaillard Cut stamp are quite rare, reflecting their cost relative to wages. Those that do exist are almost always found as part of an entire and colorful set on one envelope.

Robert J. Karrer