Cachet art sketch for Foreign Airmail Route #20
Object Details
- Description
- This is an original sketch for the cachet used on mail carried on the first flight of Foreign Airmail route 20. The art features a float plane. Above the central art are the words “SEATTLE JUNEAU, U.S. AIR MAIL, ROUTE FAM 20” and "JUNEAU ALASKA” below. The designation “FIRST FLIGHT” appears to the right of the central image. The sketch was drawn by E. C. Walker on May 10, 1940. The American Air Mail Society designated this cachet “Type F20c.”
- The Post Office Department defined any contract airmail route flown by a U.S. airline into or from a foreign country as a "Foreign Airmail" route. This image was used on envelopes carried on the first flight of the new Foreign Airmail route (FAM) number 20. Pacific Alaska Airways (PAA) began twice-weekly service on that route on June 20, 1940. PAA used a Sikorsky S-42 flying boat from Seattle, Washington, to Juneau, Alaska. The return flight was delayed from June 21 until June 22 due to bad weather. The airlines began carrying passengers on the route on June 24, 1940.
- Reference:
- American Air Mail Society, "A Priced Catalogue and Reference Listing of the Airposts of the World", American Airmail Catalog, 6th edition. Mineola, New York, Volume 3, 2004.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- 1940
- Object number
- 2002.2027.32
- Type
- Art
- Medium
- paper; ink
- Dimensions
- 8.7 x 12.2 cm (3 7/16 x 4 13/16 in.)
- Place
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Topic
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Postal Administration
- Record ID
- npm_2002.2027.32
