Air Mail Postal History

The history of aviation in America is the history of the mails, as the post office and the drive for faster delivery of the mail was the principle energy beyond early advances in aviation. Every airport opening, every first flight of a new airmail route, the intriguing Zephelins, and unfortunately there are also crash covers to be collected; amil that shows scars of having been in a mishap in the skys. Of course, the airplane also played a part in our national need for speed and thus developed the covers commemorating Air Races and Special Events. iHobb.com has an extensive and always changing inventory of Air Mail and Air Race related postal history for your collecting enjoyment.

Airport Dedication Covers

Any and all events are a good reason for marking the day with a special postal cover. The celebrations that surrounds the opening of an airport were no exceptions. Certainly a big event in the life of any town as they moved into the modern age of air travel. Frequently with engraved cachets, the majority of these covers bear rubber stamps cachets applied the day of the event and signed by local dignitaries, pilots and Chamber of Commerce members.

Air Races, Air Shows and Special Event Covers

Air Races, airshow and other special event involving aviation would with certainty include the production of a special event cover. Because the mail was so closely linked to the progress of aviation due to the mail contracts that funded much of the development, this is a logical extension and one that is enjoyable for collectors today.

North German Lloyd Lines 'Catapult Mail' Service

Catapult Mail was literally catapulted off specially equipped ships when the launching ship was still a day out of port. Close enough for a plane to leave the ship and reach shore cutting a day off the delivery time for the mail. This was a very limited service, costing an extra charge, and the covers all received a special marking of interest to us today.

Airmail Crash Covers

Early aviation was not what flight is today in terms of safety and reliability. Mail involved in mishaps "crash covers" bear special markings as the Post Office worked to process these letters after recovers. Often damaged and partially burned, these covers show the dangers of early aviation.

Airmail First Flight Covers

First Flight Covers mark the initial transport of mail over newly established routes connecting cities to the new wonder of airmail. Know as CAM routed for domestic mail and FAM routes for international mail, a collection of these covers in any degree of completeness is a challenge that can give years of enjoyment.

Graf Zeppelin Air Ships Postal History, plus Macon Airship Covers

Covers flown by the Zeppelin Air Ships, and also by the Macon Airship, have captured the imagination of postal history collectors since the wonderful age of the Great Zeppelin and its 'round-the-world flights. The Zephs are a most popular and pricy stamp and a 'capstone' for any airmail collection, and so it is true also with the Zeph covers.