A Display to the Royal Philatelic Society London by members of The British Aerophilatelic Federation

Chairman: Keith B Fitton FRPSL
4th December 2003

Catalogue of the Exhibition by Members of the British Aerophilatelic Federation at the Royal Philatelic Society, London 4th December 2003.

A small selection of pages that were displayed follows:

Trans-Atlantic Airmails, 1939 - 1945,
Christine Earle

On 20th May 1939, PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS made the first commercial transatlantic flight, beginning with the 'Southern' Route, via Horta, the Azores, and Lisbon, to Marseilles.

A second "Northern" Route was established in June, via Chediac (New Brunswick), Botwood (Newfoundland), and Foynes (Ireland) to Southampton.

The outbreak of war meant that PANAM's flights over the "Northern" Route were suspended, and meant that instead of flying to Marseilles, France, the "Southern" Route now terminated at Lisbon, in neutral Portugal.

This display attempts a brief overview of the flights and routes operating just prior to, and during, the Second World War.

Registered First Transatlantic Flight Cover carried over the "Northern" Route : posted Golders Green, London N.W.11 on 28th. June 1939 to New York

Seychelles Pre-War Air Mails
Keith B. Fitton, FRPSL.

Almost certainly the first cover to be flown - even if only part of the way - either to or from Seychelles. Carried on the inaugural Contract Air Mail (CAM) 15 flight from Norfolk, Va. to Philadelphia, Pa. via Washington, D.C. on October 10, 1926; then by land and sea via the UK and France to Seychelles as clearly indicated. Correctly franked with 28 cents comprising 13 cents for the combined surface/air rate overseas for up to 1 Oz. plus 15 cents registration fee; backstamped in New York and London, the letter arrived in Seychelles on November 16 after thirty seven days in transit.

Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Mails 1911-1932
Keith Hanman.

This display studies the progression of airmails to, within, through and from the area leading to the first scheduled flights north from southern Africa, and south from Croydon, in January 1932. Precursor flights are shown, as are also significant flights from other countries that affected the region. It shows how factors, both political and physical, gradually led Imperial Airways to develop this vital route. Special flights mainly of a record-breaking nature will be seen.

UK Aerial Post Coronation scarlet 1d. envelope wih die 4 cancel. Flown Hendon to Windsor 9th September 1911, then rail to Southampton for ship to the Cape. Rail and ship to Chinde, river steamer to Port Herald, rail to Blantyre, Nyasaland. Backstamped Chinde and Blantyre. Believed unique to Nyasaland.

The 1911 Coronation Aerial Post
Peter Lister.

This exhibit shows aspects of the 1911 Coronation Aerial Post, emphasising on the ephemera associated with the event. Items displayed include the Way Bill, Dispatch Note and Bag Label for the first return flight from Windsor, together with privilege violet mail and newspapers. Proofs, essays and colour trials are represented both mint and used. All dignitaries associated with the event are evident by signed covers including those of all the aviators on one card. Differences in the printings of the stationery are also indicated.

An example of the privilege envelope, flown on the first return flight from Windsor. The cover has been signed by both the senior pilot Mr. G.W. Hamel and Mr. D. Lewis Pool, the secretary to the organising committee. It is addressed to Captain Sir Walter Campbell who was the chief ranger of Windsor Park.

Madagascar Airmails
Colin W. Spong, FRPSL.

Madagascar Airmails : commencing with the early pioneers seeking a route to the island either by seaplane or landplane. Although only a little amount of mail was carried on these flights they were, nevertheless, the beginning of routes for the carrying of mail. The display contains examples of covers from journeys made by Commandant Dagnaux, in 1926; Captain Goulette in 1929; the Rous, Caillol and Dodement crash in the Congo in 1930; and finally to the Commercial mail link up with Imperial Airways at Nairobi or Broken Hill and the Belgian Sabena in 1934-1935.

6 February 1930: Leopoldville (Belgian Congo) to Paris by Goulette, Marchesseau and Bourgeois.

Return flight from Tananarive, Madagascar by Farman 192 F-AJJB "Ile de Bourbon" on 6 February, accident at Elisabethville 8 February, left for Brazzaville 20 March collecting mail from Leopoldville. Depart fram Brazzaville, accident at Gao on 22 April, eventually arriving at Paris on 3 May 1930.