US First Flight Stamp Covers

US First Flight Stamp Covers

At the beginning of the aviation era, many nations were using planes to carry mail for the first time. Many of the letters and parcels that were carried on these first flights were commemorated in some way by the flight crew or the postal service. The envelopes that surrounded these commemorative pieces of airmail are called first flight stamp covers, and some of the U.S. first flight stamp covers are now valuable antiques.

U.S. first flight stamp covers are envelopes that held letters sent out with the first airmail flights in the United States. Over the years, these items have become increasingly sought after because of their rarity. These envelopes usually bear a number of postage stamps as well as stamps that indicate their point of origin and the type of airmail service used to send them.

Before World War I, airmail was such a rarity that it was possible for pilots to add a personal touch to each letter or parcel that was sent by air on a first flight. Pilots would habitually sign each piece of airmail that was carried on their planes during their inaugural voyages. Signed flight postage stamp covers are much more valuable than unsigned covers. After the war, many new planes were built and airmail became much more common, which made it impractical for pilots to sign each envelope.

When airmail was first becoming widespread, hundreds of airmail flights went up in various areas of the United States. Each piece of mail carried on these flights was commemorated by some sort of mark. Here are some of the most popular types of American first flight covers that are available:

• Graf Zeppelin 1930 issue: In 1930, a Graf Zeppelin made a voyage around the world. This Zeppelin stopped in a number of states, including New Jersey and Ohio. You can still find letters that were carried by this Graf Zeppelin with U.S. postmarks.
• Aviation Tour with Lt. Walter Hinton 1931 issue: In 1931, famed naval war pilot Lt. Walter Hinton led an aviation tour across the USA. As part of this tour, Hinton and his crew carried a number of letters across the country.
• Dirigible USS Macon 1934 issue: In the 1930s, the U.S. Navy constructed two dirigibles. Called the USS Macon and the USS Akron, they both carried airmail on their maiden voyages. Mail carried on the first flight of the USS Macon bears a unique commemorative stamp.
• Governmental Flight Washington, DC to NY 1918 issue: In 1918, one of the first flights conducted by the American government traveled from Washington D.C. to New York City. All of the letters that were carried on this flight were signed by the pilot.