Figure 7. Striking Air Mail series’ from German Third Reich era

The 1934 Air Mail stamps of Germany comprised two designs. The 5pf to 100pf (nine values) featured the striking Golden Eagle, Globe and Swastika, the 2m and 3m Count Zeppelin and Airship Graf Zeppelin. Very Third Reich, and Figure 7 is very representative of the era; the stamps were used in Austria during Germany’s annexation (“Anschluss”) of that country. This 12 August 1938 registered airmail Vienna to Sydney bears 10pf, 100pf x2, 25pf, and 2m. The aggregate franking of 5m 35 was for 45gms airmail to Australia (4m 05) + registration fee (1m 30).

Figure 8. From Yugoslavia’s very fine 1937 Air Mail series

Airmail to Australia from Yugoslavia prior to WWII is rather scarce. That changed after the war with the huge migration intake. Figure 8 is an early wartime airmail of 11 March 1940 from Belgrade to Sydney. This was carried by Imperial Airways, from a late service for IA became BOAC on 1 April 1940. From the 1937 Air Mail set of eight (two further denominations appeared in 1940) we have the 50p, 5d and 20d, a total of 25d 50, which I believe represented 21d 50 airmail + 4d registration fee. Here and elsewhere, some of the rate comments are deduced from material I have access to; I apologise in advance if I have misinterpreted.

Figure 9. QANTAS, BOAC, Japan Airlines convergence?

Figure 9 is one of the two items featured which are not destined for Australia. This is close enough, being from QANTAS office in Japan, to that in Singapore! An 8 November 1952 solo use of the 160y stamp from the 1952-62 Air Mail set of eleven (with slightly revised designs from the 1951-52 series), this paid the fourth weight step airmail rate (40y x4). Interestingly, the Air Mail label was that of BOAC, suggesting this QANTAS inter-office item was carried by the opposition. The Aeroplane over Mt. Tate subject stamp presumably features a Japan Airlines plane; JAL was formed in August 1951, and the original series featuring this stamp appeared in September 1951. An unusual convergence of three airlines in one item, if I’m correct.

Figure 10. Art Deco interpretation of “Mercury” from CuraÇao

More reminiscent of a character from a 1930s Flash Gordon novel, the very individual designs of the stamps in Figure 10 are in fact a representation of the more widely known “Mercury”. The series of 13 stamps in this series seldom made their way to Australia; mail communication between the Netherlands Antilles and Australia has always been minimal. This 12 August 1941 item from Willemstad to Brewer Racket Co (maker of tennis, squash, badminton racquets) in suburban Melbourne, bears the 45c, 1g 40 and 60c stamps from the set, and was censored both in country of origin, and upon arrival in Melbourne. The rate of 2g 45 paid for full airmail service by KLM.

Figure 11. “Pegasus” an infrequent visitor to Australasia

One of the great designs in Air mail stamps must surely be that issued by Uruguay in 1929. I’ve not been able to locate an example of this stamp on an item to Australasia, and we’ll have to settle for one to Germany, shown as Figure 11. The pair of 30c denomination should be adequate to confirm the wonderful design. Sent from Montevideo to Berlin via France, the rate of 62c was for the basic airmail service. No less than 36 stamps (!), plus subsequent surcharges, make up this series. Latin America is the king of Air Mail stamp series’, and material is generally plentiful and inexpensive. Three years ago I decided to build a portfolio of pre-1940 Latin American commercial airmail covers, exclusively by selecting attractive items on eBay and placing a maximum bid of US$10. This proved to be a successful formula, and winnings began to flow in. I couldn’t believe how such attractive, exhibitable items could be so readily obtained, and for such a low average entry price, which ended up closer to US$6 than to US$10. After a year or so I focused on unrelated acquisitions, returning only recently to this former activity, in order to see if market sentiment had changed. To the extent that material remained reasonably plentiful, nothing had changed, but the average entry price by my reckoning had increased to around US$15, from US$6 two/three years earlier. I can’t help but think that as supply becomes absorbed – it is finite after all – the average entry price for this material will continue to increase. Latin American commercial airmail material is one of my most highly recommended collecting fields.

Figure 12. Festooned U.S. Air Mail stamps to lubricate one’s taste

We’ll complete this introduction to Air Mail stamps with the U.S., which has issued it’s fair share of such stamps. They’re quite attractive, and reasonably available. The differential between used on cover, and off cover, at least in my Scott Specialized Catalogue for 2000, suggests that Air Mail stamps used on commercial cover are one of the great bargains in World Philately. For example, in my catalogue, the 1918 16c is 35c used, and 55c used on cover, the 24c is 35c used, 75c on cover. I doubt if this anomaly is a reality in the market place, but I’ll make a point of finding out. I’ll buy such items on cover all day long at such bargain prices! Figure 12 contains three different later issues from two series’, the 10c and 20c (x7) from the 1926-27 set of three, and the 50c (x4) from the 1935-37 set, also of three. A 30 May 1941 use from New Orleans to Brisbane, the aggregate $3.50 postage paid the fifth weight step airmail rate (2-2½ozs.) for the “China Clipper” service. Censoring during wartime took place upon arrival at Brisbane.

Air Mail stamps can have a lot going for them in the visual stakes. Would you agree? When on commercial postal articles, they can take that attribute to dizzying heights (pun unintended). Good luck with your Philately and in general for ’09.

Rod Perry has been a philatelic trader since 1962. He founded Rodney A Perry Auction Galleries (now Millennium Philatelic Auctions) in 1971. As a collector he has exhibited nationally and internationally. Rod prefers his used stamps on cover and likens taking a stamp off its original cover to converting a tree to woodchips.

For more information please visit Rod’s website The National Stamp Gallery.