List of United States airmail stamps
Part of a series on |
Airmail |
---|
![]() |
Main articles |
|
Philately and Collecting |
|
Transport |
|
Organizations |
See also |
|
|
Domestic U.S. Air Mail was established as a new class of mail service by the United States Post Office Department (POD) on May 15, 1918, with the inauguration of the Washington–Philadelphia–New York route. Special postage stamps were issued for use with this service.[1] Domestic air mail became obsolete in 1975, and international air mail[2] in 1995, when the USPS began transporting First Class mail by air on a routine basis.[3][4] All post-1977 United States stamp images are copyright of USPS.[5]
Scott cataloged stamps received a "C" designation for airmail issues beginning in 1940. Designated for international mail, and showing a small airplane, the January, 2012 $1.05 Scenic America series issue was designated C150. However, with the January, 2013 issue of the $1.10 Global Forever Stamp no specific airmail purpose was shown in the design. Rather, the Postal Service stated that this "stamp offers a single price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world."[6] Thus a regular series Scott number, 4740, was designated.
1918–1919
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image | No. Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 13, 1918 | 24¢ Rose & Blue Size: | Inverted Curtis Jenny Biplane Design: Claire Aubrey Huston Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall | 8493 T, 8493 B | ![]() see also | ~100 (1 plate) Error |
May 13, 1918 | 24¢ Rose & Blue Size: | Curtis Jenny Biplane Design: Claire Aubrey Huston Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall | 8492 T, 8493 T | ![]() | 3,095,955[7] |
July 11, 1918 | 16¢ Green Size: | Curtis Jenny Biplane Design: Claire Aubrey Huston Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall | F8900 T | ![]() | 3,793,987 |
December 10, 1918 | 6¢ Orange Size: | Curtis Jenny Biplane Design: Claire Aubrey Huston Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall | 1955 T, Unused plate: 9164[8] | ![]() | 2,134,988 |
Reference:[9]
1920–1929
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image | No. Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 15, 1923 | 8¢ Dark Green Size: | De Havilland Airplane Propeller and Radiator Design: C. A. Huston Engraved: H. Dawson and E. M. Weeks | 14824–14827 L (four plates) | ![]() | 6,414,576 |
August 17, 1923 | 16¢ Dark Blue Size: | U.S. Air Mail Service Insignia Design: C. A. Huston Engraved: H. Dawson and E. M. Hall | 14828-14831 L (four plates) | ![]() | 5,309,275 |
August 21, 1923 | 24¢ Carmine Rose Size: | De Havilland DH-4 Biplane Design: C. A. Huston Engraved: J. Eissler and E. M. Hall | 14840–14843 L (four plates) | ![]() | 5,285,775 |
February 13, 1926 | 10¢ Dark Blue Size: 1 | Map of the U.S. & two planes Design: C. A. Huston | 18246 R, 18247 B | ![]() | more than 42,092,800 |
September 18, 1926 | 15¢ Olive Brown Size: 1 | Map of the U.S. & two planes Design: C. A. Huston | 18746 L | ![]() | 15,597,307 |
January 25, 1927 | 20¢ Yellow Green Size: 1 | Map of the U.S. & two planes Design: C. A. Huston | 18898 R, F18892 B | ![]() | 17,616,350 |
June 18, 1927 | 10¢ Dark Blue Size: 1 | Spirit of St. Louis | 18999 R, 19427 | ![]() | 20,379,179 |
July 25, 1928 | 5¢ Carmine & Blue Size: 1 | Beacon on Sherman Hill Design: A.R. Meissner | 19570 T, 19701 T (red) 19546 T (blue) | ![]() | 106,887,675 |
Reference:[10]
1930–1939
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image | No. Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 10, 1930 | 5¢ Violet[P 1] Size: 1 | Winged Globe Design: Alvin R. Meissner | 19944 L | ![]() | 97,641,200 |
April 19, 1930 | 65¢ Green Size: 1 | Graf Zeppelin over the Atlantic | 20077 L | ![]() | 93,536 sold |
April 19, 1930 | $1.30 Brown Size: 1 | Graf Zeppelin over the Atlantic | 20085 B | ![]() | 72,428 sold |
April 19, 1930 | $2.60 Blue Size: 1 | Graf Zeppelin See also: 1930 Graf Zeppelin stamps | 20092 R | ![]() | 61,296 sold |
August 19, 1931 | 5¢ Violet[P 2] Size: 1 | Winged Globe Design: Alvin R. Meissner | 20606 LL | ![]() | 57,340,050 |
September 26, 1932 | 8¢ Olive Bistre Size: 1 | Winged Globe Design: Alvin R. Meissner | 21030 UR | ![]() | 76,648,803 |
October 2, 1933 | 50¢ Green[P 1][PERF 1] Size: 1 | Graf Zeppelin | 21172 B | ![]() | 324,070 |
June 30, 1934 | 6¢ Dull Orange Size: 1 | Winged Globe Design: Alvin R. Meissner | 22135 UL | ![]() | 302,205,100 |
August 30, 1934 | 16¢ Dark Blue | Great Seal of the U.S. (Air Mail Special Delivery) | 21313, 21313 F – Reprinted imperforate, 1935 | ![]() | 9,215,750 |
November 22, 1935 | 25¢ Blue | China Clipper Design: Alvin R. Meissner | 21473 | ![]() | 10,205,400 |
February 10, 1936 | 16¢ Carmine & Blue | Great Seal of the U.S. (Air Mail Special Delivery) | 21497 F, 21495 F, 21493 | ![]() | 72,517,850 |
February 15, 1937 | 20¢ Green | China Clipper Design: Alvin R. Meissner | 21622 | ![]() | 12,794,600 |
February 15, 1937 | 50¢ Carmine | China Clipper Design: Alvin R. Meissner | 21624 | ![]() | 9,285,300 |
May 14, 1938 | 6¢ Carmine & Blue | Eagle and Shield | 349,946,500 | ||
May 16, 1939 | 30¢ Blue Size: 1 | Winged Globe Design: Alvin R. Meissner | F22384 T, 22381 | ![]() | 19,768,150 |
Reference:[11]
1940–1949
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image | No. Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 25, 1941 | 6¢ Carmine[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | The Twin-Motored Transport Plane | Following are shared among the 1941 issues: 40 plates between 22752-23349 & 22756-9 (4 plates) | ![]() | 4,746,527,700 |
March 21, 1944 | 8¢ Olive Green[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | The Twin-Motored Transport Plane | 23126 | ![]() | 1,744,878,650 |
August 15, 1941 | 10¢ Violet[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | The Twin-Motored Transport Plane | ![]() | 67,117,400 | |
August 10, 1941 | 15¢ Brown[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | The Twin-Motored Transport Plane | ![]() | 78,434,800 | |
August 27, 1941 | 20¢ Green[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | The Twin-Motored Transport Plane | ![]() | 42,359,850 | |
September 25, 1941 | 30¢ Blue[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | The Twin-Motored Transport Plane | ![]() | 59,880,850 | |
October 29, 1941 | 50¢ Orange[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) | The Twin-Motored Transport Plane | 22779 | ![]() | 11,160,600 |
September 26, 1946 | 5¢ Carmine Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | DC-4 Skymaster | 22778, 22779 | ![]() | 72,517,850 |
March 26, 1947 | 5¢ Carmine[P 2][PERF 2][D 1] (400 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | DC-4 Skymaster | 23486, 23588, 23973, 25422 | ![]() | 971,903,700 |
August 30, 1947 | 10¢ Black[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | Martin 2-0-2 over Pan American Union Building, Wash. D.C. | [D 1] [D 2] 23694 | ![]() | 207,976,550 |
August 20, 1947 | 15¢ Green[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | Lockheed Constellation over New York Skyline | [D 1][D 2] 23683 | ![]() | 756,186,350 |
July 30, 1947 | 25¢ Blue[P 2][PERF 2] (200 Subject Electric Eye Plates) Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch | Stratocruiser over the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge | [D 1][D 2] 25615 | ![]() | 132,956,100 |
January 15, 1948 | 5¢ Carmine[PERF 3] | DC-4 Skymaster | ![]() | 33,244,500 | |
July 31, 1948 | 5¢ Red | New York City | 23846, 23851 | ![]() | 38,449,100 |
January 18, 1949 | 6¢ Carmine | DC-4 Skymaster | ![]() | 5,070,095,200 | |
May 11, 1948 | 6¢ Carmine | Alexandria Bicentennial | 24085 | ![]() | 75,085,000 |
August 25, 1949 | 6¢ Carmine[PERF 3] | DC-4 Skymaster | ![]() | 260,307,500 | |
November 18, 1949 | 10¢ Violet | U.P.U. P.O. Building | ![]() | 21,061,300 | |
October 7, 1949 | 15¢ Ultramarine | U.P.U. Globe and Doves | ![]() | 36,613,100 | |
November 30, 1949 | 25¢ Rose | U.P.U. Boeing Stratocruiser | ![]() | 16,217,100 | |
December 17, 1949 | 6¢ Magenta | Wright Brothers | 24158 | ![]() | 80,405,000 |
Reference:[12][13]
1950–1959
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image | No. Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 28, 1952 | 80¢ Red Violet | Diamond Head, Hawaii | 24592-4 (3 plate) | ![]() | 18,876,800 |
May 29, 1953 | 6¢ Carmine | 50 Years of Powered Flight | ![]() | ||
September 9, 1954 | 4¢ Blue | Eagle | 25034-35, 40–41 (4 plate) | ![]() | |
August 1, 1957 | 6¢ Blue | U.S. Air Force, 50th Anniversary | 25763 | ![]() | |
July 31, 1958 | 5¢ Red | Eagle | 26052 | ![]() | |
July 31, 1958 | 7¢ Blue | Jet Silhouette | 26046 | ![]() | |
July 31, 1958 | 7¢ Blue[PERF 3] | Jet Silhouette | – small holes | ![]() | |
January 3, 1959 | 7¢ Blue | Alaska Statehood | 26225 | ![]() | |
August 17, 1959 | 7¢ Red & Blue | Jupiter Balloon | 26392 | ![]() | |
August 21, 1959 | 7¢ Rose | Hawaii Statehood | 26432 | ![]() | |
August 27, 1959 | 10¢ Blue & Red | Pan Am Games | 26413 | ![]() | |
November 20, 1959 | 15¢ Orange & Black | Statue of Liberty | 26482 | ![]() |
1960–1969
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
June 10, 1960 | 10¢ Green & Black | Liberty Bell Number issued: 39,960,000 | 26630 | ![]() |
April 22, 1960 | 25¢ Maroon & Black | Abraham Lincoln | 26563 | ![]() |
August 12, 1960 | 7¢ Red | Jet Silhouette | 26714 | ![]() |
October 22, 1960 | 7¢ Red[PERF 3] | Jet Silhouette | ![]() | |
June 28, 1961 | 13¢ Red & Black | Liberty Bell | 26970 | ![]() |
January 13, 1961 | 15¢ Orange & Black | Statue of Liberty | 26878 | ![]() |
December 5, 1962 | 8¢ Red[P 2][PERF 4] 400 Subjects | Jetliner Over Capitol Building | – Booklet Pane of 5 + Label 28024 | ![]() |
December 5, 1962 | 8¢ Red[PERF 3] (Perforated 10 Horizontally) | Jetliner Over Capitol Building | ![]() | |
May 3, 1963 | 15¢ Red, Brown & Blue | Montgomery Blair Number issued: 42,245,000 Design: Robert J. Jones | 27466 | ![]() |
July 12, 1963 | 6¢ Red | Eagle Design: V. S. McCloskey | 27390 | ![]() |
July 24, 1963 | 8¢ Carmine & Maroon | Amelia Earhart Number issued: 63,890,000 Design: Robert J. Jones | 27548 | ![]() |
October 5, 1964 | 8¢ Blue & Red | Robert Goddard Number issued: 62,255,000 | 27861 | ![]() |
March 30, 1967 | 8¢ Brown | Alaska Purchase Number issued: 55,710,000 | 29013 | ![]() |
April 26, 1967 | 20¢ Multicolored | Audubon "Columbia Jays" Number issued: more than 50 million | 29087 | ![]() |
January 5, 1968 | 10¢ Red | Runway | 29518 | ![]() |
January 5, 1968 | 10¢ Red[PERF 3] | Runway | ![]() | |
April 4, 1968 | $1 Multicolored | Airlift | ![]() | |
May 15, 1968 | 10¢ Red, Blue & Black | 50th Anniversary of Air Mail | 29673 | ![]() |
November 22, 1968 | 20¢ Red, Black & Blue | Jet & "USA" | 30510 | ![]() |
September 9, 1969 | 10¢ Multicolored[PERF 1] | Moon Landing Number issued: 152,364,800 Design: Paul Calle | – red omitted – tagging omitted 31378 | ![]() |
1970–1979
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 15, 1971 | 9¢ Red[PERF 4] | Jet Silhouette | 32946 | ![]() |
May 7, 1971 | 11¢ Red[PERF 2] | Jet Silhouette | 33020 | ![]() |
November 10, 1973 | 13¢ Red | Winged Letter | 34584 | ![]() |
July 13, 1971 | 17¢ Red, Green & Black | Statue of Liberty | 33096 | ![]() |
May 21, 1971 | 21¢ Red & Blue | USA | 33279 | ![]() |
May 7, 1971 | 11¢ Red[PERF 5][PERF 3] | Jet Silhouette | ![]() | |
December 27, 1973 | 13¢ Red[PERF 5][PERF 3] | Winged Letter | ![]() | |
May 3, 1972 | 11¢ Multicolored[PERF 1] | City of Refuge | 33463 | ![]() |
August 17, 1972 | 11¢ Blue, Black, Green, Red & Yellow[PERF 2] | Winter Olympics, Sapporo, Skiing | 33322-6 | ![]() |
July 10, 1973 | 11¢ Multicolored[PERF 1] | Progress in Electronics | 34192 | ![]() |
January 11, 1974 | 18¢ Black, Red & Blue[PERF 1] | Statue of Liberty | 34931, 34959 | ![]() |
January 2, 1974 | 26¢ Black, Red & Blue[PERF 1] | Mount Rushmore | 34875 | ![]() |
January 2, 1976 | 25¢ Red, Black & Blue | Plane & Globes | 36957 | ![]() |
January 2, 1976 | 31¢ Red, Black & Blue | Plane & Globes | 36981 | ![]() |
September 23, 1978 | 31¢ Multicolored | Wright Brothers | ||
September 23, 1978 | 31¢ Multicolored | Wright Brothers | ||
March 29, 1979 | 21¢ Multicolored | Octave Chanute | 38856 | |
March 29, 1979 | 21¢ Multicolored | Octave Chanute | ||
November 20, 1979 | 25¢ Multicolored | Wiley Post | 39197 | |
November 20, 1979 | 25¢ Multicolored | Wiley Post | ||
November 1, 1979 | 31¢ Multicolored | Olympics |
1980–1989
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
October 13, 1980 | 40¢ Multicolored | Philip Mazzei | [PERF 1] (1980) – perf 10 1/2x11 1/2 | |
December 30, 1980 | 28¢ Multicolored | Blanche Stuart Scott | ||
December 30, 1980 | 35¢ Multicolored | Glenn Curtiss | ||
June 17, 1983 | 28¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
June 17, 1983 | 28¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
June 17, 1983 | 28¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
June 17, 1983 | 28¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
April 8, 1983 | 40¢ Multicolored | Olympics | – block[PERF 1] | |
April 8, 1983 | 40¢ Multicolored | Olympics | – block[PERF 1] | |
April 8, 1983 | 40¢ Multicolored | Olympics | – block[PERF 1] | |
April 8, 1983 | 40¢ Multicolored | Olympics | – block[PERF 1] | |
November 4, 1983 | 35¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
November 4, 1983 | 35¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
November 4, 1983 | 35¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
November 4, 1983 | 35¢ Multicolored | Olympics | ||
February 13, 1985 | 33¢ Multicolored | Alfred V. Verville | ||
February 13, 1985 | 39¢ Multicolored | Lawrence and Elmer Sperry | ||
June 10, 1985 | 44¢ Multicolored | Transpacific 50th Anniversary | ||
August 22, 1985 | 44¢ Multicolored | Junipero Serra | ||
March 29, 1988 | 44¢ Multicolored | New Sweden Settling | ||
July 14, 1988 | 45¢ Multicolored | Samuel P. Langley | – overall tagging | |
June 23, 1988 | 36¢ Multicolored | Igor Sikorsky | ||
July 14, 1989 | 45¢ Multicolored | French Revolution | ||
October 12, 1989 | 45¢ Multicolored | Pre-Columbian America | ||
November 27, 1989 | 45¢ Multicolored | Future Mail Delivery | ||
November 27, 1989 | 45¢ Multicolored | Future Mail Delivery | ||
November 27, 1989 | 45¢ Multicolored | Future Mail Delivery | ||
November 27, 1989 | 45¢ Multicolored | Future Mail Delivery | ||
November 24, 1989 | $1.80 Multicolored | Future Mail Delivery Miniature sheet |
1990–2012
Date Issued | Type | Subject | Plate No. | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
October 12, 1990 | 45¢ Multicolored | Tropical Coast | A1111 UL | |
April 27, 1991 | 50¢ Multicolored | Harriet Quimby | [PERF 1] S1111 LL – Perf 11.2 S2222 LR | |
May 17, 1991 | 40¢ Multicolored | William T. Piper | A1111 UL | |
June 21, 1991 | 50¢ Multicolored | Antarctic Treaty | S1111 UR | |
October 12, 1991 | 50¢ Multicolored | Bering Land Bridge | 111111 LR | |
1993 | 40¢ Multicolored | William T. Piper | S1111 LR | |
May 12, 1999 | 48¢ Multicolored | Niagara Falls | V11111 UL (First of the Scenic American Landscapes Series[14]) | |
July 30, 1999 | 40¢ Multicolored | Rio Grande | V11111 LR | |
January 20, 2000 | 60¢ Multicolored | Grand Canyon | B1111 UR – die cutting omitted error B1111 UR | |
March 6, 2001 | 70¢ Multicolored | Nine-Mile Prairie | P11111 LL | |
April 17, 2001 | 80¢ Multicolored | Mount McKinley | V11111 UL | |
May 20, 2001 | 60¢ Multicolored | Acadia National Park | – 2001 year date, prephosphored, die cut 11.25 x 11.5 (B1111 UR) – 2001 year date, overall tagging, die cut 11.5 x 11.9 (B2222 UR) – 2005 year date (S1111 UR) – Acadia error, printed on the backing paper (S1111 LR) | |
February 22, 2006 | 63¢ Multicolored | Bryce Canyon, Utah | S22222 LL | |
February 22, 2006 | 75¢ Multicolored | Great Smoky Mountains | P11111 LR | |
February 22, 2006 | 84¢ Multicolored | Yosemite National Park | V11111 UR | |
June 1, 2007 | 69¢ Multicolored | Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge | P11111 LL | |
June 1, 2007 | 90¢ Multicolored | Hagatña Bay, Guam | V11111 UR | |
May 16, 2008 | 72¢ Multicolored | 13-Mile Woods, New Hampshire | S11111 UL | |
May 16, 2008 | 94¢ Multicolored | St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands | V11111 LL | |
June 28, 2009 | 79¢ Multicolored | Zion National Park | ||
June 28, 2009 | 98¢ Multicolored | Grand Teton National Park | ||
April 11, 2011 | 80¢ Multicolored | Voyageurs National Park | ||
January 19, 2012 | 85¢ Multicolored | Glacier National Park | ||
January 20, 2012 | $1.05 Multicolored | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania |
Notes on types
Plate type (P notes) |
---|
[P 1][P 2] – plate type |
|
Perforation (PERF notes) | Printing Dryness (D notes) |
---|---|
[PERF 1][PERF 2][PERF 4][PERF 5][PERF 3] – perforation details, see here[15][16] for more details | [D 2][D 1] – printing dryness, see also (airmail section) |
|
|
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
References
- ^ The Official Blackbook Price Guide to U.S. Postage Stamps 2005, 27th Edition (Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps) by Thomas E. Jr Hudgeons (Author) Publisher: House of Collectibles; 27 edition (June 8, 2004) ISBN 978-1-4000-4842-7
- ^ "United States Postage stamps: 1847 through 1947 ~ The first 100 years". Junior Philatelists. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ^ "Airmails C1-C15". Usstamps.coinsandstamps.com. Archived from the original on 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ^ "U.S. Airmail Stamp Color Catalog". Stampandcoin.com. 2014. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ Under US Copyright.
- ^ "Global Forever". Archived from the original on 2013-10-09. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
- ^ "Air Mail Issues of the United States: 1918–1944". 1847usa.com. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
- ^ Kirker, Joe (May 18, 2006). "6-cent Curtiss Jenny". First Airmail Issues. Arago, Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
- ^ "Stamps from 1918–1919". American Air Mail Society. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "Stamps from 1920-1929". American Air Mail Society. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "Stamps from 1930-1939". American Air Mail Society. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "Stamps from 1940-1949". American Air Mail Society. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
- ^ "Alaska Coin Exchange Presents Stamp Plate Block Collection Book One Scott #C40 Alexandria Bicentennial & C45 Wright Brothers Air Post Air Mail Stamps". Coinandstampgallery.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-08. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ^ Scenic American Landscapes
- ^ "Stamp Q and A". Stamp Paraphernalia.com. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ^ Note: all plate numbers referenced from: http://www.apnss.org/Airmails.htm