Newfoundland Air Mail 1919-39
January 25, 2023
Newfoundland has played an important role in the development of long-distance air travel. As the easternmost place in North America, it became a popular runway for many aviation pioneers attempting to cross the Atlantic by air in 1919. It also served as a refueling point for round-the-world attempts in the 1920s. Amelia Earhart made two record-setting flights from Newfoundland, in 1928 and 1932. The advent of passenger flights in the 1930s brought the pioneer period to a close, but established Newfoundland as a major stopover between Europe and North America. This June will mark 104th Anniversary of the Alcock & Brown flight (On 15 June 1919 came the telegram with the news that the Vicker's Vimy landed in Ireland, having completed the 1,860 mile flight in 16 hours. The news was received with great enthusiasm. "Well, it must be something for a man in Ireland today to be able to say Yesterday, when I was in America", quoted the pilots). The rest is history.
We are pleased to present the award-winning collection assembled by Jean-Claude Vasseur, author of "Newfoundland Air Mails 1919/1939" published in 2015. The collection tells the story of the Great Transatlantic Air Race and the struggles of early aviation. Many rarities and unique items are included.
The auction will take place on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Cherrystone Auction Galleries and on CherrystoneLive.
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #44 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1927 "De Pinedo" surcharge 1927 60c black, well centered and overprinted "Air Mail De Pinedo 1927" in red, position 26 (sheet 3), used on small cover from St. John's (May 20), addressed to London, England, with Trepassey May 21 departure pmk alongside, signed "De Pinedo" in red, cover backflap missing, with "Roma Centro 22.VI.1927 Le Piu Belle Terme del Mondo Salsomaggiore Periodo Di Cura Marzo-Novembre" advertising slogan arrival pmk on reverse (one month later, the plane made a stopover in the Azores), v.f. cover, ex-Cyril Harmer, signed Diena, also Fiornezo Longhi, with his 2014 certificate ("only known cover with this stamp, signed by Francesco de Pinedo")  Catalog #C4 Catalog Value $ 25,000 | Price Realized $9,000.00 |
 | Lot #45 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1927 "De Pinedo" surcharge 1927 60c black, overprinted "Air Mail De Pinedo 1927" in red, position 21 (sheet 6), used on "Department of Post and Telegraphs Minister's Office" Official Mail stationery envelope from St. John's (May 20) to Rome, Italy, Trepassey May 21 departure pmk alongside of the stamp, which was positioned too low, with another machine cancel applied at a 90 degree angle below, type-written "Col. De Pinedo Air Flight 1927", with Milano transit and "Roma Centro 22.VI.1927 Le Piu Belle Terme del Mondo Salsomaggiore Periodo Di Cura Marzo-Novembre" advertising slogan arrival pmk on reverse, v.f. cover, signed Kessler, Diena, Herbert Bloch, Raybaudi, Longhi, also Dr. Giorgio Colla, with his certificate (Unitrade CAN $30,000) (Francesco De Pinedo (1890-1933) was a famous Italian aviator of the time. By 1927, he had flown most of the globe in his double-hulled Savoia-Marchetti seaplane named the "Santa Maria II". In May 1927, De Pinedo was on the last leg of his circumnavigation of the Atlantic. The Newfoundland government asked him to carry a mail bag back to Italy for them. He agreed, and the stamp was quickly issued to publicize the event. He took off from Trepassey, Newfoundland on May 23, 1927. During his flight from Newfoundland to Italy, De Pinedo experienced engine trouble and he was forced to land in the ocean. He and his aircraft were found, and they were towed to the Azores. Following repairs to his aircraft, De Pinedo finally completed his flight, and he arrived in Rome on June 1, 1927) Catalog #C4 Catalog Value $ 25,000 | Price Realized $7,000.00 |
 | Lot #46 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1927 "De Pinedo" surcharge 1927 60c black overprinted in red "Air Mail De Pinedo 1927", position 1 (sheet 2), well centered and placed upside down (as requested by Marchese De Pinedo), used on cover from St. Johns (May 20), addressed to Rome, Italy, Trepassey May 21 departure pmk below, with "Roma Centro 22.VI.1927 Le Piu Belle Terme del Mondo Salsomaggiore Periodo Di Cura Marzo-Novembre" advertising slogan arrival pmk on reverse, forwarded to Dublin, Ireland, v.f., signed Sanabria, also Bolaffi with 2013 certificate. A splendid De Pinedo cover (one of about 225 covers with an overprinted Newfoundland 60c stamp flown on the transatlantic flight attempted by Marquis Francesco de Pinedo between Trepassey, Newfoundland, and Rome, Italy, via the Azores. De Pinedo left Newfoundland on May 23, 1927, but a shortage of fuel caused his plane to land in the ocean, 200 miles from the Azores. The plane was towed to the islands by a schooner, and De Pinedo reached Rome about three weeks later) Catalog #C4 Catalog Value $ 25,000 | Price Realized $7,500.00 |
 | Lot #47 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1927 "De Pinedo" surcharge 1927 60c black overprinted in red "Air Mail De Pinedo 1927", position 26 (sheet 2), well centered and used on "Job Brother & Co." cover to its London branch, with St. Johns (May 20) and Trepassey May 21 departure pmks, with "Roma Centro 22.VI.1927 Le Piu Belle Terme del Mondo Salsomaggiore Periodo Di Cura Marzo-Novembre" advertising slogan arrival pmks on both sides, some hinge marks on back of the cover, with minor tears below, accompanied by a letter written by Mr.Job, noting that only three covers were allowed per sender and that one is being sent by Thomas Job, the family stamp collector. A v.f. De Pinedo cover and letter, signed Colla, with 2016 certificate, also Bolaffi, with "Bolaffi 100" 1990 certificate, Catalog #C4 Catalog Value $ 25,000 | Price Realized $9,000.00 |
 | Lot #48 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1927 "De Pinedo" surcharge 1927 60c black overprinted in red "Air Mail De Pinedo 1927", position 50 (sheet 1), showing "D" broken at top and weak "O" at left, well centered, tied by St. John's machine cancel (May 20) on cover (opened for display), with Trepassey May 21 departure pmk below, addressed to Miss Baird in London, with "Roma Centro 22.VI.1927 Le Piu Belle Terme del Mondo Salsomaggiore Periodo Di Cura Marzo-Novembre" advertising slogan arrival pmk on back, cover with closed tear at top, fresh and v.f. otherwise, Catalog #C4 Catalog Value $ 25,000 | Price Realized $6,000.00 |
