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 #103 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1919 (4 July) "Souvenir of First Flight Handley-Page Biplane "Atlantic" from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland" cover to Allston, Mass., attractively overfranked, faint "Missent to Long Island City, N.Y." handstamp, with July 10 cds applied on front, minor cover toning, otherwise fine. Only 6 covers known to USA  | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #104 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1919 (4 July) District Court Harbour Grace cover to New York, franked with 1c and 2c Caribou (appropriate surface rate), faint "Missent to Long Island City, NY" handstamp, with July 10 cds applied on 1c adhesive, endorsement reads "Via First Flight Handley-Page Biplane "Atlantic" from Harbour Grace Nfld", fine and interesting cover (no air mail rate to USA existed at the time. Only on July 4th, just before departure to New York, supplementary covers were added. After the Parrsboro mishap, the mail to USA was sent (by error) together with mail to England. In Long Island, this mail was presumed to be included on the British Airship R-34 at Mineola Airfield, on its way to London. Upon arrival in Long Island City however, the US mail was redirected to the appropriate destination) | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #105 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1919 (4 July) Thomas Leather Co. cover to Newark, NJ, attractively overfranked, faint "Missent to Long Island City, NY" handstamp, with July 10 cds applied on front, minor creases, fine | Price Realized $625.00 |
 | Lot #106 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1921 (26 Feb) two covers, one General Post Office cover franked with 3c on 35c, raised "E" variety, tied by St. John's departure pmk, "Per Aerial Post St. Anthony" handstamp, with St. John's May 7, 21 pmk on back, the other franked with 3c Caribou, similar markings, fine-v.f. In addition, there is a picture postcard showing Labrador Mail Winter Conveyance. About 200 covers were sent by railway to Botwood, the plane was not ready and the flight was canceled Catalog #AAMC FF-5 | Price Realized $150.00 |
 | Lot #107 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1921 (10 Mar) two covers, each franked with 3c Caribou, tied by St. John's departure pmks, "Air Post Fogo" handstamps, Fogo March 28 arrival pmks on back. Also included "On Postal Service" cover with 3c franking from St. John's April 4th, return flight from Fogo, with March 28 pmk at left, fine-v.f. Catalog #AAMC FF-6 | Unsold |
 | Lot #108 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1921 (Dec) Botwood to Halifax, three covers, each franked with 35c "Air Mail to Halifax" overprinted adhesive, one from St. John's to Halifax, Nov.21st departure and Feb.4th, 1922 arrival, another J.W. Penny corner card cover, Feb.5 arrival and returned back to St. John's (Feb 20), plus corner card "Aerial Survey Co." cover from Botwood to England, with Feb.4th Halifax arrival, some cover folds and minor flaws, fine lot Catalog #AAMC FF-9 | Unsold |
 | Lot #109 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1922 (23 Feb) first flight cover from St. John's to Botwood, franked with 3c Caribou, large "Per Aerial Mail" handstamp, with Feb 26 arrival pmk on back, v.f. | Price Realized $150.00 |
 | Lot #110 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1922 (18 Feb) first flight cover from St. John's to Grand Falls (by train from Botwood), GPO St. John's cover sent by the Postmaster (free of charge), with flight acknowledgement in red, filing folds, with Feb 27 arrival pmk on back, one of only two known covers to Grand Falls | Price Realized $425.00 |
 | Lot #111 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1922 (13 Mar) first flight cover from Labrador to St. John's, franked with 3c Caribou, canceled Nain Labrador Jan 19, 1922, with large "Per Aerial Mail" handstamp, March 3rd Cartwright pmk on back, showing endorsement "1st Labrador Air Mail left Cartwright March 13th 1922 at 10 am and after landing at St Anthony and Botwood arrived in St John's 5:05 pm having been 5 hours in the air" (beginning in March 1922, Major Cotton started a project to fly to Battle Harbour on the Southern Labrador coast and possible extension to Cartwright, 150 miles further north, for a total of 500 miles), v.f. example of the winter mail flight by the Cotton & Bennett "Aerial Survey Co." to Labrador, one of only two covers known | Price Realized $850.00 |
 | Lot #112 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1922 (14 Mar) four covers, each franked with 3c Caribou (one with 1c+2c), mailed from St. John's to Trinity, Bonavista (Trinity Bay area) and to Twillingate, one from Trinity to St. John's, each bearing "Per Aerial Mail" handstamp, appropriate markings, minor faults noted, scarce group Catalog #AAMC FF-17a,b | Price Realized $475.00 |
 | Lot #113 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1922 (20 Mar) four covers, each franked with 3c Caribou or 1c+2c, St. John's to Gander Bay, Botwood to Philadelphia, Botwood to St. John's and Gander Bay to New York (cover and stamp defective), new "Aerial Mail" handstamps, mostly unlisted routes Catalog #AAMC FF-17var | Price Realized $525.00 |
 | Lot #114 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1922 (28 Mar) three covers, two with 3c Caribou franking, one from St. John's to Labrador, with Battle Harbour arrival, the other from Battle Harbour to Cartwright (June 23rd arrival). Third cover, franked with 1c+2c Caribou, flown "Per Aerial Mail" from St. Anthony (Apr.20, 1922), endorsed "Per Airship", with Apr.22 arrival, fine group Catalog #AAMC FF-20-21 | Price Realized $240.00 |
 | Lot #115 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1923 (Feb-Mar) two covers, each with 3c Caribou franking, one from Forteau (Labrador), picked up by Cotton from Hawkes Bay to Bishop's Cove; the other from Rigolet (Labrador) to St. John's, stamp not canceled, possibly handled by Cotton on his return flight March 16th from Cartwright to Botwood, each cover with "Aerial Mail" handstamp in violet or black, minor faults, rare Catalog #AAMC FF-23 | Price Realized $350.00 |
 | Lot #116 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1927 (June) Floyd Bennett cover franked with U.S. 2c and Newfoundland 1c Caribou (defective), with slogan mentioning the "Oiseau Blanc" search around the "Nungesser-Coli Search Expedition" cachet | Price Realized $150.00 |
 | Lot #117 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1927 (June) St. John's to Oregon, via Chicago and the "Transcontinental" cover franked with 14c franking, appropriate markings, cachet and signed by J.O. Biffle (pilot) | Price Realized $180.00 |
 | Lot #118 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1929 (14 June) 10th Anniversary of Alcock & Brown Transatlantic flight, cover from St. John's to William O'Neil, Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs, franked with 15c (not canceled) and signed by Arthur Whitten Brown, one of the pilots | Price Realized $190.00 |
 | Lot #119 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1929 (26 July) St. John's to Sydney, N.S., cover with 4c franking, endorsed "Via (Blue Nose) Air Mail" and bearing "Blue Nose" Air Mail Nfld to Canada cachet, plus another cover with attractive franking (totaling 11c), canceled July 27, 1929 Harbour Grace, sent to Rose Archibald (pilot's wife), North Sydney arrival pmk, fine-v.f. Catalog #AAMC FF-32 | Unsold |
 | Lot #120 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (1 Aug) Mears and Collyer Round the World attempted flight, New York to Harbour Grace, 1c card with 10c Special Delivery franking, with Harbour Grace August 2, 1930 arrival pmk, signed on back by John Henry Mears | Price Realized $240.00 |
 | Lot #121 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (9 Oct) corner card R.D.McRae & Sons cover from Harbour Grace to England, endorsed "By Special Air Mail per Aeroplane Columbia", franked with 2c and 2x24c ordinary stamps, tied by departure cds, repeated below, filing folds away from the stamps, without arrival pmk as usual, fine. Only 10 covers franked with 50c ordinary stamps have been recorded from Harbour Grace | Unsold |
 | Lot #122 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (25 Sep) corner card Geo.M.Barr, Ltd cover from St. John's to England, "Per Air Mail "Columbia" Harbour Grace to London England September 1930" typewritten instructions, franked with 4c, 10c and 36c ordinary stamps, with Harbour Grace Oct 9, 1930 transit on back, no arrival as usual, v.f. | Price Realized $475.00 |
 | Lot #123 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (25 Sep) corner card R.C.Rose cover from St. John's to Scotland, endorsed "Per Columbia Air Mail via London", franked with 4c, 10c and 36c ordinary stamps, with Harbour Grace Oct 9, 1930 transit on back, no arrival as usual, v.f. | Price Realized $475.00 |
 | Lot #124 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (26 June) "Southern Cross" stop over at Harbour Grace, cover with U.S. 2c and Newfoundland 4c franking, Harbour Grace cds, endorsed "Via Aeroplane Southern Cross", with July 2, N.Y. arrival pmk on back, closed tear at top of the cover away from the stamps, fine, one of only seven covers carried on the "Southern Cross" | Price Realized $900.00 |
 | Lot #125 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (9 Oct) re-used Canadian flight cover (Medicine Hat to Moose Jaw), carried on the "Columbia" flight from Harbour Grace, with London 13 Oct F.S. 71 arrival pmk, both on front, signed by J.Errol Boyd (pilot) and Harry P. Connor (navigator), fine and unusual cover Catalog #AAMC FF-35c Catalog Value $ 475 | Unsold |
 | Lot #126 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (9 Oct) 1c stationery card uprated with 1c adhesive, carried on the "Columbia" flight from Harbour Grace to London, sent by the pilot to his daughter, with text on reverse about the scarcity of such cards (only 20 carried), signed by a public notary, with signatures of J.Errol Boyd (pilot) and Harry P. Connor (navigator), v.f. Catalog #AAMC FF-35c Catalog Value $ 475 | Unsold |
 | Lot #127 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (9 Oct) 1c stationery card uprated with 1c adhesive, carried on the "Columbia" flight from Harbour Grace to London, sent by the pilot to himself, showing London Croydon Airport Communication Office 11 Oct 30 arrival pmk on front, with signatures of J.Errol Boyd (pilot) and Harry P. Connor (navigator), v.f. Catalog #AAMC FF-35c Catalog Value $ 475 | Unsold |
 | Lot #128 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1930 (9 Oct) hand-illustrated cover showing the flight of the plane, carried on "Columbia" flight from Montreal to London, franked with 4c adhesive, canceled Harbour Grace, with London 13 Oct F.S. 71 arrival pmk on back, fine Montreal to Croydon cover, signed by J.Errol Boyd (pilot) and Harry P. Connor (navigator) Catalog #AAMC FF-35d Catalog Value $ 450 | Unsold |
 | Lot #129 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (Aug) "Viking" Hopedale to Boston, cover with printed "First Official Air Mail from Hopedale, Labrador to Boston", sent by Com. Donald Macmillan to Rev. E.E. Rusted in Carbonear, signed by both pilots (Macmillan and Charles Rockwell), v.f. Initially, Donald MacMillan, a polar explorer, planned to cross the Atlantic from Boston to London, via Labrador and Iceland, but the project was abandoned due to insufficient funding. Perf. and imperf. Tete-beche pairs, labels prepared for the projected Atlantic flight are included | Price Realized $3,750.00 |
 | Lot #130 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (Sep) illustrated cover, dated and signed (twice) by Ruth Nichols, U.S. and Newfoundland franking uncanceled, signed by the Aviatrix, v.f. In June, 1931, Ruth Nichols attempted to fly from New York to Paris, with a stop-over in Newfoundland, but her plane "Akita" crashed in St. Johns, N.B. (June 22) | Price Realized $400.00 |
 | Lot #131 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (Jan) White Bay District Contract covers by Archibald Sullivan and Douglas Fraser, three covers from Hampden, Westport and St. Anthony, various frankings and destinations, each described exhibition style on page, fine-v.f. Catalog #AAMC FF-37-38 | Unsold |
 | Lot #132 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (Jan-Feb) White Bay District Contract covers by Archibald Sullivan and Douglas Fraser, four covers from St. John's via St. Anthony (signed by Sullivan), one to Montreal, another to England, various frankings and destinations, each described exhibition style on page, fine-v.f. Catalog #AAMC FF-37-38 | Unsold |
 | Lot #133 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (3 Jan) cover franked with 50c green, addressed to Victoria, B.C., flown from St. John's to Moncton, N.B., where Registry handstamp was applied, missed the connection to the West ("Received too late to Connect with Air Mail from Montreal"), via Montreal (Jan 7), New York (8 Jan), Portland (10 Jan) and finally Victoria (11 Jan), very unusual routing for a Canadian destination Catalog #AAMC FF-37var | Unsold |
 | Lot #134 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (June) Hilling & Hoiriis "The Liberty" flight to Denmark, three covers, one with U.S. and Danish franking, with special cachet, another with 15c Labrador, canceled Harbour Grace (June 24), both covers signed by the two aviators, last one with $1 Air Mail (uncanceled), with Danish adhesive alongside canceled in Copenhagen, minor cover faults, all three covers written-up on album pages Catalog #AAMC FF-43 | Price Realized $210.00 |
 | Lot #135 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (15 July) Endresz and Magyar "Justice for Hungary" flight cover endorsed "Via Air Mail Plane Justice for Hungary", with corresponding Hungarian cachet and Budapest (July 16) arrival pmk, franked with $1 Air Post, with three-line cachet applied in Hungary. Cover was refused at Harbour Grace and handed over by the crew in Budapest, where the various cachets were applied. In addition, there is specially prepared postcard from Flint, Mich, with similar green cachets applied on arrival in Hungary (the flight did leave Harbor-Grace on July 15, 1931. The non-stop flight took 26 hours and 20 minutes covering 5770 kilometers in total. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the fliers were forced to make a number of bypasses resulting in their fuel running out earlier than planned. As a consequence, they were unable to land as planned on the outskirts of Budapest where thousands were awaiting them. Instead, they were forced to touch down 25 kilometers short, in a cornfield close to Bicske in Feher County) Catalog #AAMC FF-44 Catalog Value $ 1,300 | Price Realized $350.00 |
 | Lot #136 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1931 (16 July) two covers from Corner Brook to St. John's, one addressed to Sir R.A. Squires, Prime Minister of Newfoundland, signed "A.D. Sullivan, Pilot", fine-v.f. Catalog #AAMC FF-45 | Price Realized $300.00 |
 | Lot #137 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1932 (19 May) cover franked with ordinary $1.54 stamps ($1.50 Air Mail and 4c usual rate Newfoundland to North America), tied by St. John's slogan departure pmk and sent by W.J. Thistle (Postmaster at the Newfoundland North Sydney Assorting Office, Nova Scotia) to Glasgow, with London 26 May 1932 transit, handstamped "Not Called For", but nevertheless finally delivered Glasgow 2 Aug, returned to sender, with North Sydney, N.S. arrival, minor cover wrinkles, fine | Price Realized $500.00 |
 | Lot #138 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1933 (July) Seven Islands (Sept Iles) via Wabush-Katsao, two covers, one round trip from Badger's Quay (Bonavista), via Wabush Katsao to Sept-Iles (Quebec province) and back, the other from Wabush-Katsao to St. John's, each with appropriate cachets, registry handstamp and other markings, written up on exhibit page, fine-v.f. | Unsold |
 | Lot #139 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1933 (24 July) Balbo Crociera, Roessler cover paying $1.70 with regular issue franking, with violet "Italian Air Cruise New York - Roma" cachet, flown from New York to St. John's Newfoundland, with Shoal Harbor and St. John's arrival pmks on back, v.f., showing "3132" serial handstamp, unused 15c Roessler label added, v.f. | Price Realized $1,300.00 |
 | Lot #140 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1933 (23 July) Balbo Crociera, cover paying $1.70 with attractive franking, with violet "Italian Air Cruise New York - Roma" cachet, flown from New York to St. John's Newfoundland, with Shoal Harbor and St. John's arrival pmks on back, v.f., showing "3010" serial handstamp, signed Diena, with his certificate. A rare item, less than 40 "private" covers were mailed to Newfoundland | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #141 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1933 (12 July) Balbo Crociera, cover endorsed "Via Italian Air Mail", franked with 5c and 25c, tied by Cartwright, Labrador pmks and sent to Baie Verte, New Brunswick, via Chicago (July 19), arriving on 22nd July in Baie Verte, N.B., filing fold away from the stamps, some toning, rare cover to unusual destination, signed Longhi, with detailed certificate ("Crociera Aerea Del Decennale - Volo di Ritorno Tappa Cartwright - Chicago, Comandante Italo Balbo", Longhi No.33SGb) | Price Realized $4,500.00 |
 | Lot #142 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1934 (27 June) two covers, one with U.S. and Polish franking, special cachet and signed by both Adamowicz brothers; the other 8c stationery entire envelope, dropped in Harbour Grace, where 2c and 3c Newfoundland franking was added for further transmission, v.f. (On June 28, Benjamin and Joseph Adamowicz took off from Floyd Bennett Field in NYC and landed in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. The next day, they took off from there for a Trans-Atlantic trip. Through mechanical problems, leaking engine and heavy rainstorm, they managed to reach Europe (near Caen in France). The next day, after repairing a landing gear, they took off to Paris, then to Germany, where they were forced to land due to fuel leaks. On July 2, the brothers arrived in Warsaw, Poland, treated as heroes. The Adamowicz brothers were possibly the first amateur pilots in the world to fly a plane across the Atlantic) | Price Realized $625.00 |
 | Lot #143 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1935 (22 July) Cartwright to Norway, cacheted "Leiv Erikson" cover, franked with Newfoundland 5c Silver Jubilee and 7o Norwegian adhesives, canceled Cartwright and Bergen, with U.S. 2c carmine canceled 13 July, 1935, Thor Solberg Bergen advertising cachet, fine Catalog #AAMC FF-54 | Price Realized $500.00 |
 | Lot #144 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1936 (22 September) Harbour-Grace to New York, return flight of "Lady Peace" from Wales to New York, via Southport England. The plane ran short of fuel, 18th September, cover with U.S. franking (uncanceled) and 15c Newfoundland, tied by Harbour Grace (Sep 19), signed by Captain Dick Merril, Harry Richmond and Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, who flew to Harbour Grace to help the "Lady Peace" | Price Realized $3,250.00 |
 | Lot #145 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1936 (29 October) Harbour-Grace to England, Jimmy Mollison cover with 2c franking, canceled Carbonear 29 October, with English adhesives added in London for the return flight to Newfoundland, signed by Jim Mollison "on record transatlantic flight N.Y.- London 30 Oct. 1936", fine and rare cover, only five (!) reported | Price Realized $1,900.00 |
 | Lot #146 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1936 (29 October) Harbour-Grace to England, Jimmy Mollison cover with 15c franking, canceled Carbonear 29 October, with English adhesives added in London for the return flight to Newfoundland, signed by Jim Mollison "on record transatlantic flight N.Y. - London 30 Oct. 1936", fine and rare cover, only five (!) reported | Price Realized $1,800.00 |
 | Lot #147 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 Flight Covers 1939 (15 July) Pan-American Airways flight from Hong Kong, via New York to Botwood, with stamps of each country on front, 24 July, Botwood arrival, fine Round-the World flight cover | Price Realized $130.00 |
