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 #81 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 $4.50 on 75c bister, n.h., minor gum bends, otherwise v.f., ** Catalog #C18 Catalog Value $ 475 | Price Realized $190.00 |
 | Lot #82 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 $4.50 Balbo, block of four, perf. 13.8, n.h., v.f., with handstamped guarantee on back (Unitrade C18b, CAN $4,000)  **Catalog #C18b | Price Realized $1,700.00 |
 | Lot #83 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 $4.50 Balbo, watermark sideways inverted, n.h., v.f., with 2006 Royal certificate, rare (only 11 examples recorded, including a block of four) ** Catalog #C18var | Unsold |
 | Lot #84 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 corner card "Crociera" legal size envelope to Rome, franked with $4.50 Balbo surcharge, canceled in Clarenville (July 29) and Shoal Harbour (July 30), handled by the crew, with 10cts Portuguese adhesive canceled August 9 Praca de Rocio (Lisbon), arriving in Rome (Aug 12), with Ministerio de Aeronautica pmk, signed by all the pilots and the crew of "Alice" (commanding vessel of the Armada), including Italo Balbo, filing fold away from the stamp, fine and truly remarkable item, no other recorded with such quantity of autographs, or the additional Portuguese transit franking  Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $9,500.00 |
 | Lot #85 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 corner card "Crociera" cacheted envelope from/to Captain Teucci (pilot of I-TEUC) mailed in Harbour Grace (Aug 5), with complimentary Orbetello Grosseto (12 Aug) pmk alongside, v.f., the only recorded Balbo cover mailed on August 5th, 1933 Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #86 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 picture postcard ("the Alice") franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by Clarenville (August) datestamp, addressed to Rome, with Orbetello Grosseto (14.8.33) arrival, autographed "Italo Balbo" on picture side (The "Alice" was the commanding vessel of the Armada) Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $1,700.00 |
 | Lot #87 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 $4.50 Balbo, canceled July 25, 33 Harbour Grace on cover addressed to Mr. Walter P. Walsh in Rome, endorsed "General Balbo Fight", with additional Harbour Grace departure pmk, blue Crociera handstamp, Shoal Harbour transit and Rome (Aug 12) arrival pmks on back, cover with clipped corners at left, otherwise fine. Only 5(!) covers (four from Harbour Grace) have been recorded canceled June 25 outside of St. John's GPO Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $4,250.00 |
 | Lot #88 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 $4.50 Balbo, canceled July 29th on Crociera Aerea type I picture postcard, additional 1c and 2c ordinary stamps, tied by "Clarenville July 28th" datestamp and Shoal Harbour pmks, with arrival 15.8.33 alongside, some toning, signed Alberto Diena, with his 1965 certificate. This is the only known official postcard used on the entire flight Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $850.00 |
 | Lot #89 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) cover to Paris, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "1616" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 27) and Roma (12 Aug) transits, with Paris (15 Aug) arrival pmks on back, fine, stated to be the only known Balbo cover from Newfoundland to France Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $575.00 |
 | Lot #90 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (27 July) cover to Italy, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by Shoal Harbour departure pmk, with Crociera blue logo and "1181" handstamp, Torino transit and Roma arrival pmks, no other Newfoundland markings, signed Richter Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $675.00 |
 | Lot #91 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) cover to Kurseong, India, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "1618" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 27) and Roma (12 Aug) and Brindisi transits, with "Kurseong Reg. 25 Aug 33" arrival (following its arrival in Rome, the cover traveled via Paris to Brindisi by train and connected with the newly opened (July1) Imperial Airways flight Croydon to Karachi, then Indian Transcontinental Airways (Tata & Co.) to Calcutta and by the "Darjeeling Himalayan Railway" to Kurseong in West Bengal, covering 8,800 miles, over four continents, four postal administrations (Newfoundland, Italy, England and India), four trains and four airplanes, impressive voyage, minor cover toning Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #92 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) cover to Italy, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "64" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 27) and Roma (18 Aug) arrival markings on back, v.f Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $675.00 |
 | Lot #93 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) General Accident Assurance Company corner card cover to Italy, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "1575" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 27), Torino (15 Aug) with 50c Italian adhesive added for the return trip, showing Aug 28 St. John's arrival, v.f., rare round-trip combination cover with Italian adhesive paying return postage Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #94 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) cover to England, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "43" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (Aug 2) and Roma (12 Aug) arrival, v.f. cover mailed from Shoal Harbor after aborted departure on 30th July, rare Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $650.00 |
 | Lot #95 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) Newfoundland Labrador Export Company corner card cover to Italy, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "5025" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 27), Naples and Rome arrival pmks on back (18 Aug), fine Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $625.00 |
 | Lot #96 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) legal size "Newfoundland Railway" sent by an American journalist cover to Rome, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by Shoal Harbour departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "5092" handstamp (highest known number), Rome arrival (17 Aug), fine Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $1,400.00 |
 | Lot #97 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) cover to Italy, addressed to Carbonear, Newfoundland, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "1150" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 27), Torino (15 Aug) arrival, resent to Newfoundland, with August 30 arrival in St. John's and August 31st in Carbonear, fine and unusual cover Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $425.00 |
 | Lot #98 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (7 Aug) cover to Toronto, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by Shoal Harbour departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "15" handstamp, with Clarenville Aug.8 transit and Rome (12 Aug) arrival markings on back, v.f. example of late mail to Italy Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $750.00 |
 | Lot #99 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) The Evening Telegram corner card cover to Italy, addressed to the Deputy Minister of Posts and Telegraphs St. John's Newfoundland, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "1833" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 27), Torino (15 Aug) arrival, resent to Newfoundland, with August 28 arrival in St. John's, signed by "Balbo" on front, v.f. Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $1,700.00 |
 | Lot #100 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 cover sent by a journalist, Mario Massai to himself in Milano, registered and franked with $4.50 surcharge and additional pair of 5c Caribou and single 7c Elizabeth, tied by Shoal Harbour August 1, 1933 and framed Post Office Clarenville July 29th datestamps, signed by Italo Balbo, fine cover handled by the crew (Mario Massai, "Corriere de la Sera Milano", was one of the three Italian journalists covering the Armada) Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $1,700.00 |
 | Lot #101 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 (26 July) cover addressed to H.R. Harmer in London, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by St. John's departure cds, with Crociera blue logo and "1566" handstamp, Shoal Harbour (July 28, rather than the usual July 27) and Roma (12 Aug) arrival pmks on back, v.f. Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $675.00 |
 | Lot #102 NEWFOUNDLAND AIR MAIL - 1921-1939 1933 Italo Balbo "Crociera" Italian Air Cruise 1933 cover to Italy, franked with $4.50 surcharge, tied by framed "Post Office Clarenville July 1933", with Crociera blue logo and "1841" handstamp, various transit and arrival pmks, fine cover handled exclusively by the crew of the Armada, without the usual Shoal Harbour or other Newfoundland markings Catalog #C18 | Price Realized $4,500.00 |
