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 #29 The Great Transatlantic Race "Handley Page" mail from Harbour Grace 1919 (14 June) "On Postal Service" cover franked with $1 Trans-Atlantic surcharge, mailed from Island Cover (June 12), transit "Spaniards Bay" and canceled Harbour Grace June 13 cds, addressed to London, with oval "Atlantic Aerial Mail Handley Page July 14 1919" datestamp on front, without arrival as usual, filing fold away from the stamp, fine. This is the only known cover not from St. John's or Harbour Grace, receiving 13th June (rather than 14th June) departure pmk, with Handley-Page datestamp on front instead of the back  Catalog #C2 | Price Realized $2,000.00 |
 | Lot #30 The Great Transatlantic Race "Handley Page" mail from Harbour Grace 1919 (14 June) cover franked with $1 Trans-Atlantic surcharge, no comma variety, canceled by mute handstamp, with Harbour Grace, June 14 cds alongside, endorsed "Via Aeroplane "Atlantic", addressed to Ireland, sent by Joseph Ross, Harbour Grace, with oval "Atlantic Aerial Mail Handley Page July 14 1919" datestamp on back, without arrival as usual, some cover mending and toning, otherwise fine. Only 19 covers have been recorded mailed from Harbour Grace, each with the Handley-Page datestamp Catalog #C2 | Unsold |
 | Lot #31 The Great Transatlantic Race "Handley Page" mail from Harbour Grace 1919 (14 June) Thomas Leather Co. cover franked with $1 Trans-Atlantic surcharge, no comma variety, canceled by mute handstamp, with Harbour Grace June 14 cds alongside, sent to Liverpool, England, with oval "Atlantic Aerial Mail Handley Page July 14 1919" datestamp on back, without arrival as usual, filing fold away from the stamp, fine. Only 19 covers have been recorded mailed from Harbour Grace, each with the Handley-Page datestamp Catalog #C2 | Unsold |
