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 #13 The Great Transatlantic Race Second Martinsyde attempt - "The Chimerra" 1919 (12 July) "Crosbie Hotel" envelope to West Byfleet, Surrey, franked with $1 Trans-Atlantic surcharge, no comma variety, tied by St. John's machine cancelation, minor cover folds and wrinkles away from the stamp, with the London Foreign Section 66 7 Jan 20" label on back. A scarce cover from the second "Martinsyde" supplementary mail, only 25 flown (of the total of 70 carried by pilots Raynham & Morgan. Francis Field states that as the flight was delayed, the mail bag, originally made up on May 18, was opened on July 12, and an additional 25 covers, all franked with the $1 Surcharge, were added.) The flight crashed on takeoff, and Raynham subsequently went to England by ship, forgetting to turn the mail over to the P.O. until January 7, 1920, so the covers were not backstamped until then. An important pioneer trans-Atlantic attempted flight, as well as a major crash cover  | Unsold |
 | Lot #14 The Great Transatlantic Race Second Martinsyde attempt - "The Chimerra" 1919 (12 July) General Post Office envelope to London, franked with $1 Trans-Atlantic surcharge, tied by St. John's machine cancelation, minor cover folds and wrinkles away from the stamp, with the London Foreign Section 66 7 Jan 20" pmk on back, pencil signed "Carried on the "Martinsyde" Irwin Heiman". Cover is addressed to Whitehead, Morris and Co. (London contractor, editor of stamps to Newfoundland from 1910 to 1923, including the so-called "Caribou Issue", the only permanent issue in the world, fully dedicated to World War I, addressing the contribution by Newfoundland's Army in the Middle East and France) | Unsold |
 | Lot #15 The Great Transatlantic Race Second Martinsyde attempt - "The Chimerra" 1919 (12 July) O.H.M.S. envelope (legal size) from the Department of the Colonial Secretary St. John's Newfoundland to Colonel Partridge (official starter of the "Challenge", in charge of sending messages announcing the departure of the various flights to the Royal Aero Club in Croydon) in India House, London (Air Ministry), franked with $1 Trans-Atlantic surcharge, tied by St. John's machine departure duplex pmk, with London 7 Jan 20 F.S.66 arrival and violet Air Ministry datestamps on back, minor adhesion (label removed?) at upper left, other cover wrinkles, one of only 27 covers mailed on July 12th, signed Diena | Price Realized $2,100.00 |
 | Lot #16 The Great Transatlantic Race Second Martinsyde attempt - "The Chimerra" 1919 (12 July) cover franked with $1 Trans-Atlantic surcharge, tied by St. John's machine departure duplex pmk, addressed to Miss Baird (St. John's), with "London 7 Jan 20 F.S.66" arrival; cover returned to Newfoundland, with St. John's arrival Feb 5, 20, signed by J.P. Raynham and Lt. C.H. Biddlecombe (who replaced Major Morgan, injured on the first attempt), filing fold away from the stamp, one of 27 covers mailed on July 12th, one of only three of which were autographed by both the pilot and the second navigator | Price Realized $1,900.00 |
