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 #3 The Great Transatlantic Race The "Atlantic" - Henry Hawker and Mackenzie Grieve 1919 Hawker, 3c red brown, well centered, canceled St. John's Apr 12, 1919 on official St. John's GPO corner card cover sent by the Postmaster General Dr. (J.Alex.) Robinson to himself in London, with "Found Open and Officially Secured" label on back, canceled by 30 May 19 London F.S. 23 (foreign section), initialed "JNS", filing fold away from the stamp, fine cover (also included a photograph made by Captain Wilvers of the "S.S. Lake Charlottesville" when discovering the "Atlantic" airplane) (Harry Hawker and his navigator Commander Mackenzie Grieve, commenced their attempt at the first non-stop transatlantic crossing in the afternoon of 18 May, 1919. After many problems Hawker decided to ditch in the sea and he and Grieve were rescued by the Danish ship "Mary". The aeroplane "Atlantic" and the precious bag of mail were salvaged by the S.S. Lake Charlottesville on 23 May. The water-soaked mail was dried, stamps placed back on the envelopes, and handed to the postal authorities on 29 May, reaching London the next day) (Unitrade CAN $35,000)  Catalog #C1 Catalog Value $ 25,000 | Price Realized $8,000.00 |
