9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 869 — Fall 2003 U.S. Rarities: United States, Confederate States, Historic Flights and Hawaii
Sale Date — Saturday, 15 November, 2003
Category — Flight Covers from the John F. Langhoff Collection
1928, June 3 -- Transatlantic Flight of the "Friendship", Newfoundland to Wales. Flown cover signed "Amelia Earhart" and addressed to "Mr. A. E. Roessler, East Orange N.J., c/o American Consul at Destination", "Trepassey Newf'd Ju 5 28" circular datestamp, Newfoundland 1923 3c Pictorial uncancelled at origin, evidently cancelled at the U.S. Consulate office with top of handstamping device in magenta ink matching receiving backstamp "Jun. 21/Received", two vertical folds (one thru signature)FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FLOWN COVER CARRIED ON BOARD THE "FRIENDSHIP" DURING ITS HISTORIC JUNE 1928 TRANSATLANTIC CROSSING, MAKING AMELIA EARHART THE FIRST WOMAN TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC IN AN AIRPLANE.
The "Friendship", a three-engine Fokker hydroplane, left Boston on June 3, stopped at Halifax and reached Trepassey on June 4. Poor weather delayed the transatlantic flight until June 17, when the "Friendship" took off at 9:51 a.m. The 2,100-mile flight thru dense fog and clouds lasted 20 hours, 49 minutes. When the "Friendship" landed at Burry Port, South Wales, at 6:40 a.m. on June 18, Amelia Earhart claimed her fame as the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. Although she played a secondary role to pilot Wilmar Stultz and mechanic Louis Gordon, Earhart captured the hearts and minds of the public, especially women.
A small quantity of mail was carried on the "Friendship". Some of the surviving flight covers have U.S. or British stamps (Boston dispatch). Others have Newfoundland stamps. The Trepassey June 5 postmark and small amount of postage (3c) indicate that this was mailed soon after the "Friendship" arrived on June 4. After reaching the U.S. Consulate in England, it was probably folded and returned to Roessler in another envelope.
AAMC $2,750.00
1928, July 28 -- Stultz Day, Middletown Pa. Purple cachet on cover to Harrisburg Pa., signed by Amelia Earhart and Louis Gordon, Gordon was the mechanic aboard June 1928 Friendship flight establishing Earhart as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic, -1/2c and 1c franking, Very Fine
1929, May 14 -- Amphibian Service, Detroit to Cleveland over Lake Erie (AAMC 27E27). Flown cover from Detroit to Cleveland with American Railway Express Co. label on back, green four-line handstamped cachet and "Air Express" straightline, signed "Amelia Earhart", "Amelia Earhart Special Pilot" straightline handstamp, 2c Vincennes tied by "Railway Express Agency, Inc./Received/May 14, 1929/Superintendent/Detroit, Mich." purple framed datestamp, label tied on back by similar Cleveland office receiving datestamp and purple flight cachet, 1929 National Air Races label also on backVERY FINE. ONLY TWO PAIRS OF FLOWN COVERS WITH THE RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY LABELS AND EARHART'S SIGNATURE ARE KNOWN TO US.
The other pair of covers with this combination of markings was offered in the "Aurea" sale (Christie's, Sep. 25, 1991).
1929, May 14 -- Amphibian Service, Cleveland to Detroit over Lake Erie (AAMC 27W28). Flown cover from Cleveland to Detroit with American Railway Express Co. label on back, green four-line handstamped cachet and "Air Express" straightline, signed "Amelia Earhart", "Amelia Earhart Special Pilot" straightline handstamp, 2c Vincennes tied by "Railway Express Agency, Inc./Received/May 14, 1929/General Manager/Cleveland, Ohio" purple framed datestamp, label tied on back by similar Detroit office receiving datestamp and purple flight cachet, 1929 National Air Races label also on backVERY FINE. ONLY TWO PAIRS OF FLOWN COVERS WITH THE RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY LABELS AND EARHART'S SIGNATURE ARE KNOWN TO US.
The other pair of covers with this combination of markings was offered in the "Aurea" sale (Christie's, Sep. 25, 1991).
1929, May 14 -- Amphibian Service, Detroit to Cleveland over Lake Erie (AAMC 27E27). Flown cover from Detroit to Cleveland with purple handstamped cachet, signed "Amelia Earhart", "Amelia Earhart Special Pilot" straightline handstamp, 5c Beacon tied by Detroit May 14 machine cancel, Very Fine, only a few were signed by Earhart, accompanied by collector notes and an unsigned cover from the same flight
1929, July 8 -- Columbus O. Inaugural Transcontinental Air Transport Co. Rail-Air Service. Cacheted cover signed "Amelia Earhart" and addressed to Charles A. Lindbergh, 5c Ericsson tied by Columbus Jul. 8 machine cancel, Very Fine, Earhart represented the Transcontinental Air Transport Co. in effort to encourage women to become aviators, the company's rail-air service was inaugurated in 1929 in a ceremony with Lindbergh and Earhart participating -- accompanied by collateral and another unsigned slight cover
Amelia Earhart. 5c Airmail entire with National Air Races and "Arrival of Graf Zeppelin and Los Angeles" handstamped cachets signed "Amelia Earhart", Cleveland O. Aug. 28, 1929 duplex, Very Fine
Amelia Earhart. Legal-size Hotel Cleveland airmail cover to Los Angeles signed "Amelia Earhart" with 1c and 2c commemorative franking tied by Cleveland Aug. 26, 1929 duplexes, National Air Races handstamped cachet, Very Fine
1932, May 20 -- Earhart Transatlantic Solo Flight, Newfoundland to Ireland (AAMC 1165). Handstamped cachet (No. 2 of 50 carried) on cover addressed to Bernt Balchen in Hasbrouck Heights N.J., signed Amelia Earhart, 5c Winged Globe tied by New York N.Y. May 13 duplex, Great Britain 1-1/2p Geo. V tied by Londonderry May 23 receiving datestampVERY FINE. A RARE AND HISTORIC COVER CARRIED ON THE FIRST NON-STOP SOLO TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT BY A WOMAN AVIATOR.
According to the American Air Mail Catalogue, Earhart took off from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, at 3:51 p.m., May 20, and landed close to Culmore, near Londonderry, Ireland, at 1:45 p.m., May 21. The total flight time was 14 hours, 54 minutes. Earhart's solo flight was plagued with adverse weather conditions and mechanical difficulties, and she was forced to land in a pasture. In recognition of her achievement, President Herbert Hoover presented Earhart with the Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society, and Congress awarded her the Distinguished Flying Cross, the first ever given to a woman.
AAMC $5,000.00
1935, Jan. 11 -- Earhart Solo Flight from Hawaii to California (AAMC 1225). Linen cover to Earhart's husband, George Palmer Putnam, at Honolulu, watercolor picture of wolf howling at moon and plane by Olaf Seltzer, inscribed and signed "Carried by air, Honolulu-Oakland, January 11-12, 1935, Amelia Earhart" and "No. 47 of 49 covers", 3c and 6c Winged Globe tied by Honolulu Jan. 11 duplex, Oakland Jan. 12 receiving datestampVERY FINE. ONE OF 49 COVERS CARRIED BY EARHART NON-STOP FROM HAWAII TO THE MAINLAND. ONLY NINE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN PAINTED BY OLAF SELTZER.
AAMC $1,250.00
1935, Jan. 12 -- Earhart's Arrival at Oakland Airport. 8-line handstamped cachet on commemorative cover to Glendale Cal. signed "Amelia Earhart", 1c & 5c tied by Oakland Jan. 12 duplex, Very Fine, signed after Earhart completed her record solo flight from Hawaii to California
1935, May 3 -- Earhart Solo Flight, Los Angeles to Mexico City to New York City (AAMC 1231b). Registered cover addressed to the pilot "Miss Amelia Earhart" at the Regis Hotel in Mexico City, redirected to New York City, inscribed and signed "Carried by air, Amelia Earhart", U.S. 10c Map tied by Los Angeles Apr. 19 duplex, Mexico 40c Air Post Official tied by May 2 circular datestamp, U.S. 3c and 15c tied by Newark N.J. May 8 receiving duplex, appropriate registry handstamps and labelVERY FINE. A RARE COVER CARRIED BY EARHART FROM LOS ANGELES TO MEXICO CITY, THEN AGAIN TO NEWARK AIRPORT. VERY FEW WERE CARRIED ON THE LOS ANGELES-MEXICO CITY LEG.
AAMC $2,500.00
1935, May 3 -- Earhart Solo Flight, Mexico City to New York City (AAMC 1231). Registered cover addressed to the pilot "Miss Amelia Earhart" in New York City, inscribed and signed "Carried by air, Mexico D.F. New York, May 8, 1935, Amelia Earhart", franked by Mexico 1935 20c Earhart Overprint (C74) and 40c Air Post Official (CO14), tied by May 2 circular datestamp, in combination with U.S. 3c and 15c tied by Newark N.J. May 8 receiving duplex, appropriate registry datestamps and labels on front and backVERY FINE. ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE OF ALL EARHART FLIGHT COVERS, BEARING THE RARE MEXICO 20-CENTAVOS EARHART GOODWILL FLIGHT OVERPRINTED STAMP.
Signed Heiman. Scott Retail for No. C74 used is $4,000.00. AAMC $10,000.00 for flown cover.
1937 Attempted Round-the-World Flight by Amelia Earhart. Unused blue and red cacheted flight cover signed "Amelia Earhart", prepared for her ill-fated flight but never stamped or mailed, only a few postmarked covers were spared because they were removed before she took off, a small number of autographed envelopes also survived
1937 Attempted Round-the-World Flight by Amelia Earhart. Unused blue and red cacheted flight cover signed "Amelia Earhart", prepared for her ill-fated flight but never stamped or mailed, only a few postmarked covers were spared because they were removed before she took off, a small number of autographed envelopes also survived
June 1937 -- Amelia Earhart Round-the-World Flight, Howland Island to Oahu. Legal-size U.S. Coast Guard imprint cover with cachet prepared by Richard S. Black (late Admiral), who was posted on Howland Island with radio equipment to guide Earhart in locating her target destination, signed by Black and stamped for mailing to North Dakota, never mailed because Earhart was lost before reaching Howland Is., it is reported that Admiral Black destroyed most of these cacheted covers
1926, May 9 -- Byrd North Pole Flight (AAMC 1039). Flown cover to and from Harry A. Truby, President of the Aero Philatelic Society (corner card), signed "R E Byrd", U.S. 10c Map tied by "NY - Alesund" May 9 circular datestamp struck three times, Norway 3o and 25o Amundsen tied by Kings Bay May 9 receiving datestamp, Norwegian stamps very slight stained around perfsVERY FINE. A RARE FLOWN COVER SIGNED BY BYRD ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RECORD FLIGHT ACROSS THE NORTH POLE.
Admiral Byrd and his co-pilot Floyd Bennett were the first to fly across the North Pole, taking off from Kings Bay on May 9 and returning 14 hours later. Flown covers are scarce, but those with Byrd's signature are rare (only one is recorded with Bennett's signature). AAMC $1,500.00
1926, September 15-21 -- Attempt by Captain Rene Fonck and Crew of Three to Cross Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris Non-Stop (AAMC 1042a). Legal-size U.S. Department of Agriculture Weather Bureau imprint cover addressed to Paris and endorsed by sender "New York Paris flight", U.S. 3c 1922 and 16c 1923 Air Post tied by "Westbury N.Y. Sep. 15 5 PM 1926" duplex, uncancelled French stamps at left intended for return mailing, charred and stained at edgesVERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT CRASH COVER, PREPARED AND CARRIED ABOARD THE ILL-FATED ATTEMPT BY RENE FONCK AND HIS CREW TO FLY NON-STOP FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS.
Beginning on September 15, 1926, World War I French flying ace Rene Fonck and his crew of three attempted to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight in a Sikorsky S-35. After several trials, take-off finally occured on September 21, 1926. Under the weight of the crew and embellishments to the plane's interior, the landing gear collapsed, causing the plane to cartwheel, crash and burn. Miraculously, Captain Fonck and one of the crew survived; the other two died in the crash. A few letters intended to make the flight were later salvaged. A total of 17 are listed in the American Air Mail Catalogue, of which only this one has French stamps added for return mailing (AAMC 1042a).
Accompanied by contemporary photograph of crash site.
1927, April 30 -- Wilkins North Polar Expedition (AAMC 1052). Roessler cover with purple handstamped flight cachet signed by Sir Hubert Wilkins, 2c tied by Barrow Alaska Apr. 30, 1927 duplex datestamp, ms. location note at left, Fairbanks May 16 receiving backstamp, Very Fine, scarce
1927, June 4 -- "Columbia" Flight from New York to Berlin (AAMC 1056). Corner card cover with typed cachet and Hempstead N.Y. duplex showing Jun. "14" mis-dating instead of "4" (as are all), German 25pf tied by Berlin Jun. 6 receiving datestampVERY FINE. A SCARCE COVER FLOWN ON THE "COLUMBIA", FROM WHICH MOST OF THE MAIL WAS CONFISCATED BY GERMAN AUTHORITIES.
AAMC $1,500.00
1927, June 27 -- Byrd Transatlantic Flight (AAMC 1060). Flown commercial cover to Paris, France, signed by Byrd, Acosta, Balchen and Noville (Byrd in pencil, others in ink), New York N.Y. Jun. 21 duplex with the stamps and grid cancel floated off, Ver-Sur-Mer Jul. 2 receiving datestamp, piece of sender's paper sealing tape across top, Very Fine, this is one of the pieces of mail soaked in water (about 90% of what was carried) when the "America" was forced to touch down off the coast of France, it shows typical soiling, autographed examples are rare and, in this case, the aviators obviously signed the cover after the stamps floated off, AAMC $450.00 (without premium for autographs)
1927, June 27 -- Byrd Transatlantic Flight (AAMC 1060). Flown cover to Paris, France, 5c 1922 tied by New York N.Y. Jun. 21 duplex datestamp and oval grid, Ver-Sur-Mer Jul. 2 receiving datestamp, Very Fine, this is one of the few pieces of mail from the "America" to retain its stamp after the plane was forced to touch down off the coast of France, AAMC $450.00
1928, Apr. 14 -- Wilkins Arctic Ocean Flight, America to Europe (AAMC 1071). Red and blue airmail cover with 2c Washington tied by Barrow Alaska Apr. 14, 1928 purple datestamp, handstamped "Svalbard Radio" and signed "Hubert Wilkins, April 21st 1928", Very Fine, scarce, AAMC $500.00
1928, Nov. 29 -- Byrd Antarctic Expedition. Postmaster General's Official Business legal-size cover addressed to himself (Harry S. New), 5c Beacon and 2c Red tied by "S.S. City of New York Nov. 29, 1928" ship cancel, Byrd Antarctic Expedition handstamped cachet, signed "R E Byrd/Byrd Antarctic Expedition En route Antarctic", red oval Dec. 26, 1928 receiving handstamp applied at P.O. Dept., with letter from Postmaster General New to his friend, Fred Chamberlain, explaining that he gave this cover to Commander Byrd to be carried South, Very Fine, this cover dates from the first stage of Byrd's expedition, one year later he made his record flight
1929, June 13 -- "Yellow Bird" Flight, U.S. to Spain (AAMC 1091). Two flown covers, 2c Vincennes and 2c Yorktown frankings, each tied by Old Orchard Me. Jun. 13 duplex, Comilla Jun. 14 receiving datestamp, former without any other markings, latter with handstamped flight cachet and signed by three aviators, also with France 2fr Postage Due tied by Bourget Aviation field datestamp, Very Fine. AAMC $500.00 (each at $250.00, but the signed cover is more valuable)
1929, Sep. 29 -- First Flight, Moscow to New York via Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea, Seward to New York (AAMC 1095a). 5c Beacon tied by Seward Sep. 29 duplex on red and blue airmail cover with typed endorsement and signatures of four aviators, New York Nov. 2 backstamp, Very Fine, rare and undercatalogued -- only ten pieces of mail posted at Seward -- with four contemporary photos of plane, AAMC $300.00
1931, July 28 -- Herndon and Pangborn Round the World Flight (AAMC 1146). Cover flown on complete trip from New York to Wenatchee, Washington, handstamped cachet (No. 36 of 75 carried), signed by Herndon and Pangborn, franking incl. U.S. 2c 1922 (Brooklyn Jul. 28), Japan 3s (Tokyo Oct. 2) and U.S. 2c Yorktown (Wenatchee Oct. 5), Croydon Aerodrome Jul. 30 datestamp and Russian backstamps applied in transit, Very Fine, rare with both pilots' signatures, after their detainment in Japan for flying over military fortifications, Herndon and Pangborn made the first non-stop flight from Japan to the U.S., AAMC $600.00
1932, July 5 -- Mattern and Griffin Round the World Flight (AAMC 1167). U.S., German and Russian franking appropriately tied on flown cover to New York City signed by Mattern and Griffin, usual light toning bands from envelope adhesiveVERY FINE. AN IMPORTANT TRANS-OCEANIC FLIGHT RARITY FROM THE MATTERN AND GRIFFIN 1932 ROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHT. ONLY FIVE PIECES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SIGNED AND CARRIED.
AAMC $1,500.00
1933, June 3 -- Attempted Round the World Solo Flight by Jimmy Mattern (AAMC 1177). Cover addressed to Mattern at the Hotel New Yorker, signed "Jimmie Mattern", U.S. 8c Winged Globe tied by New York N.Y. Jun. 3 duplex, additional Russian stamps on front and back (corner faulty) and U.S. 3c Century of Progress tied on back, sequence of datestamps following Mattern's travelsVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE AND RARE COVER CARRIED ON MATTERN'S UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO FLY SOLO AROUND THE WORLD.
Jimmy Mattern begain his journey by flying non-stop from New York to Norway, taking off on June 3, 1933, and arriving June 4. However, on the next leg of the journey (to Moscow), Mattern crashed in Siberia and was missing for weeks. A Russian pilot rescued Mattern and carried him to Nome, Alaska. Mattern flew another plane from Nome back to New York. Throughout this arduous journey, Mattern carried with him a small quantity of mail. The few known examples bear his signature and postmarks from each stop.
AAMC $1,500.00
1936, September 2 -- Attempted Flight, New York to London and Return, Merrill and Richman (AAMC 1264/1266). Cover combining both attempted flights, U.S., G.B. and Newfoundland franking, Brooklyn (Sep. 2), Southport (Sep. 14) and Musgrave (Sep. 14) datestamps, Very Fine, rare flight cover carried in both directions
1938, July 10 -- Howard Hughes Record Flight Around the World (AAMC 1307). Legal-size airmail cover with U.S., French and Russian franking, signed "Howard Hughes" along with Dick Stoddart and Harry Connor, Very Fine, only a few of the covers carried on this flight were signed by Howard Hughes
1919, July 9-13 -- Dirigible R-34, Return Flight from Roosevelt Field N.Y. to Clifton, Ireland, and Pulham, England (AAMC Z-461). Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. corner card cover addressed to Marconi's London office, 2c Red coil (487) tied by New York N.Y. Jul. 7 duplex, Hempstead Jul. 9 duplex, special London R-34 Jul. 13 receiving datestamp and red Jul. 14 transit, endorsed "Per Airship R-34"VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL CARRIED ON THE R-34'S RETURN FLIGHT TO ENGLAND.
AAMC $3,000.00
1919, July 9-13 -- Dirigible R-34, Return Flight from Roosevelt Field N.Y. to Clifton, Ireland, and Pulham, England, Supplementary Mail (AAMC Z-461a). Cover to Weymouth, England, endorsed "Please send by R-34" with U.S. 2c Washington tied on arrival by special London R-34 Jul. 13, 1919 datestamp, slight smear in addressVERY FINE. EXTREMELY RARE SUPPLEMENTARY MAIL COVER CARRIED BY THE DIRIGIBLE R-34. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN AND THIS EXAMPLE BEARING THE UNITED STATES STAMP IS EXTRAORDINARY.
According to the American Air Mail Catalogue, the supplementary mail covers were not stamped. This is a rare exception.
AAMC $2,000.00
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