THE FIRST REAL AIR MAIL

Evening Star, Issue 23000, 4 July 1938, Page 6

THE FIRST REAL AIR MAIL

Aero-philately will attain its “ majority ” this year with the twentyfirst anniversary of the world’s first authorised air mail stamp—forerunner of an avalanche of such postal items, which to-day number more than 3,000 varieties (writes Lionel P. Asoher in the ‘ New York Times ’). About the time, the World War began, many countries were looking forward to establishing regular air mail services. In the spring of 1917 Italy required space in trains for troops and supplies, while in the Mediterranean the Austrian U-boats were sinking mailcarrying vessels The Italian Minister of Posts and Telegraphs accorded to the Pomilio Aeroplane Company of Turin permission to establish an experimental air mail route between Turin and (Rome; on May 17 a 25-centesimi special delivery stamp of ,1903 was released bearing the overprint “ Experimento Posta Aerea Maggio, 1917, TurinoRoma—Rome Turino ” (Experimental Air Post, May, 1917, Tunn-Rome— Rome Turin). Sale was limited to six copies to each applicant.. A Government notice said that no stamp other than the over-printed one was necessary for air maxi postage,, but that use of it did not imply special delivery at destination, and that .special boxes for air post letters were being put up. The first flight was scheduled for May 20, but had to be postponed for two days because of heavy rains. On the morning of May 22 Pilot-lieutenant Mario Bernardi, of the Royal Italian Flying Corps, took off in his Pomilio plane” from the Turin aviation camp with 4801 b of mail, some newspapers, and a message from the city of Turin to Signor (Boselli, Italy’s Premier. The flyer made a non-stop journey of about 395 miles in 4h 3mm. To circumvent the U-hoat depredations Italy prepared a second stamp for use on mail flown between Naples' and Palermo. A hydro-aeroplane service was established, the letters being - franked with a 40c special delivery stamp overprinted “ Idrovolante Nappli-Palermo-Napoli.”