EARLY AIR MAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22389, 8 April 1936, Page 17

EARLY AIR MAIL

FIRST ENGLISH SERVICE SPECIAL POSTMARKING CARD FOUND IN WELLINGTON Flown from London to Windsor on September 9, 1911, as part of the first air mail in the United Kingdom, a postcard addressed from Durham to a prominent New Zealander, now deceased, has been found in a Wellington auction room. Because of its rarity and its practically new condition it has attracted some attention from philatelists. The special postmarking and printing of the card show that even in those early days of aviation the ardent collector was a person to be catered for. Additional interest is lent to the card because not only was the flight on which it was carried the first air-mail service in Britain, but it was made as part of the celebrations of the Coronation of the late King George. One-half of the address side of the card is occupied by a picture of an ancient biplane in flight over Windsor Castle, Two halfpenny stamps are on the card, one bearing the head of Edward VII. and the other that of George V. The postmarks read: "United Kingdom Aerial Post, Sp. 9, 1911," and "Auckland, 22 Oc. 11." On the back is a brief message which indicates that the card was sent from Durham on September 9. It was addressed originally to Auckland and readdressed to Wellington.

Even in those days the Post Office was a cautious institution, for part of the printed inscription reads,: "For conveyance by aeroplane from London to Windsor. No responsibility in respect of loss, damage, or delay is undertaken by the Postmaster-General." The net profits of the "aerial post" were devoted to charity.