ISSUE 161 - May 3, 2024 - Stamp News Online Magazine

May Events in History

This month we provide what has become popularly described as "Bonus Coverage". In addition to the one world subject—Mothers in honor of Mothers Day—we also have two Philatelic Events. Not being able to choose between the release of the world's first postage stamp, in 1840, and the first U.S. Airmail flight—including the release of the famous Curtis Jenny stamp—we chose both. Not surprisingly, the subjects have been covered before, but I hope you will agree that they are of such historic merit that they are deserving of encores.

Philatelic Event in History:
British Penny Black, May 6, 1840

(Portions of this article are taken from an article by Philip Ward in the Mekeel’s Weekly of January 1, 1940.)

Great Britain #1

The Post Office of Great Britain as a state monopoly dates from the time of Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned from 1558 to 1603, although it was not fully established until 1609, and more than two centuries later that Britain became the first nation to issue postage stamps. This took place a few years after Queen Victoria acceded to the throne and began her reign of more than 63 years.

That year, 1837, was an important one in the events leading up to the issuance, on May 1, 1840 for use starting May 6, 1840, of the world’s first postage stamp, the British Penny Black; for it was in 1837 that the father of the first postage stamp, Sir Rowland Hill, published a pamphlet promoting…

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Philatelic Event in History:
First US Airmail, May 15, 1918

by J.P.V. Heinmuller (From STAMPS Magazine, May 15, 1943)

First US Airmail

The United States air mail was inaugurated in most modest surroundings on May 15, 1918, during the dark days of World War I. It was fathered by the Post Office Department and nursed by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Since that time our air mail has been extended to all parts of the world; it spans oceans, mountains, and deserts, and operates with the precision of train service.

Now again in the midst of world war we come to the twenty-fifth anniversary of the air mail. Perhaps if it had not been for the present war we might have had a new air mail stamp to mark the anniversary. But as it is, we have to be contented with the ceremonies which will be held in Washington and New York, and reported elsewhere in this issue.

On May 15, 1918, a series of first flights took place between New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. A special cachet was used, Washington using black, blue, and magenta cachets; Philadelphia, blue-back; and New York, magenta and carmine. …

Continue reading "First US Airmail, May 15, 1918" [PDF Document]