Italy: The World's First Airmail Stamp
Sept 9, 2018 23:29:29 GMT
Londonbus1, tomiseksj, and 6 more like this
Post by Bombadil on Sept 9, 2018 23:29:29 GMT
"Henri Pequet was authorized by the British Government to fly a trial airmail run from the United Provinces Industrial and Agriculture Exhibition at Allahabad, India, in 1911. The experimental flight was a success. Barely six years later, in the midst of World War I, the Italian government needed to quickly and efficiently deliver mail between Rome and several other cities near the battlefront.
For this purpose, Italy began experimental airmail service in 1917. The first city chosen to receive service from Rome was Turin. A special airmail rate of 25 centisimi was set. An existing Victor Emmanuel III Special Delivery stamp already in circulation carried this 25-centisimi denomination. So the Italian government decided to use this stamp, with a specially designed overprint, as prepaid postage for the new airmail route. The overprint read: Experimental Air Post; May 1917; Turin-Rome, Rome-Turin. This Italian overprint became the World’s First Airmail Stamp."
For this purpose, Italy began experimental airmail service in 1917. The first city chosen to receive service from Rome was Turin. A special airmail rate of 25 centisimi was set. An existing Victor Emmanuel III Special Delivery stamp already in circulation carried this 25-centisimi denomination. So the Italian government decided to use this stamp, with a specially designed overprint, as prepaid postage for the new airmail route. The overprint read: Experimental Air Post; May 1917; Turin-Rome, Rome-Turin. This Italian overprint became the World’s First Airmail Stamp."
Italy, Sc #C1 - Special Delivery stamp Sc #E1 overprinted, issued in 1917.
