Sunday, August 19, 2018

A is for Airmail...

...and Anniversary! 2018 is the centenary of airmail service in the USA. 




I used some of the blue stamps on an envelope to Eric that was made from the cover of US Philatelic magazine. I think they are slightly less bright in real life compared to the USPS image.




The stamp has also been issued in a red version. There has been some discussion as to whether there will be confusion considering the fact that the stamps say 'airmail', when they are in fact 'forever' stamps valid for first class domestic mail.




For more postage with an A theme, head over to the links at Sunday Stamps.

14 comments:

  1. Wow love those retro stamps. Perfect timing, my browser picture today told me it was national aviation day in the US.

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    1. They were printed using the intaglio method, so also have the feel of some vintage stamps.

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  2. Airmail, Aviation, and America -- three A's in a post! Thanks for sharing both the blue and red versions.

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  3. Well, to me these would indeed be confusing, saying Airmail, but used for domestic mail only :D
    Interesting stamps for sure!

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    1. Probably not that many people will ever use these, since you have to ask for them specially at the counter, or order them on line.

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  4. It is a beautiful design. Looks as if an old printing technique has been used by which you can feel the ink upon the paper. Is it?

    And great combination with your envelope!

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    1. Yes, they are printed using the intaglio method, which gives them the raised lines you can feel on the stamps.

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  5. I think I prefer the blue one. As a non-American the Forever stamps confused for a long time.

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    1. I do, too. I wonder how they decided on that term for the NVI first class stamps? (And first class in itself is odd, since there is no second class...).

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  6. Blue is definitely the colour of 'airmail'
    It is a shame that the PO keeps these beautiful stamps hidden from the public. Can't really see any reason why they wouldn't proudly advertise them everywhere,

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    1. I sometimes wonder why we don't see more advertising of stamps on TV. Very occasionally the evening news will have a story about new stamps, but it is very rare.

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