June 2005-
I’d really like to have more aviation art hanging about. As a group, aviation artists have matured immensely over the past three decades to the point where it’s not just pilots, but the art crowd as well that is praising their work. Maybe those folks have more wall space than I do. Finding a spot to display a Keith Ferris print with a framed outside dimension of 3 x 5 feet is a problem at our house.
However, there is a way to maintain a huge art collection and keep it on a tabletop—collecting aircraft stamps. Now philately might not seem exciting to those used to hanging from the shoulder harness of an Aerobat, but it has its advantages: one can rarely get injured—except maybe for paper cuts—or even work up a sweat, annual inspections don’t cost anything, and such a collection may likely increase in value. And just like any hobby, it costs whatever you want to spend.*
Practically every country has at one time or another has issued airplane or aviation and space-related stamps. The first airplane pictured on a U.S. stamp was on a 24¢ airmail issued in 1918 with red border framing a blue Curtiss Jenny air mail plane. Mint examples in fine condition run about $300 while a used one brings $90.
The stamp is also the source of history’s most famous error. Printed on a single-color press, sheets had to be fed through twice; one sheet inadvertently got turned 180°, so the airplane on that sheet was printed upside down. It’s called the “Inverted Jenny,” and if you run across one, be sure your bank account or credit card can handle a six-figure hit.
The first regular U.S. stamp devoted to aircraft was issued in 1928 to commemorate the International Civil Aeronautics Conference held in Washington, DC. The 2¢ red features the 1903 Wright airplane, and the 5¢ blue a composite contemporary model.
In 1930, the Post Office issued the Graf Zeppelin set, intended for postage on the airship. Denominations were 65¢, $1.30 and $2.60. A mint set today will cost you $1,895 and covers actually flown aboard the Zeppelin start at around $500.
In the 70s, pilots and designers were honored on U.S. air mails: the Wrights, Chanute, Post, Curtiss, Verville, Langley, Sikorsky, Piper and the Sperrys.
While air mail issues continued to be introduced, America had bigger problems and programs like getting over the Great Depression to promote, and it wasn’t until 1961 that the next aviation stamp appeared—on the 50th anniversary of Naval Aviation, and a number of space achievement designs followed.
Some aviation personalities appeared on higher denominations—Claire Channault, Hap Arnold, Bessie Coleman and Jackie Cochran—and in 1997 a sheet of 20 classic American aircraft was followed five years later by the Wright centennial issue.
Meanwhile, other countries—especially those which had few aircraft—were embracing aviation as if they had invented it. The former U.S.S.R has produced a prodigious number of airplane stamps over the years, predominantly commercial and military aircraft.
Some Third World countries tend to use the island-hopping utility transports which their citizenry is accustomed to seeing; some European stamps employ sailplanes as subjects.
Styles vary with the artistic predominance of its national society. Older stamps tend to be finely detailed hand engravings. Newer issues use newer, bolder and more colorful techniques, some of which are graphic and representational while others are photorealistic.
Most stamp companies have a variety of aviation topical assortments available. Personally, I like the service and variety available from Mystic Stamp Co., 9700 Mill St., Camden, NY 13316, website MysticStamp.com.
You can investigate the quality and scope of collecting this kind of aviation art for as little as six bucks with their worldwide aviation/flight assortments.
*When once questioned about how much it costs to own an airplane, Gordon Baxter replied, “All of it, my son, all of it!”
Daryl Murphy has been writing about flying and a variety of aircraft for 36 years. In addition to this magazine, his work appears in General Aviation News and Aviation International News. He has written five aviation books and one on automobile racing.
