List of United States airmail stamps facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Imagine a time when sending a letter across the country took a very long time. Before planes, mail traveled by trains, ships, or even horses! To make things faster, the United States Post Office Department (which is now called the USPS) started a special service called domestic U.S. Air Mail. This began on May 15, 1918, with the first flight route connecting Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York.

To use this speedy new service, people needed special postage stamps. These stamps often featured airplanes or other symbols of flight. Air mail became less common for letters within the U.S. by 1975. By 1995, most regular First Class mail was already being flown by planes, so separate air mail services were no longer needed.

Stamp collectors often use a special book called the Scott catalog to identify stamps. Airmail stamps were given a special "C" letter in their catalog number starting in 1940. For example, a stamp from 2012 for international mail, showing a small airplane, was called C150. However, by 2013, a new stamp called the "$1.10 Global Forever Stamp" was released. This stamp could be used for any 1-ounce international letter. It didn't show an airplane, and it was given a regular stamp number (4740) instead of an airmail "C" number. This showed how air mail was becoming the normal way to send letters.

Early Airmail Stamps: 1918–1929
- The Famous Inverted Jenny Stamp
- More Early Airmail Designs
Airmail in the 1930s: Zeppelins and Clippers
- Winged Globes and Giant Airships
- Connecting Continents with the China Clipper
Airmail in the 1940s: Transport Planes and New Designs
- Modern Transport Planes
- Celebrating Milestones
Airmail in the 1950s and Beyond
- Landmarks and Milestones
- The End of Special Airmail Stamps
Images for kids
See also

Early Airmail Stamps: 1918–1929

The very first airmail stamps were quite special. One of the most famous is the "Inverted Jenny."

The Famous Inverted Jenny Stamp

On May 13, 1918, a 24-cent stamp was issued. It showed a Curtiss Jenny Biplane, which was a type of airplane. However, a small number of these stamps were printed with the airplane upside down! This printing mistake made the "Inverted Jenny" stamp one of the most famous and valuable errors in stamp collecting history. Only about 100 of these error stamps were ever found.

More Early Airmail Designs

Other early airmail stamps also featured the Curtiss Jenny Biplane. These stamps came in different colors and values, like 16-cent green and 6-cent orange. They were all designed by Claire Aubrey Huston.

As airmail became more common, the stamp designs changed. In 1923, stamps showed parts of airplanes, like a propeller and radiator, or the U.S. Air Mail Service symbol. Later, in 1926, stamps featured a map of the U.S. with two planes flying across it, showing how airmail connected the country.

A very special stamp was released in 1927 to honor Charles Lindbergh's famous flight across the Atlantic Ocean. This 10-cent stamp showed his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. In 1928, a 5-cent stamp showed a beacon light on Sherman Hill. These beacons helped pilots find their way at night.

Airmail in the 1930s: Zeppelins and Clippers

The 1930s brought new designs and even larger aircraft to airmail stamps.

Winged Globes and Giant Airships

In 1930, a 5-cent violet stamp featured a "Winged Globe," symbolizing fast global communication. But the most exciting stamps of this decade were the ones featuring the Graf Zeppelin. These were very expensive stamps, with values like 65 cents, $1.30, and $2.60! They showed the giant airship flying over the Atlantic Ocean. These stamps were issued for special flights of the Graf Zeppelin and are highly prized by collectors.

Connecting Continents with the China Clipper

In 1935, a 25-cent blue stamp celebrated the China Clipper. This was a famous flying boat that made the first commercial trans-Pacific airmail flight. It connected the U.S. to Asia, making international mail much faster. Later, in 1937, 20-cent and 50-cent stamps also featured the China Clipper.

Other stamps in the 1930s included the Great Seal of the U.S. for special delivery airmail and an Eagle and Shield design in 1938.

Airmail in the 1940s: Transport Planes and New Designs

The 1940s saw a huge increase in air travel, and airmail stamps reflected this growth.

Modern Transport Planes

Many stamps from 1941 featured a "Twin-Motored Transport Plane," showing the newer, larger aircraft used for mail. These stamps came in various colors and values, from 6 cents to 50 cents.

Later in the decade, stamps highlighted specific famous planes. The 1946 and 1947 5-cent stamps showed the DC-4 Skymaster. A 10-cent black stamp from 1947 featured a Martin 2-0-2 plane flying over the Pan American Union Building in Washington, D.C. The 15-cent green stamp showed a Lockheed Constellation flying over the New York Skyline. Another stamp, a 25-cent blue, displayed a Stratocruiser over the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. These stamps celebrated the growing network of air routes across the country.

Celebrating Milestones

In 1949, several stamps were issued to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), an organization that helps countries work together on mail. These stamps showed things like the UPU building, a globe with doves, and a Boeing Stratocruiser. The year 1949 also saw a 6-cent magenta stamp honoring the Wright Brothers, who made the first successful airplane flight.

Airmail in the 1950s and Beyond

As air travel became more common, airmail stamps continued to feature new planes and important events.

Landmarks and Milestones

In 1952, an 80-cent stamp featured Diamond Head, Hawaii, showing how airmail connected distant places. A 6-cent stamp in 1953 celebrated "50 Years of Powered Flight." Later stamps featured eagles, jet silhouettes, and even celebrated U.S. states joining the Union, like Alaska (1959) and Hawaii (1959). The 1959 Pan American Games were also featured on a stamp.

The End of Special Airmail Stamps

Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, airmail stamps continued to be issued, featuring various planes, famous people like Amelia Earhart and Robert Goddard, and important events like the Moon Landing in 1969. However, as technology advanced, sending mail by air became the standard. By the mid-1990s, almost all First Class mail was transported by air. This meant there was no longer a need for separate airmail stamps, as air delivery was simply part of the regular mail service.

Images for kids

The famous 24-cent "Inverted Jenny" stamp from 1918.
A regular 24-cent Curtiss Jenny Biplane stamp from 1918.
A 16-cent green Curtiss Jenny Biplane stamp from 1918.
A 6-cent orange Curtiss Jenny Biplane stamp from 1918.
An 8-cent stamp from 1923 showing an airplane propeller and radiator.
A 16-cent stamp from 1923 with the U.S. Air Mail Service Insignia.
A 24-cent stamp from 1923 featuring a De Havilland DH-4 Biplane.
A 10-cent stamp from 1926 showing a map of the U.S. and two planes.
A 15-cent stamp from 1926 with a U.S. map and planes.
A 20-cent stamp from 1927 with a U.S. map and planes.
A 10-cent stamp from 1927 honoring Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis.
A 5-cent stamp from 1928 showing a beacon on Sherman Hill.
A 5-cent violet "Winged Globe" stamp from 1930.
The 65-cent Graf Zeppelin stamp from 1930.
The $1.30 Graf Zeppelin stamp from 1930.
The $2.60 Graf Zeppelin stamp from 1930.
A 5-cent violet "Winged Globe" stamp from 1931.
An 8-cent olive bistre "Winged Globe" stamp from 1932.
A 50-cent Graf Zeppelin stamp from 1933.
A 6-cent dull orange "Winged Globe" stamp from 1934.
A 16-cent stamp from 1934 with the Great Seal of the U.S.
A 25-cent blue stamp from 1935 featuring the China Clipper.
A 16-cent stamp from 1936 with the Great Seal of the U.S.
A 20-cent green China Clipper stamp from 1937.
A 50-cent carmine China Clipper stamp from 1937.
A 6-cent stamp from 1938 with an Eagle and Shield design.
A 30-cent blue "Winged Globe" stamp from 1939.
A 6-cent carmine "Twin-Motored Transport Plane" stamp from 1941.
An 8-cent olive green "Twin-Motored Transport Plane" stamp from 1944.
A 10-cent violet "Twin-Motored Transport Plane" stamp from 1941.
A 15-cent brown "Twin-Motored Transport Plane" stamp from 1941.
A 20-cent green "Twin-Motored Transport Plane" stamp from 1941.
A 30-cent blue "Twin-Motored Transport Plane" stamp from 1941.
A 50-cent orange "Twin-Motored Transport Plane" stamp from 1941.
A 5-cent carmine DC-4 Skymaster stamp from 1946.
A 5-cent carmine DC-4 Skymaster stamp from 1947.
A 10-cent black stamp from 1947 showing a Martin 2-0-2 over the Pan American Union Building.
A 15-cent green stamp from 1947 showing a Lockheed Constellation over the New York Skyline.
A 25-cent blue stamp from 1947 showing a Stratocruiser over the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge.
A 5-cent carmine DC-4 Skymaster stamp from 1948.
A 5-cent red stamp from 1948 featuring New York City.
A 6-cent carmine DC-4 Skymaster stamp from 1949.
A 6-cent carmine Alexandria Bicentennial stamp from 1948.
A 6-cent carmine DC-4 Skymaster stamp from 1949.
A 10-cent violet UPU Post Office Building stamp from 1949.
A 15-cent ultramarine UPU Globe and Doves stamp from 1949.
A 25-cent rose UPU Boeing Stratocruiser stamp from 1949.
A 6-cent magenta Wright Brothers stamp from 1949.
An 80-cent red violet stamp from 1952 featuring Diamond Head, Hawaii.
A 6-cent carmine stamp from 1953 celebrating 50 Years of Powered Flight.
A 4-cent blue Eagle stamp from 1954.
A 6-cent blue U.S. Air Force 50th Anniversary stamp from 1957.
A 5-cent red Eagle stamp from 1958.
A 7-cent blue Jet Silhouette stamp from 1958.
Another 7-cent blue Jet Silhouette stamp from 1958.
A 7-cent blue Alaska Statehood stamp from 1959.
A 7-cent red & blue Jupiter Balloon stamp from 1959.
A 7-cent rose Hawaii Statehood stamp from 1959.
A 10-cent blue & red Pan Am Games stamp from 1959.
A 15-cent orange & black Statue of Liberty stamp from 1959.
A 10-cent green & black Liberty Bell stamp from 1960.
A 25-cent maroon & black Abraham Lincoln stamp from 1960.
A 7-cent red Jet Silhouette stamp from 1960.
Another 7-cent red Jet Silhouette stamp from 1960.
A 13-cent red & black Liberty Bell stamp from 1961.
A 15-cent orange & black Statue of Liberty stamp from 1961.
An 8-cent red Jetliner Over Capitol Building stamp from 1962.
Another 8-cent red Jetliner Over Capitol Building stamp from 1962.
A 15-cent red, brown & blue Montgomery Blair stamp from 1963.
A 6-cent red Eagle stamp from 1963.
An 8-cent carmine & maroon Amelia Earhart stamp from 1963.
An 8-cent blue & red Robert Goddard stamp from 1964.
An 8-cent brown Alaska Purchase stamp from 1967.
A 20-cent multicolored Audubon "Columbia Jays" stamp from 1967.
A 10-cent red Runway stamp from 1968.
Another 10-cent red Runway stamp from 1968.
A $1 multicolored Airlift stamp from 1968.
A 10-cent red, blue & black 50th Anniversary of Air Mail stamp from 1968.
A 20-cent red, black & blue Jet & "USA" stamp from 1968.
A 10-cent multicolored Moon Landing stamp from 1969.
A 9-cent red Jet Silhouette stamp from 1971.
An 11-cent red Jet Silhouette stamp from 1971.
A 13-cent red Winged Letter stamp from 1973.
A 17-cent red, green & black Statue of Liberty stamp from 1971.
A 21-cent red & blue USA stamp from 1971.
Another 11-cent red Jet Silhouette stamp from 1971.
Another 13-cent red Winged Letter stamp from 1973.
An 11-cent multicolored City of Refuge stamp from 1972.
An 11-cent multicolored Winter Olympics, Sapporo, Skiing stamp from 1972.
An 11-cent multicolored Progress in Electronics stamp from 1973.
An 18-cent black, red & blue Statue of Liberty stamp from 1974.
A 26-cent black, red & blue Mount Rushmore stamp from 1974.
A 25-cent red, black & blue Plane & Globes stamp from 1976.
A 31-cent red, black & blue Plane & Globes stamp from 1976.