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List of United States airmail stamps facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Domestic U.S. Air Mail was established as a new class of mail service by the United States Post Office Department (POD) on May 15, 1918, with the inauguration of the Washington–Philadelphia–New York route. Special postage stamps were issued for use with this service. Domestic air mail became obsolete in 1975, and international air mail in 1995, when the USPS began transporting First Class mail by air on a routine basis. All post-1977 United States stamp images are copyright of USPS.

Scott cataloged stamps received a "C" designation for airmail issues beginning in 1940. Designated for international mail, and showing a small airplane, the January, 2012 $1.05 Scenic America series issue was designated C150. However, with the January, 2013 issue of the $1.10 Global Forever Stamp no specific airmail purpose was shown in the design. Rather, the Postal Service stated that this "stamp offers a single price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world." Thus a regular series Scott number, 4740, was designated.

1918–1919

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image No. Issued
May 13, 1918 24¢ Rose & Blue
Size: +78 x +34 inch
Inverted Curtis Jenny Biplane
Design: Claire Aubrey Huston
Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall
8493 T, 8493 B Inverted Jenny.jpg
see also
~100 (1 plate) Error
May 13, 1918 24¢ Rose & Blue
Size: +78 x +34 inch
Curtis Jenny Biplane
Design: Claire Aubrey Huston
Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall
8492 T, 8493 T US stamp 1918 24c Curtiss Jenny -C3.jpg 3,095,955
July 11, 1918 16¢ Green
Size: +78 x +34 inch
Curtis Jenny Biplane
Design: Claire Aubrey Huston
Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall
F8900 T 1918 -n -Curtis Jenny Biplane -C2.jpg 3,793,987
December 10, 1918 6¢ Orange
Size: +78 x +34 inch
Curtis Jenny Biplane
Design: Claire Aubrey Huston
Engravers: J. Eissler and Edward M. Hall
1955 T, Unused plate: 9164 1918 -range rtis Jenny BiplaneC1.jpg 2,134,988

Reference:

1920–1929

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image No. Issued
August 15, 1923 8¢ Dark Green
Size: +78 x +34 inch
De Havilland Airplane Propeller and Radiator
Design: C. A. Huston
Engraved: H. Dawson and E. M. Weeks
14824–14827 L (four plates) 1923 Dark Green -Airplane propeller and radiator -C4.jpg 6,414,576
August 17, 1923 16¢ Dark Blue
Size: +78 x +34 inch
U.S. Air Mail Service Insignia
Design: C. A. Huston
Engraved: H. Dawson and E. M. Hall
14828-14831 L (four plates) 1923 Dark Blue U.S. Air Mail Insignia C5.jpg 5,309,275
August 21, 1923 24¢ Carmine Rose
Size: +78 x +34 inch
De Havilland DH-4 Biplane
Design: C. A. Huston
Engraved: J. Eissler and E. M. Hall
14840–14843 L (four plates) 1923 -- 24¢ Rose & Blue -- DH.4 Biplane -- c6.jpg 5,285,775
February 13, 1926 10¢ Dark Blue
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Map of the U.S. & two planes
Design: C. A. Huston
18246 R, 18247 B US Airmail stamp 10c 1926 issue.jpg more than 42,092,800
September 18, 1926 15¢ Olive Brown
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Map of the U.S. & two planes
Design: C. A. Huston
18746 L Airmail Stamp C08.jpg 15,597,307
January 25, 1927 20¢ Yellow Green
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Map of the U.S. & two planes
Design: C. A. Huston
18898 R, F18892 B Airmail Stamp C09.jpg 17,616,350
June 18, 1927 10¢ Dark Blue
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Spirit of St. Louis 18999 R, 19427 Lindbergh Airmail Stamp c10.jpg 20,379,179
July 25, 1928 5¢ Carmine & Blue
Size: 1+1532 x 1+332 inch
Beacon on Sherman Hill
Design: A.R. Meissner
19570 T, 19701 T (red)
19546 T (blue)
Airmail stamp C11.jpg 106,887,675

Reference:

1930–1939

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image No. Issued
February 10, 1930 5¢ Violet
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Winged Globe
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
19944 L Airmail stamp 1930 C12.jpg 97,641,200
April 19, 1930 65¢ Green
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Graf Zeppelin over the Atlantic 20077 L Graf Zeppelin stamp 65c 1930 issue.jpg 93,536 sold
April 19, 1930 $1.30 Brown
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Graf Zeppelin over the Atlantic 20085 B Graf Zeppelin stamp $1 30 1930 issue.jpg 72,428 sold
April 19, 1930 $2.60 Blue
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Graf Zeppelin
See also: 1930 Graf Zeppelin stamps
20092 R Graf Zeppelin stamp $2 60 1930 issue.jpg 61,296 sold
August 19, 1931 5¢ Violet
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Winged Globe
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
20606 LL 1931 airmail C16.jpg 57,340,050
September 26, 1932 8¢ Olive Bistre
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Winged Globe
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
21030 UR US Airmail stamp - 1932 c-17.jpg 76,648,803
October 2, 1933 50¢ Green
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Graf Zeppelin 21172 B Zeppelin stamp, 50c, 1933 issue.jpg 324,070
June 30, 1934 6¢ Dull Orange
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Winged Globe
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
22135 UL 1934 US Air Mail Issue c-19.jpg 302,205,100
August 30, 1934 16¢ Dark Blue Great Seal of the U.S.
(Air Mail Special Delivery)
21313, 21313 F
– Reprinted imperforate, 1935
1934 airmail stamp CE1.jpg 9,215,750
November 22, 1935 25¢ Blue China Clipper
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
21473 1935 airmail C20.jpg 10,205,400
February 10, 1936 16¢ Carmine & Blue Great Seal of the U.S.
(Air Mail Special Delivery)
21497 F, 21495 F, 21493 1936 airmail stamp CE2.jpg 72,517,850
February 15, 1937 20¢ Green
China Clipper
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
21622 1937 airmail C21 Twenty Cents.jpg 12,794,600
February 15, 1937 50¢ Carmine
China Clipper
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
21624 1941 airmail stamp C22.jpg 9,285,300
May 14, 1938 6¢ Carmine & Blue Eagle and Shield Eagle&Shield US Airmail 6c 1938 issue.JPG 349,946,500
May 16, 1939 30¢ Blue
Size: 1+84100 x +75100 inch
Winged Globe
Design: Alvin R. Meissner
F22384 T, 22381 1932 US Trans-Atlantic Issue C-24.jpg 19,768,150

Reference:

1940–1949

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image No. Issued
June 25, 1941 6¢ Carmine
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
The Twin-Motored Transport Plane Following are shared among the 1941 issues:
40 plates between 22752-23349
& 22756-9 (4 plates)
1941 airmail stamp C25.jpg 4,746,527,700
March 21, 1944 8¢ Olive Green
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
The Twin-Motored Transport Plane 23126 1944 airmail stamp C26.jpg 1,744,878,650
August 15, 1941 10¢ Violet
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
The Twin-Motored Transport Plane Stamp US 1941 10c air.jpg 67,117,400
August 10, 1941 15¢ Brown
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
The Twin-Motored Transport Plane 1941 airmail stamp C28.jpg 78,434,800
August 27, 1941 20¢ Green
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
The Twin-Motored Transport Plane 1941 airmail stamp C29.jpg 42,359,850
September 25, 1941 30¢ Blue
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
The Twin-Motored Transport Plane 1941 airmail stamp C30.jpg 59,880,850
October 29, 1941 50¢ Orange
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
The Twin-Motored Transport Plane 22779 1941 airmail stamp C31.jpg 11,160,600
September 26, 1946 5¢ Carmine
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
DC-4 Skymaster 22778, 22779 1946 airmail stamp C32.jpg 72,517,850
March 26, 1947 5¢ Carmine
(400 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
DC-4 Skymaster 23486, 23588, 23973, 25422 1947 airmail stamp C33.jpg 971,903,700
August 30, 1947 10¢ Black
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
Martin 2-0-2 over Pan American Union Building, Wash. D.C.

23694
1947 airmail stamp C34.jpg 207,976,550
August 20, 1947 15¢ Green
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
Lockheed Constellation over New York Skyline
23683
C35 Airmail stamp 15c.jpg 756,186,350
July 30, 1947 25¢ Blue
(200 Subject Electric Eye Plates)
Size: 1.44 x 0.84 inch
Stratocruiser over the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge
25615
Us airmail stamp C36.jpg 132,956,100
January 15, 1948 5¢ Carmine DC-4 Skymaster Us airmail stamp C37.jpg 33,244,500
July 31, 1948 5¢ Red New York City 23846, 23851 1948 Red -New York City C38.jpg 38,449,100
January 18, 1949 6¢ Carmine DC-4 Skymaster Us airmail stamp C39.jpg 5,070,095,200
May 11, 1948 6¢ Carmine Alexandria Bicentennial 24085 USPostageStampAlexandriaVirginia.jpg 75,085,000
August 25, 1949 6¢ Carmine DC-4 Skymaster Us airmail stamp C41.jpg 260,307,500
November 18, 1949 10¢ Violet U.P.U. P.O. Building The United States 1949 Mi 601 stamp (75th anniversary of the UPU. Post office department in Washington, D.C. UPU emblem).jpg 21,061,300
October 7, 1949 15¢ Ultramarine U.P.U. Globe and Doves The United States 1949 Mi 602 stamp (75th anniversary of the UPU. Globe and messenger pigeons).jpg 36,613,100
November 30, 1949 25¢ Rose U.P.U. Boeing Stratocruiser The United States 1949 Mi 603 stamp (75th anniversary of the UPU. Globe with long-range airliner Boeing 377 Stratocruiser).jpg 16,217,100
December 17, 1949 6¢ Magenta Wright Brothers 24158 C45.jpg 80,405,000

Reference:

1950–1959

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image No. Issued
March 28, 1952 80¢ Red Violet Diamond Head, Hawaii 24592-4 (3 plate) 1952 airmail c46.jpg 18,876,800
May 29, 1953 6¢ Carmine 50 Years of Powered Flight 1953 airmail stamp C47.jpg
September 9, 1954 4¢ Blue Eagle 25034-35, 40–41 (4 plate) 1954 airmail stamp C48.jpg
August 1, 1957 6¢ Blue U.S. Air Force, 50th Anniversary 25763 1957 airmail stamp C49.jpg
July 31, 1958 5¢ Red Eagle 26052 1958 airmail stamp C50.jpg
July 31, 1958 7¢ Blue Jet Silhouette 26046 1958 blue Jet Silhouette C51.jpg
July 31, 1958 7¢ Blue Jet Silhouette – small holes C52.jpg
January 3, 1959 7¢ Blue Alaska Statehood 26225 C53.jpg
August 17, 1959 7¢ Red & Blue Jupiter Balloon 26392 C54.jpg
August 21, 1959 7¢ Rose Hawaii Statehood 26432 Hawaii statehood commemorative stamp 7c 1959 issue.jpg
August 27, 1959 10¢ Blue & Red Pan Am Games 26413 1959 - Blue & Red -Pan-Am Games -C56.jpg
November 20, 1959 15¢ Orange & Black Statue of Liberty 26482 C58.jpg

1960–1969

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image
June 10, 1960 10¢ Green & Black Liberty Bell
Number issued: 39,960,000
26630 C57-20854.jpg
April 22, 1960 25¢ Maroon & Black Abraham Lincoln 26563 Usairmail-stamp-C59.jpg
August 12, 1960 7¢ Red Jet Silhouette 26714 C060.jpg
October 22, 1960 7¢ Red Jet Silhouette C061.jpg
June 28, 1961 13¢ Red & Black Liberty Bell 26970 Cancelled Liberty bell stamp 13c 1961 issue.jpg
January 13, 1961 15¢ Orange & Black Statue of Liberty 26878 C063.jpg
December 5, 1962 8¢ Red
400 Subjects
Jetliner Over Capitol Building – Booklet Pane of 5 + Label
28024
1962 -Red -Jetliner Over Capitol Building -C64.jpg
December 5, 1962 8¢ Red
(Perforated 10 Horizontally)
Jetliner Over Capitol Building Us-airmailstamp-C65.jpg
May 3, 1963 15¢ Red, Brown & Blue Montgomery Blair
Number issued: 42,245,000
Design: Robert J. Jones
27466 Us-airmail-stamp-C66.jpg
July 12, 1963 6¢ Red Eagle
Design: V. S. McCloskey
27390 Us airmail stamp C67.jpg
July 24, 1963 8¢ Carmine & Maroon Amelia Earhart
Number issued: 63,890,000
Design: Robert J. Jones
27548 Usairmailstamp-C68.jpg
October 5, 1964 8¢ Blue & Red Robert Goddard
Number issued: 62,255,000
27861 Stamp-robert h goddard.jpg
March 30, 1967 8¢ Brown Alaska Purchase
Number issued: 55,710,000
29013 Usairmailstamp-C70.jpg
April 26, 1967 20¢ Multicolored Audubon "Columbia Jays"
Number issued: more than 50 million
29087 967 -20¢ Multicolored -“Columbia Jays” -C71.jpg
January 5, 1968 10¢ Red Runway 29518 Usairmailstamp-C72.jpg
January 5, 1968 10¢ Red Runway Usairmailstamp-C73.jpg
April 4, 1968 $1 Multicolored Airlift Usairmailstamp-1341.jpg
May 15, 1968 10¢ Red, Blue & Black 50th Anniversary of Air Mail 29673 Us airmail stamp C74.jpg
November 22, 1968 20¢ Red, Black & Blue Jet & "USA" 30510 Usairmailstamp-C75.jpg
September 9, 1969 10¢ Multicolored Moon Landing
Number issued: 152,364,800
Design: Paul Calle
– red omitted
– tagging omitted
31378
1969 moonlanding commemorative stamp 10c.jpg

1970–1979

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image
May 15, 1971 9¢ Red Jet Silhouette 32946 1971 airmail stamp C77.jpg
May 7, 1971 11¢ Red Jet Silhouette 33020 Usairmailstamp-C78.jpg
November 10, 1973 13¢ Red Winged Letter 34584 Us airmail stamp C79.jpg
July 13, 1971 17¢ Red, Green & Black Statue of Liberty 33096 1971 airmail stamp C80.jpg
May 21, 1971 21¢ Red & Blue USA 33279 Usairmailstamp-C81.jpg
May 7, 1971 11¢ Red Jet Silhouette Usairmailstamp-C82.jpg
December 27, 1973 13¢ Red Winged Letter Usairmailstamp-C83.jpg
May 3, 1972 11¢ Multicolored City of Refuge 33463 1972 airmail stamp C84.jpg
August 17, 1972 11¢ Blue, Black, Green, Red & Yellow Winter Olympics, Sapporo, Skiing 33322-6 1972 airmail stamp C85.jpg
July 10, 1973 11¢ Multicolored Progress in Electronics 34192 1973 airmail stamp C86.jpg
January 11, 1974 18¢ Black, Red & Blue Statue of Liberty 34931, 34959 Usairmailstamp-C87.jpg
January 2, 1974 26¢ Black, Red & Blue Mount Rushmore 34875 Usairmail-C88.jpg
January 2, 1976 25¢ Red, Black & Blue Plane & Globes 36957 1976 airmail stamp C89.jpg
January 2, 1976 31¢ Red, Black & Blue Plane & Globes 36981 1976 airmail stamp C90.jpg
September 23, 1978 31¢ Multicolored Wright Brothers
September 23, 1978 31¢ Multicolored Wright Brothers
March 29, 1979 21¢ Multicolored Octave Chanute 38856
March 29, 1979 21¢ Multicolored Octave Chanute
November 20, 1979 25¢ Multicolored Wiley Post 39197
November 20, 1979 25¢ Multicolored Wiley Post
November 1, 1979 31¢ Multicolored Olympics

1980–1989

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image
October 13, 1980 40¢ Multicolored Philip Mazzei
(1980) – perf 10 1/2x11 1/2
December 30, 1980 28¢ Multicolored Blanche Stuart Scott
December 30, 1980 35¢ Multicolored Glenn Curtiss
June 17, 1983 28¢ Multicolored Olympics
June 17, 1983 28¢ Multicolored Olympics
June 17, 1983 28¢ Multicolored Olympics
June 17, 1983 28¢ Multicolored Olympics
April 8, 1983 40¢ Multicolored Olympics – block
April 8, 1983 40¢ Multicolored Olympics – block
April 8, 1983 40¢ Multicolored Olympics – block
April 8, 1983 40¢ Multicolored Olympics – block
November 4, 1983 35¢ Multicolored Olympics
November 4, 1983 35¢ Multicolored Olympics
November 4, 1983 35¢ Multicolored Olympics
November 4, 1983 35¢ Multicolored Olympics
February 13, 1985 33¢ Multicolored Alfred V. Verville
February 13, 1985 39¢ Multicolored Lawrence and Elmer Sperry
June 10, 1985 44¢ Multicolored Transpacific 50th Anniversary
August 22, 1985 44¢ Multicolored Junipero Serra
March 29, 1988 44¢ Multicolored New Sweden Settling
July 14, 1988 45¢ Multicolored Samuel P. Langley – overall tagging
June 23, 1988 36¢ Multicolored Igor Sikorsky
July 14, 1989 45¢ Multicolored French Revolution
October 12, 1989 45¢ Multicolored Pre-Columbian America
November 27, 1989 45¢ Multicolored Future Mail Delivery
November 27, 1989 45¢ Multicolored Future Mail Delivery
November 27, 1989 45¢ Multicolored Future Mail Delivery
November 27, 1989 45¢ Multicolored Future Mail Delivery
November 24, 1989 $1.80 Multicolored Future Mail Delivery Miniature sheet

1990–2012

Date Issed Type Subject Plate No. Image
October 12, 1990 45¢ Multicolored Tropical Coast A1111 UL
April 27, 1991 50¢ Multicolored Harriet Quimby
S1111 LL
– Perf 11.2
S2222 LR
May 17, 1991 40¢ Multicolored William T. Piper A1111 UL
June 21, 1991 50¢ Multicolored Antarctic Treaty S1111 UR
October 12, 1991 50¢ Multicolored Bering Land Bridge 111111 LR
1993 40¢ Multicolored William T. Piper S1111 LR
May 12, 1999 48¢ Multicolored Niagara Falls V11111 UL (First of the Scenic American Landscapes Series)
July 30, 1999 40¢ Multicolored Rio Grande V11111 LR
January 20, 2000 60¢ Multicolored Grand Canyon B1111 UR
– die cutting omitted error
B1111 UR
March 6, 2001 70¢ Multicolored Nine-Mile Prairie P11111 LL
April 17, 2001 80¢ Multicolored Mount McKinley V11111 UL
May 20, 2001 60¢ Multicolored Acadia National Park 2001 year date, prephosphored, die cut 11.25 x 11.5 (B1111 UR)
2001 year date, overall tagging, die cut 11.5 x 11.9 (B2222 UR)
2005 year date (S1111 UR)
Acadia error, printed on the backing paper (S1111 LR)
February 22, 2006 63¢ Multicolored Bryce Canyon, Utah S22222 LL
February 22, 2006 75¢ Multicolored Great Smoky Mountains P11111 LR
February 22, 2006 84¢ Multicolored Yosemite National Park V11111 UR
June 1, 2007 69¢ Multicolored Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge P11111 LL
June 1, 2007 90¢ Multicolored Hagatña Bay, Guam V11111 UR
May 16, 2008 72¢ Multicolored 13-Mile Woods, New Hampshire S11111 UL
May 16, 2008 94¢ Multicolored St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands V11111 LL
June 28, 2009 79¢ Multicolored Zion National Park
June 28, 2009 98¢ Multicolored Grand Teton National Park
April 11, 2011 80¢ Multicolored Voyageurs National Park
January 19, 2012 85¢ Multicolored Glacier National Park
January 20, 2012 $1.05 Multicolored Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

See also

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