Telephone & Fax 203 888 9237

Aerophilatelic & Commercial Aviation Literature, Crash & Wreck Covers, First Flight Covers

March 2023

Welcome to the Aerophil Aerophilately Home Page. My name is Ken Sanford. I am an aerophilatelist and a part-time dealer in Aerophilatelic and Commercial Aviation Books & Literature, and air crash covers. I have the world's largest stock of Aerophilatelic books - both new and used, and a large stock of air crash covers. Listed below are a few recent additions to my Book List, Crash Covers List & Helicopter Covers List

We can accept payment by PayPal.  Enquire for details


 

AIR CRASH MAIL OF THE WORLD, Edited by Ken Sanford

 

This mammoth work is a complete revision and update of “Recovered Mail” by Henri Nierinck, and the American Air Mail Catalogue (AAMC), Sixth Edition, Vol. 1, Interrupted Flights section.  It covers all known air crashes from which mail has been recovered and is recorded in collectors’ hands.  Over 2,400 pages and 1600 illustrations of cachets, labels, post office memos, and crash markings, many in full color.  Pricing has been brought up to date, to reflect the current market.  Prices are based on US$.  Available on a flash drive which can be plugged into a USB port.  It will be in both PDF & Word format. 

This update the Nierinck catalog and the AAMC has been in the works for the last few years.  Many people have been involved in it, from typing in the original Nierinck text to providing cover & cachet illustrations.  Many of the cachets are now shown on covers in color, whereas previously they were simply black & white illustrations of cachets.  A great effort has been made to add crashes and cachets which were not previously listed by Nierinck or the AAMC.

It could be said that this project originated with the formation of the Wreck & Crash Mail Society back in 1994. Certainly, many of the members of that Society have contributed information and scans. The writer of this review has been constantly involved since 2015 and can attest to the superhuman effort invested by Ken Sanford in terms of energy, time, persistence and patience. The late Henri Nierinck would have been thrilled to have been the catalyst who inspired Ken to embark on and complete this phenomenal project.

The sheer size of this work precluded publication in book form. The advantage of the digital format is that it is easy to make amendments and additions. Assuming that enough of those collectors who purchase the flash drive send feedback to the Editor, it is intended to periodically make available a revised flash drive. Updates please to kaerophil@gmail.com 

This will be the standard work on the subject, if not in perpetuity, certainly for decades.

Price of flash drive: To the USA - US$32.00; To all other countries – US$34.00 - UKŁ28.00 - Euro €31.50 (postage included) 

 

Order from: Ken Sanford, 613 Championship Dr., Oxford, CT – USA 06478-3128.  Make checks payable to American Air Mail Society, or PayPal to kaerophil@gmail.com and add $1.70, UKŁ1.45 or €1.60

See my Travel Blog with photos from our recent cruise in Winter along the Norwegian Coast - Ken's Travel Blog

BOOK “Railway Disaster Mail” published by The Rossiter Trust click here for details

NEW - 733. BRIDGING THE CONTINENTS IN WARTIME – IMPORTANT AIRMAIL ROUTES 1939-1945, by Hans E. Aitink and Egbert Hovenkamp.  Originally published by de Stichting Luchtpostgeschiedenis Tweede Wereldoorlog, Enschede, The Netherlands, 2005.  227 pages, soft cover, A4 format.  Written in English, details the major airmail routes during the Second World War period between 1939 and 1945.  There are eighteen chapters.  See Book List for details on the various chapters.

 

Reprint, New, soft cover.  $50.00 plus applicable postage.

 

SPECIAL CLEARANCE

625A. AUSTRALIAN AIR MAIL CATALOGUE, 1990, 5th Edition. Edited by Nelson Eustis, published by Hobby Investments Pty Ltd. 307 pp.  We have a few new copies left.  Special clearance price.  $30.00

 

World War II Mail from Switzerland to Great Britain, Canada & the United States - A Postal History Handbook, by Charles J. LaBlonde.  Published by the American Helvetia Philatelic Society. Totally revised and updated from published articles.  Extensive archival material.  Over 230 illustrations.  5 new appendices on interesting and related topics.  Expanded bibliography.  Separate postal rate overview & summary.  75% airmail, but from an integrated postal history perspective (rates, routes & markings).  Spiral bound to lay flat.  Out of stock, but we might be able to find a copy

Train Wreck Cover - On 11 September 1932, a Southern Pacific Railroad train derailed in the High Sierra Mountains of California.  Five railway mail clerks were carried 150 feet down a steep embankement in one of the mail cars that rolled down the canyon.  Small size window envelope (2cent stamped envelope + a one cent stamp) from New York, probably to Oakland, Calif.  Rubber stamp cachet "Received in bad condition at/Oakland, Calif." plus manuscript "From Train Wreck 9/12/32" (it actually occurred on the 11th) and then a rubber stamp "CLYDE E. SMITH/CARRIER #63 M./OAKLAND, CALIF.".  Backstamped Oakland Sep. 13.  Scarce. $50.00.  Scan or fax copy available on request

Items from fire, which destroyed the Burlington, Iowa Depot.  It is a check which was being mailed to a hospital services association, which was badly burned.  There are two mimemograph explanations from the Burlington Post Office, which explain why the check is badly burned.  The original envelope in which the check was being sent, is gone.  Unusual items.  $75.00.  Scan or fax copy available on request

AIR CRASH MAIL OF IMPERIAL AIRWAYS & PREDECESSOR AIRLINES, by Kendall C. Sanford.  A publication by the Stuart Rossiter Trust Fund.  See Book List

Volume One, Sixth Edition - AMERICAN AIR MAIL CATALOGUE. This 500 page catalogue contains revised and repriced listings of the following sections:

U.S. Pioneer Covers - 1910-1916
U.S. Governmental Flight Covers
U.S. Air Express Covers
Crash Covers
Airport Dedication Covers
Mexico First Flight Covers - 1917-1939

US$42.00 plus actual postage

SPECIAL CLEARANCE - 263. LES BALLONS MONTES - BOULES DE MOULINS, PIGEONGRAMMES, PAPILLONSDE METZ, Gerard Lheriter. Valeur Philatelique, Nice, France, 1989, 253 pp.Very good & concise history of the Paris Balloon Posts. Gives background on personalities of the Siege, separate chapters on the more spectacular flights like the "Ville d'Orleans" & "Le Normandie". Describes all the various markings & cachets, including their value. Gives departure dates & mail postmark dates for each balloon. Lists all the aeronauts & passengers, lists those balloons from which plis confies are known, lists rarity of covers from each balloon, and gives weight of mail carried on each, and value of covers in French francs, including value according to country of destination. All illustrations in color. Complete listingof all lettre journals published & values. HC, NEW. SPECIAL SALE PRICE $38.50

 

AIRMAILS OF NEW ZEALAND, VOLUME 3 - INTERNATIONAL AIRMAILS 1940-1970, by Robin M. Startup, June 1997. Details the international airmail services from wartime flying boat era up to the jet age, and is a sequel to Vol. 2. See Item 638 in Book List.

CORSAIRVILLE, THE LAST DOMAIN OF THE FLYING BOAT, Graham Coster.  The story of the crash of the Imperial Airways “Corsair”ť in the Belgian Congo in 1939.  The complete story of the extreme effort to repair and fly the Short flying boat out, which took 9 months.  See Item 680 in Book List.

KATALOG DER DEUTSCHEN LUFTPOST, Teil 13: Erstfluge 1991-1999 - ohne Deutsche Lufthansa (Catalog of German Airmail, Volume 13: First Flights of airlines to/from Germany, except Lufthansa German Airlines), by Erich Haberer, 2000. See Item 647 in Book List.

TURBULENCE ON THE GROUND - PANAM AND BEYOND, Ed Parrey.  Pub. by author, 2000.  Nostalgic trip out of the past.  The good and the bad at Pan American World Airways.  The reader will be able to see what happens primarily on the ground at various airports. It is at times funny, sad and romantic.  The action and adventures at those places are hectic, therefore part of the title "Turbulence on the Ground".  Entertaining, interesting, humorous, intriguing.  See Item 683 in Book List.

PAN AMERICAN'S PACIFIC PIONEERS, THE REST OF THE STORY, by Jon E. Krupnick. Pub. by Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Missoula, MT - USA, 2000, 700 pp. 9 x 12 inch format. A pictorial history of Pan Am's Pacific First Flights - 1935-1946.  Most complete collection of rare survey flight & first flight covers are shown in color as well as aircraft photos, poster/baggage label/timetable art, etc. A fantastic book. An update of No. 633, which was published in 1997.  See Item 684 in  Book List.

WINGED COURIER, by Harry Klein. Pub. by Howard B. Timmins, Cape Town, South Africa, 1955, 130 pp. A history of aviation in Southern Africa. Excellent coverage of the early airmail services, including Union Airways, Imperial Airways, BOAC and South African Airways. Very good black & white photos.  See Item 732 in  Book List.

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Links to other Aerophilatelic Web Sites

NEW Ocean Liner Catapult Mail Service - Covers all aspects of the Catapult service

 

Crash Mail - Miscellaneous information on crash covers, including some for sale

 

Pellegrom, Erwin - Ballooning stamps of the world

 

Aerophilatelic Society of Southern Africa - Covering aerophilately for Southern Africa.  Publisher of The Aeroletter

 

Latecoere & Aeropostale Website - Information about these historic French airlines which served Africa & South America

 

Australian Air Mail Society

 

Airships Blog - A Zeppelin History site. Discussion about the Hindenburg, crash covers from the Hindenburg, etc.

 

Aerodacious - From the "Aviation top 100" Aerodacious: Web-Catalog of First Flights including Pioneer, Government, CAM's, FAM's, JETs, Post-Deregulation, Canadian, World-Wide First Flights - Lots More & Everything Air Mail - Covers, Stamps & Labels

 

Rudy Pinto's Aerophilatelic Blog - Miscellaneous aerophilatelic items connected with India

 

SCADTA Aerophilately

 

Faces of the Hindenburg - short profiles of the 97 people who were onboard the Hindeburg when it crashed

Zeppelin Study Group


The "Jenny" Stamp One Frame Exhibit

National Postal Museum - Hindenburg Crash Mail

Arago - Images of all U.S. Airmail Stamps

Hindenburg crash mail

Benjamin Lipsner Airmail Collection - National Postal Museum

SE Air Mail Society - Chapter of the American Air Mail Society in the Southeastern U.S.A

Dick's Rocket Dungeon - Rocket Aerophilately

Boeing 747SP Flight Covers

The Canadian Aerophilatelic Society

The Harold G. Dick Zeppelin Postcard Collection


The Pan Am Flying Boat Service via Wake Island - Stamps & Covers - Dirk H.R. Spennemann


FIP Aerophilately Commission -
The international philatelic federations are united in FIP (Federation Internationale de Philatelie). FIP sponsors international philatelic exhibitions and has created regulations for the judging of airmail exhibits at such exhibitions.


The Romanian Air Mail Service
- Bibliography of articles on Romanian air mail services

Ephemeral Treasures - Aviation history and personal aviation experiences figure heavily on Bob Ingraham's
Ephemeral Treasures web site. Most pages include illustrated images of contemporaneous stamps, covers, and postcards.

New Zealand International Air Mail Flights and Airmail covers

Postal Label Study Group - Publisher of  the Worldwide Airmail Label Catalog


Airmails of Siam - A Handbook, by Nils Ramm-Ericson

Hindenburg Crash Mail - The Scout Covers - An article about Scout franked Hindenburg crash mail from the Netherlands
The Flying Dutchman (De Vliegende Hollander) Airmail Society - The society for all aspects of Dutch aerophilately
Balloon Mail website - Balloons in Philately - History of ballooning.  Polish and Czech balloon mail since 1945.  World hot air & gas ballooning championships and Gordon Bennett Cup: Results & philatelic issues
Imperial Airways - The Golden Age of British Civil Aviation. A tribute to the airline, the aircraft and Croydon Airport
A to Z - Aerophilately and Airmails web directory that is part of a comprehensive site, providing resources for collectors - Also has a link to all aerophilatelic items for sale on eBay at any given time
Pan American's Pacific Pioneers - A great website covering all aspects of Pan Am in the Pacific - aircraft photos, covers, posters, baggage labels, and other Pan Am memorabilia
Astrophilatelie - Gesellschaft der Waltall-Philatelisten - World Space Philatelists
Stampdomain - Miscellaneous aerophilatelic information, links to aerophilatelic web pages
Sidney Fenemore - Postal History, Postcards, Crash & Wreck Covers
Metropolitan Airpost Society - New York
John Dziadecki's Zeppelin Web Site
Jens Schenkenberger's Luftschiff Homepage
Contract Air Mail (CAM) Routes  - A list of which airlines operated specific Contract Air Mail (CAM) routes
Scout Air & Space Mail  - This special collection highlights the wonder of flight and Scout topical philately. Catagories include air flight, balloons, rigid airships, rockets, and even feathered flight.  This tribute to aerophilately is sponsored by Scouts on Stamps Society International http://www.sossi.org.  SOSSI specializes in the collecting, study, and enjoyment of stamps and other postal items celebrating the Boy Scout and Girl Scout (Guide) movements.
Symbols on Airmail Stamps - Website showing various sysmbols on airmail stamps.  Hosted by Justin Milliun, email:  jmilliun@ieee.org
M. Osborne Covers - First flight and airmail covers
Airmail Society of New Zealand
Baxley Stamps - Selling & Buying Ryukyu Islands FFC and other Asian First Flight Covers. See our Ryukyu Islands FFC price list
Henry Gitner Philatelists, Inc.  Email: hgitner@hgitner.com - Zeppelin & Airship covers and stamps & a huge stock of flight covers, first flights, catapults, rocket mail, etc.
Vernon Pickering - Philatelic Literature, including some aerophilatelic titles
Osborne-Kaufmann - Your American-European Stamp Connection
Bob Friedman - Email: covercnr@eaze.net - CAMs, FAMs, Jets, Airport Dedications
American Air Mail Society World's largest and second oldest aerophilatelic society.  Publishers of the monthly Airpost Journal, and numerous catalogs & books for the aerophilatelist.  The next AAMS Convention will be held at NAPEX, McLean, Virginia from 5-7 une 2015.  See:  www.napex.org/future.html
British Air Mail Society
Catapult Mail - All about catapult mail
Jim Forte - Worldwide Postal History & Airmail History
Irish Airmail Society
James Bendon Ltd. - Small selection of aerophilatelic books, which are now handled by Chris Komondy of Chester, CT - USA
Johnson Philatelics, South Africa - Interesting selection of crash covers,  philatelic auctions & British Africa aerophilately - Nice African covers
Shades Stamp Shop, Christchurch, New Zealand - Miscellaneous Flight Covers
The Aerogramme Society - Email: tomadami@hotmail.com
Aerogramme Society - Another society for the aerogramme collector
Charles G. Firby Auctions - Lots of aerophilatelic material
Paul Roales's Rocket Mail Web Page
Joe Frasketi's Space Covers - Space and other Topical Covers
Internationaler Aero-Philatelisten Club "Otto Lilienthal"
Smithsonian National Postal Museum - Airmail in America
FISA - International Federation of Aerophilatelic Societies
Michael Rogers, Inc. - Philatelic auctions with lots of aerophilatelic material
Vietnam & Indochina Postal History & Air Mail Covers
The Airgraph website - Links to various books and resources on airgraphs
Aircraft Photo Stamps - 174 aircraft images
Airmail Collector Auctions
Aerophilately Postal History Resources
The Pan Am Flying Boat Service via Wake Island - Stamps & Covers

Southeast Airmail Society

 

Aerophilately Auctions - Johannes E. Palmer

 

Astro Postal History

 

Rocket Aerophilately

 

Indian Night Air Mail Service - January 1949

 

Charles Lindbergh - U.S. Air Mail Service Pioneer

 

The Development of Airmail in Bahrain

 

NEW Airmail Stamp Museum Interesting Airmail Stamps and Their Symbols

NEW Today in Postal History – Lots of information about various aviation events

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Links to Various Aviation Web Sites

The Golden Age of Air Travel -- Boeing Clippers
Thirty Thousand Feet - A large aviation directory with thousands of links to aviation web pages, aviation news, FAQs, and other sources of commercial, military, and general aviation information
The 'AirNet' Website - Over 20,000 aviation & flight simulation links
Airline Postcard Swap Page - On this site you will find a swap list of mainly airline issued postcards, including a picture of every swap card available
Airmail Pioneers -This website is dedicated to the men and women of the U.S. Air Mail Service, a little-remembered organization that laid the foundation for commercial aviation worldwide.
www.flyingclippers.com - FlyingClippers.com aims to recreate the days of Pan American Airways and their Fabulous Flying Ships and aviation’s Golden Age 1934-1946. Here you will learn about the 28 planes that changed the way we travel and think about the world. Includes information on the China Clipper and Boeing B-314 and a shop for related items.
De Havilland Comet web site - Lots of information about the world's first commercial jetliner, including a discussion forum
Ross-Barrett Historical Aeronautics Collection - 5,000 books & photos relating to man's history of flight. Denver Public Library
Navy Lakehurst Historical Society - A society for people interested in the history of the airship base at Lakehurst, New Jersey
Pan Am Archives at the University of Miami - Photos of classic Pan Am Aircraft. To download, put cursor on photo, right click the mouse, and save to hard drive in normal manner. You must have an image viewer program like Paint Shop Pro to view them
Pan Am Historical Foundation - Pencil sketches of Pan Am aircraft by Robert Taylor & Watercolors of Pan Am aircraft by John McCoy from the "Famous Flight" series, which you can download.
Pan Amigo News - for former Pan Am Employees
Papers of G.U. "Scotty" Allan - National Library of Australia MS4911 Papers of G.U. "Scotty" Allan - Famous Australian pilot
Aviation History Online Museum - Aircraft photos available for download
Igor Sikorsky Archives
Amelia Earhart Web Site
Charles Lindbergh Website
China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) Website

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Links to General Philatelic Web Sites

NEW Stamp Auctions- StampCircuit.com - World Largest Stamp Auction Network, New Auctions Added Daily

NEW Stampboards - Postage Stamp Chat Board and Stamp Bulletin Board Forum

PhilaGuide - The Golden Guide for Philatelists - Links to various websites, such as auctions, philatelic experts, postal authorities, stamp agencies, stamp dealers, exhibitions & shows, libraries, philatelic words & terms, postage rates and more
just4stamps.com - Links to various philatelic websites,  such as auctions,  philatelic bureaus,  specialist societies,  forums, thematic links and more
Worldwide Postal Rates - Canada & Great Britain rates available now, and more to come
CollectStamps.About.com - Net Links to dealers and a customer oriented Stamp Buyers Guide.  Some dealer links have postings of material available
AskPhil - Ask various questions about numerous philatelic subjects.  This website was introduced with philatelic information in five major categories, as follows:

- "How To" Articles
- Planning Your Philatelic Estate
- Salm Foundation Reports
- The "AskPhil" Reference Library
- Public Philatelic Auctions - Lots of information about auctions, including worldwide philatelic auction houses

Wreck & Crash Mail Society - If you are interested in Air Crash, Shipwreck or Trainwreck covers, you should be a member of this growing society.  The next Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in  London during the London 2015 Exhibition in May 2015.  The exact date is to be determined
Wardrop's Philatelic Links - to 100s of Philatelic websites
Stamp Shows - Listings of upcoming shows
American Philatelic Society (APS)
JJF's Philatelic Links - Philatelic links of all kinds
StampFinder.com - Philatelic Yellow Pages - find philatelic web sites fast
Stamp Auction Central - A listing of most of the major philatelic auctions, and upcoming auctions, many containing aerophilatelic material
Stamp Today Directory - Free daily stamp and philatelic news online from hundreds of news sources around the world

NEW UniSquare - Online stamps marketplace and auctions - Buy, sell and auction stamps with no listing fees. Build free web store and more

 

NEW Internet Philatelic Dealers AssocationInternet Dealers on which you can depend

 

Book List

Plane crashCrash Covers List

E-mail your order for books or crash covers, giving your full name, mailing address, e-mail address and fax number, to following address: 

or Fax 203 888 9237 - Hit "Send" immediately -- don't wait for fax beep

All prices are in U.S.$ - Postage & handling at actual postage cost.  Payment must be by US$ check or money order payable on a U.S. bank, or in equivalent UK pound check. Please make check payable to "Ken Sanford".  Sorry but we don't accept credit cards, but we do accept PayPal payment in US$, UKŁ or Euros .

This website is a member of the Internet Philatelic Dealers Association & Aerophilately WebRings

 

 

 

 

This site is a member of WebRing. To browse visit here.

 

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The Wreck & Crash Mail Society

The Wreck & Crash Mail Society was formed in the latter part of 1994, and is devoted to the collecting and study of all aspects of delayed and/or damaged mail and interrupted mail services.  Currently the Society is composed of four study groups, namely: the Air Crash Study Group, The Railroad Wreck Study Group, the Ship Wreck Study Group, and the Suspended Mail/Conflicts Study Group.

The Society publishes a quarterly journal "La Catastrophe", which contains articles on all aspects of wreck and crash mail, as well as news on new cover discoveries, auction realizations on wreck and crash mail, and questions from members who are seeking information on their crash and wreck covers and the stories behind them.

The Wreck & Crash Mail Society normally holds an annual meeting (so far, all have been held in London), where members display parts of their collection, meet other collectors of wreck and crash mail, and exchange information and material with fellow members.

If you have an interest in this area of postal history, the organisers believe that the Wreck & Crash Mail Society will fulfill your interest.  Annual membership dues are UKŁ20.00 or US$30.00, which includes a subscription to four issues of "La Catastrophe".

Go to: The Wreck & Crash Mail Society
for details and a membership application form


 

Back to AAMS home page


revised 24 March 2023