C11 - 1928 5ยข Airmail
See below for details
Basic Info
5¢
Carmine and blue
Printing Method: Flat Plate
Printer: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Subject: Radio Beacon and plane
Number issued: 106,887,675
Perforations: 11
Watermark: Unwatermarked
Scott #: C11
Issued: July 25, 1928
Value
Used
25¢
No postmark with gum (MH)
75¢-$1
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
$1 - $2
Plate #'s
#C11 was issued with the following plate #'s
19545-19552
19565-19580
19585-19592
19597-19600
19605-19639
19666-19677
19688-19694
19696-19703
F19545-F19548
F19573-F19580
F19597-F19600
F19608-F19611
F19616-F19619
F19639
F19666-F19669
F19674-F19677
F19688-F19694
First Day Covers
A first day cover postmarked July 25, 1928
The Inspiration for the Design
The source photograph for the design
The central image is of a beacon light that is atop Sherman Hill in the Rocky Mountains.
Usage
In an effort to increase the use of airmail the postage rate was halved from 10¢ to 5¢ per ounce. From this issue onwards only airmail stamps could be used on airmail, previously any current US postage stamp was accepted.
The Orteig Prize
Radio Beacon
Direction arrow and communications hut
By 1928 Commercial Airmail was well established. A network of Beacons, along with concrete arrows on the landscape, took the guesswork out of navigation. These would lead to the start of commercial aviation as we know it.
A Complete Pane
A complete pane of 50, there were two panes to a sheet of 100
1926-34 Airmails
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