US - Okinawa To Saint Paul MN - Stampless First Flight Cover

I picked up this cover by accident at the last stamp club meeting (was bidding on a lot for some other covers).

Taking another look at it, I think it is rather neat.


My only question is, why no stamp?

Carried by Northwest Airlines to St. Paul during that era, likely carried by pilot for a girlfriend for the cachet. Or the stamp came off!

More than you probably ever wanted to know about that FAM-28 First Flight:

http://www.aerodacious.com/FAM028.HTM

Is that really the catalog value?

I was wondering that myself. Possibly without a stamp affixed it would have diminished value? Not really sure, though. Perhaps someone else can chime in who knows more about these covers than I do.

Very nice cover! I was stationed on Okinawa for two and a half years and while I do not have anything Okinawa-related in my stamp collection I find the topic quite interesting. Great stuff!

The small stamp box in the corner near where a stamp would be afix is the stamp(stampless)better yet handstamped, 13 yen paid!

I thought that might be the case, Warrehouse, thanks for the confirmation!

Smauggie, which club do you attend, Maplewood or Minneapolis ?

The first regular issues for the Ryukyu Islands were not issued until July 1, 1948 your envelope is dated March 15, 1948, Ides of March! The Okinawa overprinted issues were out on Nov. 1, 1947, may have been running low or out of stamps.

See you at lunch tomorrow, smauggie.

Oh Stallzer, now I see where you are going with this. You want to come to my stamp club meeting and pick up some nice stuff!

Well, the more the merrier . . . I attend Maplewood.

I was curious as I have attended a few of the Minneapolis Philatelic society meetings in MPLS. I have considered going to the Maplewood meetings but finding time in my schedule is a tough go as I have young children that have daily activities like Soccer, Dancing, Basketball & Cub scouts. Hopefully this Winter when the activities slow down I'll find time as my Son loves Stamp shows and Club meetings and they loved him in Minneapolis.