Newfoundland Gen. Balbo Flight 1933

Never seen one like this before. Anyone know the history and/or value of something like this?



cheers,

Andrew

Not sure on the history, but it catalogues at 275 pounds mint as per SG 2006...GREAT find!

Scott Number C18 perf 14-1/2.
C18iv for perf 14.

My Unitrade 2005 catalogue says to beware of forgeries on this issue.

In that catalog it is valued at CAD $550 for a VF perf 14-1/2 +60% for NH, and CAD $650 +60% NH for a similar perf 14 VVF. $350 / $450 for a F.

Neat history:
Issued in connection with the return flight from Chicago to Rome of the squadron of Italian airplanes under General Italo Balbo. He was at the 1933 Chicago World's fair, with a stop in New York and perhaps in Newfoundland(??). There are lots of stamps and cinderellas of him.
from googling;

...including some nice ones from Italy herself...

CJD nice ! I have the Italian one you displayed..gladly paid 50 bucks for a hinged copy..wish I had the Newfie !!

This is an issue where I don't understand how an unused issue would be preferable over a used issue. Wouldn't the fact that it was issued for a historic flight make it more desirable to have one, which was actually ON that flight? (as opposed to one that sat in a desk drawer for 70 years wihtout ever being used)

Just my thoughts

Pattie, if someone had a cover with the postally used stamp I am pretty sure it would be worth more than the unused..the Italian item I have C48-49 with Victor Emmanuel catalogs $250 unused and $1450 used...i have the less expensive version ! $4.50 was a lot of money for a stamp in 1933..a person had to be well off !!

Just found this one on the internet, thought maybe some of you would like to see an original cover

That's a great looking cover! Wish I could get it.
The catalogue says that only 8000 stamps were issued.

I think it depends which one is more scare to find in either condition.

I'd assume the used issue is more scarce, from what I can figure out, a mint stamp trades slightly less than a cover. I haven't been able to find any used examples not on covers.

Not that this has anything to do with what things actually trade for, but Scott lists a pretty significant upcharge for a cover.

Coincidentally, I was just looking at the January, 1954 issue of Topics, the journal of the British North America Philatelic Society, and they summarized the results of an airmail auction at Harmer, London, that closed with a Balbo cover selling for $37.80. Those were the days.

Collin

What a great stamp. Thanks for sharing the scan. -- KirkS

Hiding away under a thread called "huge price increase".......

http://goscf.com/t/9478

Note: I notice we cannot search using thread topic number.

Pattiewhack or Andrew,

Its a great Newfoundland stamp--a must have. I have one and with a Diena certificate because of the forgeries that are out there. Its C18 in Unitrade or AM19 in the AAMC book.

A few more fun facts

It comes in a 14.3 x 14.3 perf version (8,000 issued) but also a 13.8 x 13.8 perf version. In my view the value of mint is about $500 for the 14.3 and $580 for the 13.8 (but subjective opinion). Covers are rare and treasured.

There are also several rare varieties including a bright pale yellow (8 known of the 8,000) allegedly worth $65,000 mint. There are 8 imperforated versions. Another 4 or 8 where the surcharge was inverted (sold for $110,000). According to the Walsh and Butt catalog and Boggs' book.

Here is the history from Boggs' history reference book: On July 28, 1933, the Italian Air Armada of 24 planes under leadership of General Italo Balboa alighted at Shoal Harbor, Newfoundland on the return flight to Rome from an exhibition in Chicago. They left on August 8 and made the flight successfully, with covers being back-stamped there on August 15.

A special stamp was provided just for the mail carried on this flight. It was made by surcharging the 75c yellow brown stamp. The rate of $4.50 was agreed upon by the Italians based on the 1/2 ounce letter to Europe.