Henry Hammelman is best known as being an exceptional servicer of classic first day covers (FDCs). Like other early FDC servicers, he prepared first flight covers (FFCs) as airmail service rapidly expanded during the 1920s. His airmail interest would eventually override his interest in FDCs.
Henry accumulated many flight covers while working at the United States Post Office Department (USPOD) in Washington, DC. As opposed to servicers such as Edward C. Worden, he rarely used his own name on covers during this period. The names on the covers are usually those of his co-workers and other friends. He used their cooperation while building up a large inventory of covers for a business that he would start up in New York City after his retirement from the government.
The first Hammelman FFC that I am aware of marks the establishment of the first official airmail route in the United States. His May 15, 1918, cover is franked with a block of six of Scott C3. It is addressed to dealer J.M. Bartels and displays Henry's attractive handwriting.
The first FFCs that Henry serviced in large quantities to stock his eventual company were for the various legs of the New York City to San Francisco transcontinental airmail route of July 1, 1924.
The appearance of Henry's FFCs changed with the introduction of Contract Air Mail (CAM) routes in 1926. Even though his earlier large quantity covers are found with single airmail stamps or ordinary stamps, he started to use blocks of commemorative stamps.
Henry also started in 1927 to use long envelopes franked with large blocks, long coil strips, and booklet panes of low denomination ordinary stamps.
Henry's servicing efforts soon expanded to include FFCs for various Foreign Contract Air Mail (FAM) routes introduced by the Post Office Department that extended from the United States into the rest of the Americas.
Henry moved to New York City in 1935 and opened his cover business. His firm, the Pioneer Stamp Company, was located at 116 Nassau Street, the philatelic hub of the country. He published a Pioneer Stamp Catalogue that listed the many FFCs with blocks, strips, or booklet panes that he had for sale. I am aware of anywhere from one to five copies of most of them. The listing of FFCs is interesting because of the detail he used to identify individual covers. Henry also mentioned that he had many unlisted covers franked only with fewer stamps. He also listed airmail stamps from 59 countries.
Not as much is known about Henry's cover servicing activity in New York City. He never updated his Pioneer Stamp Company catalogue. Most of his known FFCs serviced from New York City are trans-oceanic FAM covers. In addition to 116 Nassau Street, each cover has some combination of the following in its address; Pioneer Stamp Company, Room 816, Mr. Henry Hammelman, Miss Marie Nathan, Miss Miriam Wiener, and Miss E. Kaufman. I know nothing about the ladies. Airmail stamps were used on many typed address standard size covers.
The Pioneer Stamp Company inventory would significantly increase as Henry acquired many gems such as zeppelin, polar, and Balboa Triptych flight covers from various sources.
Henry's health forced him to close down his business in the early 1950s. He died in New York City on August 16, 1957. His death was mentioned in Linn's Stamp News. It stated that he was a "prominent Nassau Street figure in the airmail field" and the Pioneer Stamp Company was a "mecca for collectors and as well, dealers with tough want lists."
A complete background and most of the listed Pioneer Stamp Company Catalogue's FFCs can be viewed at
https://jaktest2.wordpress.com.
Posted 02/13/2026 3:58 pm
