Rocket Mail! (Cuban, For Starters)

This was issued by Cuba on October 15, 1939 for an inaugural rocket mail experiment at Havana. The rocket was launched, but it just about ended there, as it only traveled 35 feet, or so. Interestingly, the experiments leading up to the main flight hadn't been much more successful, so the authorities must have had white knuckles at launch time.



I posted a rougher copy of this stamp (Scott #C31) before, but I just received a better example. If you have any stories of this experiment to share, or other classic-era rocket mail, please post away. (I'm not thinking about modern space covers...)

This is a fun stamp, and I was glad to pick it up earlier this year. It seems the real treasures from these experiments are the covers that were flown by (albeit poorly) through Cuba's rocket mail. Seems to me that rocket mail in Cuba was about having fun, not proving a viable delivery system. And lookie here, we are still having fun 62 years later.

...."Light blue touch paper, and stand well back!"

Sikkim Rocket mail despatched by the Maharaja.

Success not known.







"The Rocket Post" A film made in Scotland

From sundry discussion years ago on another NG:

In 1935, an engineer Roberti experimented with Rocketmail in Belgium. It
was, I believe, a private initiative in cooperation with the Belgian
Postal Administration. Several stamps (vignets really) were issued for
this purpose.

The first test was May 9th, 1935, launching a rocket from "Duinbergen"
or "Heyst Aan Zee". Second and third test, September 4th, 1935 in "Mol"
and "Duinbergen". I have no idea to what destination they launched these
rockets nor whether the mail arrived there still intact.

8 vignets were issued during these tests and have no "official character".

Sir Hystrix

-------------------


Someone sent me this image years ago,
not aware of the source
or in fact, if they exist.

Interesting stuff, Rod. Thanks.

Cjd, Cuba actually had 3 launches. The one you described was the first. The second went about 500 meters and the third crashed off course un the ocean.
A few other rocket mail eaxperiments


Cover from the "First American Rocket Airplane" flown on Feb. 23, 1936. It was also the first rocket mail to fly across a state line. It flew from New York to New Jersey. This cover is signed by Willy Ley (the originator of the flight and a well know science author in later years) and Fred Kessler (the promoter).


This cover from Holland was launched on March 6, 1935 by Gerhard Zucker, who also signed the cover.
Gerhard Zucker began experimenting with Rocket Mail in 1933 in Germany. He launched early Rocket Mail flights in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Andorra, Belgium and Holland. His launches continued until 1964.


The USPS and Defense Department ran just one test of their missile mail system; on June 8, 1959, the USS Barbaro Navy submarine, stationed near Norfolk, Va., fired an unarmed Regulus I missile holding two containers with 3,000 letters inside them. Twenty-two minutes later, the missile and its postal payload arrived safely at a U.S. Naval Station in Mayport, Fla.

Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield, who witnessed the event, considered missile mail the future. He remarked, "Before man reaches the moon, mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to Britain, to India or Australia by guided missiles."



1100 letters sent by rockets from McAllen, Texas to Reynosa, Mexico on July 2, 1936. First rocket exploded. 900 sent back from Reynosa by rockets on July 3.

Edit: Cjd and Rod, great stuff very interesting topic.

You too! never seen before stuff.
always exciting.
It's a shame some of the monumental stuff ups
were not captured for youtube.
They would make fantastic viewing.


This may be hard to beat...

(Not Mine)

Rod, Nice cover. The Challenger is such a icon to the complacency of man, we have done it so many times it will always go right.

Russ, I have to check my sources...the results you mention sound like what I've read about the three experiments leading up to the "official" flight on October 15th. I've read that covers of some sort were carried on the experiments. I've been under the impression that #C31 was intended for the fourth, and only official, flight. More searching to do on my part...

Thanks.

Very interesting posts on rocket mail. I'm surprised that in 1959 the postmaster of USPS considered missile mail the future. I cannot imagine it could be then profitable to use a rocket to carry mail when it get damaged every time it's landing.

Cjd, That is enyirely possible. I read several accounts of the Cuban rocket mail with a lot of conflicting info. It is interesting that so many rocket mail experiments were conducted in the 1930's. It was a very unique concept and provided a wonderful topical collecting opportunity.

The "Texas to Mexico" covers posted earlier (with the triangular stamps and American Legion address), relate to this most recent news article dated February 11, 2011. Very interesting read:

http://www.countryworldnews.com/new...le-mail.html

Sorry the picture is so bad, used Samantha's camera. This should finish up Rod's picture with his rocket mail. What number is your envelop Rod (on the back)

Here's a few that I have. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Souvenir sheet or real stamp?


Newark to New York


And of course, the "trivial" book my grandfather wrote. It contains a complete collection of the stamps and 2 flown covers.

Information Unknown: